In Depth

The inner districts of Hato Rey, Río Piedras and Santurce, all connected to the rest of the city by the public transit system, are included within the metropolitan center. The large urban area also includes the towns of Bayamón, Carolina, Cataño, Guaynabo and San Juan. The Aqua Express, or AcuaExpreso, is a daily ferry service that connects Old San Juan with Cataño and Hato Rey at Pier 2.

El Condado Beach, an area also known as the Gold Coast, is distinguished by the luxury hotels along Avenida Ashford, where there's plenty of Condado Beach activities. In this popular resort region, there are numerous stores, restaurants, nightclubs and casinos, and a shoreline lined with umbrellas, palm trees and Spanish-style homes.

The General Archive and National Library of Puerto Rico, located on Avenida Ponce de León, is one of the final buildings erected by the Spanish. Constructed in 1877, it has served as a prison, a cigar factory, and a rum distillery. The structure is notable for its red-tiled flooring, stained-glass windows, chandeliers and chapel.

The 600,000-square-foot Puerto Rico Convention Center is another impressive structure. It’s said to be the Caribbean’s largest and most technologically advanced meeting venue of its kind. Designed in the "techno-tropic" architectural style, the San Juan convention center has the capacity to host up to 10,000 attendees.