Is San Juan Protected for Vacationers? (2023)

San Juan is a metropolis brimming with tradition, historical past, and limitless magnificence. But, regardless of its unwavering magnificence and distinctive cultural expertise, hesitant adventurers might really feel the necessity to ask, is San Juan protected for vacationers? This isn’t solely regular however a necessity in our fashionable, generally turbulent, world.

No quantity of wonderful issues to see in Puerto Rico might sway a nervous traveler if a metropolis or nation is simply too harmful to go to. The excellent news is that San Juan, and by extension, Puerto Rico, is protected.

This isn’t to say that town is danger-free, as with all common vacation locations, there are some dangers. So, that can assist you keep as protected as potential whereas visiting this magical metropolis, simply preserve studying. Not solely will you be taught what the most important dangers and no-go areas are, but additionally the multitude of causes for why you must go to San Juan.

Why Go to San Juan?

For a lot of intrepid adventurers, San Juan is the principle motive to go to Puerto Rico within the first place. Town overflows with historical past and tradition. You’ll be able to simply really feel the appeal of San Juan dripping from each historic landmark.

This is applicable to the bustling Plaza de Armas and the imposing fortresses, Castillo San Felipe del Morro or Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista. San Juan has one thing for everybody to fall in love with.

San Juan can be a brief automotive trip away from one of many different hottest causes individuals go to Puerto Rico: The El Yunque Rainforest. It gives vacationers a once-in-a-lifetime mountaineering expertise and is, apparently, the one tropical rainforest in North America.

Is San Juan Harmful?

In response to Numbeo’s statistics, San Juan has a reasonably protected crime score. Its official score sits at 68.4, which can appear excessive to some, but it surely actually will depend on what you’re evaluating these statistics to.

For example, Tokyo solely has a criminal offense index of 23.9, making San Juan’s rating appear very excessive. Nevertheless, when you examine it to different tropical vacation locations, such because the security of vacationers in Jamaica, whose capital metropolis of Kingston has a rating of 70.1, then San Juan seems quite a bit safer.

The true takeaway right here is that statistics don’t inform the entire story, and each metropolis on the planet may be harmful. So it’s essential to watch out regardless of the place you journey. One option to preserve protected is to keep away from notably harmful areas inside a spot, which is precisely what you will see listed beneath.

Harmful Areas in San Juan

La Perla

Probably the most harmful areas in San Juan are referred to as caserios. This loosely interprets to “the initiatives”, and one such neighborhood is La Perla. Regardless of being an impoverished neighborhood, many vacationers really feel the necessity to pay La Perla a go to resulting from its fairly colourful homes.

Residents don’t at all times take kindly to their properties being photographed and have reported that many vacationers are entitled and impolite. This has led to escalated bodily altercations resulting from police not monitoring the area.

It’s price remembering that in case you are touring to an unfamiliar metropolis or nation, you must respect the native customs and cultures. The dearth of police presence on this explicit caserios leaves each locals and vacationers susceptible to the much less morally inclined of our society.

Louis Lloren Torres

The opposite caserio you could need to keep away from is Louis Lloren Torres. This neighborhood is dwelling to a excessive quantity of drug and gang exercise. Though these crimes don’t are likely to have an effect on vacationers, it’s not unprecedented.

There is no such thing as a scarcity of FBI experiences that embody common raids and arrests occurring in these housing initiatives. Fortunately, there aren’t any landmarks or vacationer sizzling spots throughout the space’s boundaries. It’s extremely beneficial to stay to the safer zones we’re about to listing beneath.

Is it Protected to Reside in San Juan?

San Juan is a comparatively protected metropolis to reside in, particularly when you keep away from the neighborhoods talked about above. The truth is, it’s thought of one in every of Puerto Rico’s greatest cities for digital nomads. As with every metropolis, it has its no-go areas. however for essentially the most half, all the island, together with San Juan, is pretty protected.

For these explorers trying to safe a getaway that’s as disaster-free and protected as potential, it is suggested that you just check out the neighborhoods listed beneath. Not solely are they San Juan’s most secure areas, however they’re additionally dwelling to among the greatest eating places, historic landmarks, and lodging within the metropolis.

Protected Areas in San Juan

Condado

Condado is the right place to remain in case you are searching for elegant boutiques, luxurious resorts, and among the greatest eating places in San Juan, all inside strolling distance of one another. Due to the sheer quantity of actions held inside this protected neighborhood, you could not ever go away it throughout your keep.

Not solely is there a vibrant nightlife with night time kayaking adventures and beautiful rooftop bars such because the AC Lodge, however there are additionally limitless procuring experiences day or night time. Different areas might have extra historic landmarks, however Condado is the epicenter of contemporary life in San Juan.

Previous San Juan

If Condado is the gorgeous fashionable beating coronary heart of San Juan, then the Previous San Juan neighborhood is the soul of town. Right here, you will see a mixture of breathtaking fortresses, vigorous nightclubs, and decadent eating places.

One of the common excursions in Previous San Juan is a sundown tour by way of the outdated city. It is a testomony to the security and safety throughout the neighborhood. This doesn’t imply you may throw all warning to the wind whereas exploring the realm. It simply means you could discover with a sure peace of thoughts.

Ocean Park

Ocean Park is the neighborhood in San Juan for enjoyable within the solar. Golden sandy seashores stretch so far as the attention can see, with just a few historic landmarks sprinkled in between. This a part of San Juan is right for family-friendly actions.

Whether or not you and your family members need to go snorkeling, be taught to kite surf, or play some sports activities on the Parque Dr. José Celso Barbosa, Ocean Park has precisely what you’re searching for. There are some mouth-watering eating places and comfortable resorts to remain at as effectively, making it an ideal place to spend your time in between actions.

Warnings & Risks in San Juan

As with many cities you could need to discover, it’s clever to concentrate on any explicit risks that will lurk across the nook or in plain sight whereas visiting an unfamiliar metropolis or nation. Regardless that San Juan is a comparatively protected place, there are nonetheless some issues to be looking out for.

Amongst the standard risks of tropical climate and pickpockets, there are three explicit points a traveler ought to concentrate on when visiting San Juan. These are the taxi, automotive rental, and tour information scams. Don’t have any worry, although. We are going to go into element about them in only a second.

Total Journey Threat 6/10

San Juan is comparatively protected for vacationers. Sure, you do have to concentrate on rip-off artists and pickpockets, however very not often does this result in any bodily hurt. The danger is geared toward your possessions and wallets.

The climate, however, may be harmful to your particular person. San Juan has a tropical local weather, which suggests temperatures right here generally is a lot hotter than you could be used to. So, be sure you preserve a bottle of water available to remain hydrated. It might serve you effectively to be weary of wet climate, as a drizzle can flip right into a full-blown tropical storm or hurricane in a short time.

Taxi and Automobile Rental Scams

Though completely different, taxi and automotive rental scams each work on the identical precept: Charging vacationers for pointless extras. Within the case of a taxi rip-off, taxi drivers might take longer routes than required to get to your vacation spot or declare they don’t have the precise change for the next invoice.

Within the case of a automotive rental rip-off, corporations might cost you the next deposit or hidden charges throughout the rental. A standard “charge” they cost unknowing vacationers is for sand within the automotive or moist seats.

False Tour Guides

Let this be a lesson as to why you must solely use trusted tour corporations or e-book your excursions by way of verified on-line platforms. For those who use a “native tour information,” they might lead you to shops or sights that can cost you inflated costs with the intention to gather a fee from these shops in a while. Your security will not be actually in danger, however your hard-earned cash undoubtedly is.

Pickpockets

Sadly, identical to we might by no means be rid of the pesky mosquito, we might by no means be rid of the scourge that’s the lowly pickpocket. Fortunately, they’re simple to keep away from through the use of some touring greatest practices.

Hold your valuables out of sight when in public, go away any private paperwork in a protected at your resort, and, most of all, be vigilant when paying for providers on the road. An effective way to maintain your possessions protected is an anti-theft journey bag.

Demonstrations

The previous 20 years have been full of turmoil over the island’s political standing. Many locals need the island of Puerto Rico to be separate from the USA and use demonstrations and protests to speak their beliefs to the native authorities.

Keep away from any massive teams or gatherings, and earlier than leaving your resort for the day, it’s at all times a good suggestion to observe the native information for any ongoing protests. For those who do occur to unknowingly stumble into an illustration, take heed to the authorities and respectfully do as they instruct you.

Suggestions for Staying Protected in San Juan

Figuring out potential threats whereas visiting a brand new metropolis is barely half the battle. The opposite is issues you are able to do to maintain your self protected. What are you aware? Here’s a useful listing of security suggestions:

• Consuming alcohol within the streets of San Juan is unlawful. So, preserve your grownup drinks for the bars and eating places.
• The extreme sizzling climate in a tropical paradise equivalent to San Juan may be an surprising situation for a lot of vacationers. Hold a bottle of recent water inside attain always, and you need to be simply high-quality.
• Be form and respectful to the locals. We have now touched on this just a few instances all through the article. Nonetheless, vacationers are a sore spot for a lot of locals, as they really feel the vacationer trade is pricing them out of their very own metropolis. Then there’s additionally the tense political scenario of in search of independence from the USA.
• One other helpful tip for avoiding pickpockets is to at all times mission your self with confidence and function.
• Be cautious of any kids which are loitering round as they’re exceptionally expert pickpockets or function a distraction for another person to pinch your valuables.

Is San Juan Protected | Ceaselessly Requested Questions

Is San Juan Protected for Women?

Sure, San Juan is a protected vacation spot for feminine solo vacationers. That being stated, we sadly reside in a world the place girls ought to at all times be on guard no matter how effectively a metropolis is policed.

Is San Juan Protected for LGBTQIA+ Vacationers?

Sure, the Puerto Rican capital is a good vacation vacation spot for the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood. Town has an extended historical past as an LGBTQIA+ ally and is well-known for having a welcoming nightlife for all members of the neighborhood.

Can I Drink the Water in San Juan, Puerto Rico?

Sure. The water in San Juan is held to the best requirements of the Water and Sewage Authority and is completely drinkable straight from the faucet. Whereas mountaineering, it’s best to take bottled water with you, as the standard of any still-sitting water that you could be come throughout can’t be assured.

Is It Protected to Stroll in San Juan at Evening?

It actually will depend on the place within the metropolis you’re. If you’re throughout the areas of Previous San Juan or Condado, it’s comparatively protected. Anyplace outdoors of those neighborhoods will probably be iffy at greatest. Additionally, you will do effectively to keep away from any badly lit areas in addition to to try to at all times convey at the very least a second particular person together with you.