Question for Coqui

[Carnival Game]

I just read there's a very dangerous area in OSJ called La Perla. Are any of the popular restaurants, such as La Bombonera, Barrachina, El Jiberto (or something like that) in that area?

[amapola]

I'm not Coquí, but I'll chime in anyway :) . La Perla is a self-enclosed neighborhood outside the city walls, on a cliff along the Atlantic. If you look at this map http://www.travelmaps.com/OldSanJuan.html it's the area north of the city walls, where "Calle San Miguel" is marked. As you can see, you really can't just wander there unknowingly -- there are only 2 or 3 openings on the city wall that lead there. If you walk from San Cristóbal to El Morro, you'll be walking above La Perla. During the day, it's no problem to walk on Norzagaray/Boulevard del Valle, but I wouldn't walk there after dusk. La Perla is a very marginalized area, with its own culture, norms and lifestyle. I used to visit there on a needle exchange program years ago, and we always had to be escorted by one of the residents to be able to enter. Although it looks like it's only 2 streets on the map, it's really a maze of alleys. Very interesting place from a sociological perspective.

 

That's probably more than you wanted to know :D -- hope I didn't bore you! In any case, no need to worry about safety in the main part of OSJ, especially the main streets where the tourist spots are. Keep your wits about you, as in any city, but OSJ is quite safe.

[Carnival Game]

That was quite helpful - thank you!

[orquidia]

I just read there's a very dangerous area in OSJ called La Perla. Are any of the popular restaurants, such as La Bombonera, Barrachina, El Jiberto (or something like that) in that area?

 

No, 'La Perla' is, like amapola said, a small enclosed neighboorhood facing the atlantic ocean that has been historically marginalized ,with it's own troubles; that is changing with time thanks to hard working community leaders and programs and things are looking better, it is not regarded nowadays the way it was many years ago, but still, it is not an area you want to do tourism (even Paris, France has some areas you do not want to do tourism)

[Coqui2007]

Carnival game - as the others have said. You will be fine visiting the places that you mentioned.

 

Have a great visit