Museums
1. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriquena
The headquarters of the nation’s main cultural organization is in an imposing 19th-century Neo-Classical building. Its galleries display exhibits on geology, pre-Columbian relics and religious icons, colonial miscellany, and contemporary art (for further details see Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña).
2. Museo Pablo Casals
Casals, the Spanish cellist who lived his last 15 years in San Juan, is honored in this 18th-century town house on Plaza San José. Exhibits include his cello and original manuscripts (for further details see Museo Pablo Casals).
3. Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico
Housed in a former Neo-Classical hospital and adjoining modernist structure, this museum showcases works by Puerto Rico’s foremost artists from the 16th century onward. A sculpture garden features avant-garde works (for further details see Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico).
4. Museo de San Juan
Art and artifacts tracing the city’s history are displayed in this former colonial-era marketplace. Audio-visual exhibits provide a lively overview of the past.
Calle Norzagaray 150, San Juan • 787 724 1875 • Open 9am–4pm Tue–Fri, 10am–4pm Sat–Sun
5. Museo de las Americas
This museum, in the former Spanish military headquarters, celebrates the many cultures of the Americas. Its display of Latin American folk art and religious icons includes a collection of santos.Cuartel de Ballajá, Calle Norzagaray, San Juan • 787 724 5052 • Open 9am–noon & 1–4pm Tue–Sat, noon–5pm Sun • Adm $3 for adults; $2 for children (under 12 years), seniors and students
6. Museo de Arte de Ponce
Works by Dutch, English, French, and Italian masters, North American artists, and Puerto Rico’s foremost painters are housed in this art museum, itself an architectural masterpiece, designed by modernist Edward Durell Stone (for further details see Museo de Arte de Ponce).
7. Vieques Art & History Museum
This thoughtfully put-together museum traces Vieques’ past and has fine exhibits on the clash of the Spanish and Taíno cultures, as well as antique weaponry. It also offers profiles of local flora and fauna (for further details see Fort Conde Mirasol and Vieques Art & History Museum).
8. Angel Ramos Foundation Visitor Center
Making sense of the Arecibo Observatory is made easy at this superb facility, which has educational panels, audio-visual displays, and interactive exhibits on atmospheric science, astronomy, and the operation of the radio telescope.
9. Museo de la Historia de Ponce
The ten galleries in this Moorish-inspired mansion with a modern annex explore the city’s past and current daily life. Oddities include a marble bathtub once owned by Samuel Morse, inventor of the Morse code (for further details see Museo de la História de Ponce).
10. Porta Coeli Religious Art Museum
A wealth of religious icons, from precious 18th- and 19th-century paintings and sculptures to the island’s foremost collection of santos, are displayed in Puerto Rico’s oldest chapel.Plaza Santo Domingo, San Germán • 787 892 5845 • Open 9am–noon & 1–4pm Mon-Fri
Top 10 Taíno Cultural Sights
1. Parque Ceremonial Indígena Caguana
A ceremonial site with ten bateyes and impressive petroglyphs (for further details see Parque Ceremonial Indígena Caguana).
2. Centro Ceremonial Indígena de Tibes
The most extensive site in Puerto Rico, with a recreated Taíno village (for further details see Centro Ceremonial Indígena de Tibes).
3. Vieques Art & History Museum
Displays pre-Columbian artifacts and explores the Spanish decimation of local culture (for further details see Fort Conde Mirasol and Vieques Art & History Museum).
4. La Cueva del Indio
This group of rocks forming grottoes features more than 200 petroglyphs.Las Piedras • 787 733 2160 ext. 2474 • Guided tours: 8am–4pm Mon–Fri
5. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña
A gallery here displays Taíno relics excavated from sites around the island (for further details see Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña).
6. Museo de las Americas
Exhibits of pre-Columbian culture from throughout the Americas, including dug-out canoes (for further details see Museo de las Américas).
7. Petroglyphs
Symbols of cemí and other spiritual figures carved into rocks all over Puerto Rico.
8. Re-Enactments
Indigenous life is re-enacted at a replica Taíno village at Tibes (for further details see Replica Village).
10. Museo Indígena Cemí
A collection of cemí and petroglyphs, which can also be seen in situ nearby (for further details see Museo Indígena Cemí).
