Ruin of Caparra

When the explorer Ponce de Leon arrived in Puerto Rico he and his men built the first Spanish settlement on the island. The ruins of this once impressive fortress are today among the most popular New World historic sites. Caparra was discovered back in 1917 when the construction of Route 2 unearthed this historic stone structure.
Today, travelers can explore the well-maintained grounds, which are marked with placards noting the historical significance of various sites, and unearth a bit of the past at the tiny museum on site. The one-room collection includes documents and artifacts that detail the colonization of Puerto Rico. Most travelers agree this place will never top the list of “must see” destinations in PR, it’s still worth a quick stop for the sake of history.

Practical Info

The ruins are located in Guaynabo along Route 2, just south of San Juan.