La Perla… A Colorful & Rhythmic Neighborhood
Need To Know Facts & Tours

This neighborhood of La Perla is not a sight you would expect to see in a major tourist area such as Old San Juan.  La Perla is located right between the forts of San Cristobal and El Morro, two of the most significant historic landmarks, part of the San Juan National History Site.  Both tourists and residents of Puerto Rico are curious about the neighborhood, for some it causes discomfort.  This community has a lot of history and is perhaps the most unique on the island.   If you’re wondering, La Perla does not come close to representing what communities on the rest of the island look like.

Top Rated Tours to La Perla, San Juan, PR

La Perla is east of the beautiful cemetery of Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis, nestled between the city walls facing the Atlantic Ocean on Calle Norzagaray.  Today, the spot of La Perla is considered prime real estate, with developers and investors keeping a watchful eye on this land.  Many have tried to buy these properties for top dollar, but proud residents refused to give up their homes despite all efforts.  The government has tried in many ways to get them to move from the area in order to beautify the area, but it has failed.  Families that have lived there for many years defend their right to keep their homes.

Top Rated Tours to La Perla, San Juan, PR

If you insist on wandering around the neighborhood, please be respectful of residents by not taking photos or videos of their homes or businesses, which, again, we have ALWAYS advised against in our guide.  La Perla is NOT a tourist attraction or destination.  No one will block you from entering La Perla, you do so at your own risk.

On your way to one of the forts, as you pass La Perla, it is ok to take photos from the Calle Norzagaray, such as the colorful and famous basketball court.

Again, please don’t venture into the neighborhood; the only people that go in are residents.  Just about any Puerto Rican living on the island will tell you not to enter their neighborhood.  There are plenty of beautiful attractions to focus on during your visit.  While police presence is heavy in the tourist districts of San Juan, La Perla is not policed.

La Perla is a unique community with a history that goes back for generations.  Back in the 19th century, being outside the city walls was undesirable.  There was a slaughterhouse on the site; slaves, the homeless, and non-white servants were required to live outside the city walls, so that was the beginning of homes being built right on the waterfront on that site.  Back then, living right on the water was for the poor and landless; today, it has reversed, but for residents this neighborhood is not prime real estate, it is home.

History of Crime at La Perla

Yes, the history of crime is high and typically related to drugs, but that is also true for a few other neighborhoods in the city.  Visitors can have peace that the history of crime does not spill out into Old San Juan, which visitors frequently visit.  Most residents of La Perla are regular people with families and children who are proud and loyal to their community.  Until two years ago, there was no history of tourists being victims of crime by residents of La Perla; with all the attention the media gave to La Perla after the music video Despacito, curious visitors started wandering the streets of this neighborhood that every Puerto Rican will tell you to stay away from.  In 2021, a Delaware tourist went to the neighborhood of La Perla to buy drugs, he was warned not to take photos while buying drugs, sadly he was killed and his friend survived a beating.  Sadly, more recently, in 2023, three tourists were stabbed after being told not to take videos.  Our sincere condolences to the families of the victims of these horrific crimes.

We have been warning readers about this since we published this guide, enjoy Old San Juan, and as you take a walk above the neighborhood on Calle Norzagaray, just pause, take in the scenery, take a few pictures and keep walking, there’s many more beautiful and interesting places to see.

Sources: Wikipedia