This family-run shop sells some of the best vejigantes (Puerto Rican masks) on the island. The patriarch, Castor Ayala, began making and selling the coconut masks in the 1950s. He taught his craft to his children, one of whom – Raul Ayala – continued the business. The shop still operates out of the original yellow clapboard building, complete with tropical murals.
Artesanías Castor Ayala
Top choice in San Juan
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
9.68 MILES
El Yunque National Forest is one of Puerto Rico’s crown jewels with nearly 29,000 acres of lush, mountainous terrain scattered with waterfalls, rushing…
Cabezas de San Juan Reserva Natural
14.42 MILES
A nodule of land on Puerto Rico’s northeast tip, this Para La Naturaleza–run reserve protects the Laguna Grande bioluminescent bay, rare flora and fauna,…
18.67 MILES
A star of Old San Juan, brooding El Morro sits atop a headland, deterring would-be attackers. The 140ft walls (some up to 15ft thick) date to 1539 and it…
17.79 MILES
The city's second major fort is one of the largest Spanish-built military installations in the Americas. In its prime, it covered 27 acres with a maze of…
18.39 MILES
This museum presents an impressive overview of cultural development in the Americas, including indigenous, African and European influences. Four permanent…
-
16.44 MILES
This sheltered arc's raked sand, decent surf breaks, local action and a 17th-century Spanish fort shimmering in the distance are the hallmarks of what's…
14.7 MILES
San Juan boasts one of the largest and most celebrated art museums in the Caribbean. Housed in a splendid neoclassical building that was once the city’s…
11.95 MILES
With countless tanned bodies lounging or flexing their biceps around the volleyball net, this urban beach basks in its reputation as the Copacabana of…
Nearby San Juan attractions
1. Parroquia del Espíritu Santo y San Patricio
2.43 MILES
At the northern end of Plaza de Loíza, this neoclassic church stands proudly above the surrounding modest modern buildings. It dates from 1645 and takes…
2.45 MILES
Loíza's Cultural Center has several displays of masks and costumes worn during the town's popular Fiestas de Santiago Apostól. Glass cases also contain a…
7.99 MILES
Along with its must-visit kioskos, Luquillo is synonymous with its fabulous – and hugely popular – beach. Set on a calm, northwest-facing bay and…
8.18 MILES
Kids love this sprawling hands-on museum in suburban San Juan. Interactive and fun displays focus on volcanoes, electricity and music, while dress-up…
8.64 MILES
The first spectacular natural feature you see as Hwy 191 climbs south toward the forest peaks is an 85ft cascade as the stream tumbles from a precipice to…
9.02 MILES
A block from Luquillo’s plaza, this is the place to catch a surf break, admire the sculpture by local artist Carlos Guzmán, grab a bite from a gourmet…
9.09 MILES
This 65ft, Moorish-looking stone tower was built as a lookout in 1962. It's the first good spot for vistas of the islands to the east, but there are…
9.27 MILES
Baño Grande, a former swimming hole built during the Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps, lies across Hwy 191 from the Palo Colorado Information…