WARNING: Do NOT enter La Perla; this is one of the most dangerous if not the most dangerous part parts of Puerto Rico. Drug trafficking and lawlessness are rampant in this neighborhood. La Perla is a hot spot for criminals and drug lords. Risks of getting robbed, seriously injured, or murdered are high. Police will usually not be able to assist you if you find yourself in trouble in this area. Under no circumstance should you approach or enter this area.
Within the city walls, Old San Juan is quite safe. On the southern waterfront by the piers where cruise ships dock, local police line the area, keeping it safe for tourists, even at night. Along this waterfront and in front of the Sheraton hotel is the best place to catch a taxi at night if you need to.
Tourists should be aware that a small neighborhood, La Perla, between the northern city wall and the ocean is a private community and not a tourist area. Visitors should avoid this area since it is a neighborhood of poverty and drug trafficking. La Perla is quite isolated from the attractions that line the northern part of the city and very visibly slummish, different looking and separated from the rest of Old San Juan by the city walls, so it is not easy to accidentally wander into that part of town. The only thing that may bring tourists too close to La Perla is the Cementerio de Santa Maria Magdalena, which borders the neighborhood and lies at the bottom of the large grassy field behind El Morro. Try not to go into the cemetery unless you have business there, and never visit at night. Visiting photographers should also resist the temptation of going into La Perla to photograph the boldly colored, stacked shacks in various states of decay. To get the best views of La Perla without putting yourself in danger, take the trolley going north on C. de Norzagaray and sit on the left side, or try the lookout views from San Cristobal.
While safe during the daylight hours, at night it is also best to avoid the bastions of the northern city wall that overlook La Perla. As in any other foreign city, it is not advisable to go out alone late at night, unless you have a friend or guide to escort you. If you are traveling by bus, understand that buses that service stations in many of the outlying hotel areas stop running at around 9 or 10PM, and the exact time of the last bus is never sure. If you plan on being out at night in Old San Juan and you are taking the bus in, bring enough money for a taxi in case you stay out too late. Make sure you confirm with your hotel the price you should pay to get back, as cab drivers in Old San Juan are probably the most likely to add a dollar or so to the set fare. Many of the major resort hotels in the area have casinos, lounges, and discos with live music and restaurants which are mostly open until 3-4AM, along with taxis lining the entrance to take people back to their rooms when you're done.
