Business bustles in Puerto Rico’s capital city of San Juan but when it’s time for a day off, it’s an easy change from briefcase to bathing suit or from conference to casino action. You’ll find a pulsating atmosphere in this city of more than 1 million residents that buzzes night and day with commerce, cruise ships and savory cuisine.

The historical heart of the city is Old San Juan, home of the best-known sites including Fuerte San Felipe del Morro or El Morro. This fort, one of the most photographed places in the Caribbean, is administered by the U.S. National Park Service. Start with a video then take a self-guided tour; exhibit signs are posted in both English and Spanish. Even if you’re not a history buff, El Morro is a great place to gaze out on the sea and enjoy the gentle trade winds. Don’t miss the garitas, circular sentry towers now a symbol of Puerto Rico.

Old San Juan is also one of the city’s top shopping districts, best known for the shops along Calle Christo and Calle Fortaleza. In search of a distinctive island product? Popular buys are cuatros (small handmade guitars), mundillo (bobbin lace), santos (hand-carved religious figures), rum and premium cigars.

But for all its historic and city attractions, San Juan is still a beach town. Along the water’s edge of Isla Verde Beach, traffic sounds give way to the slap of waves on the honey-colored shore and the clear piping of the tiny coqui (co-kee) frogs. (It’s said that coqui can survive only on the island, so to be “as Puerto Rican as a coqui” is a declaration of island pride.)

Nature also takes center stage at El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest Service. Forty-five minutes east of San Juan, the rain forest blooms with 240 species of trees, ferns and flowers. Walking trails carve through the dense forest.

As the day draws to a close, the focus turns toward food and drink in San Juan. Meals are late and lengthy. The trendiest area for fine dining followed by an evening of bar hopping is Sofo, the South Fortaleza district. Look for restaurants featuring nuevo Latino cuisine as well as traditional criolla or Puerto Rican dishes, a mix of Taíno, Spanish and African influences. Start with an appetizer of tostones (fried plantains) before moving on to asopao (rice and chicken stew) and mofongo (seasoned mashed plantains). Save room for tembleque, a custard made with coconut milk and sprinkled with cinnamon. And there’s no need to worry about going thirsty: Along with some of the Caribbean’s finest rums, the island offers excellent local beer and stout Puerto Rican coffee.

After dinner, the action lies in the city’s casinos, most remaining open until the early hours of the morning. You’ll find a full menu of table games and slots at the luxury hotels found in the Condado and Isla Verde districts. Formerly, these casinos required jackets but today the dress code is semi-formal, just no shorts and sneakers.

For more information on San Juan, visit www.gotopuertorico.com.