La Perla — Local services in San Juan

La Perla is a historical shanty town astride the northern historic city wall of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, stretching about 650 yards (600 m) along the rocky Atlantic coast immediately east of the Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery and down the slope from (north of) Calle Norzagaray.

La Perla was established in the late 19th century. Initially, the area was the site of a slaughterhouse because the law required them and homes of former slaves and homeless non-white servants – as well as cemeteries – to be established away from the main community center; in this case, outside the city walls. Sometime after, some of the farmers and workers started living around the slaughterhouse and shortly established their houses there.

Only three access points exist, one through the “Santa Maria Magdalena Cemetery”, one on the east side and one through a walkway right in the center of the northern wall.

La Perla was the true site of the fictional “La Esmeralda” barrio depicted in Oscar Lewis‘s sociological work “La Vida” describing the lives of Puerto Rican slumdwellers through taped interviews with dozens of intertwined family members who lived there in the 1940s-1960s.

TOURISTS in LA PERLA: La Perla has a reputation of being a not so friendly neighborhood. There are no museums or attractions except the humble people that call it home. There are a few little neighborhood pubs. If visiting we recommend you visit during...

I provide -5 stars . Dangerous place ( La Perla at old San Juan Puerto Rico ). We went to visit Castillo El Morro , We looking for parking and we found a big sign for parking ,looks like a small túnnel but we found a big surprise, that street went to La Perla , it is only one way street for one car , very difficult to find the exit from there. La Perla at Old San Juan it is very dangerous place, very ugly, & dirty. No wonder they do not want the tourist take photos and videos because you can show the world the dangerous place. DO NOT GO there. Old San Juan and the rest of Puerto Rico is beautiful, exclude that place. There are many parking lots around...

If you are a tourist do yourself a favor and stay away, it is dangerous. I made the mistake to step foot and within 3 minutes I was surrounded and attacked. Even many locals avoid that place. I was told I got lucky by many locals after i shared my experience with them. The neighborhood is tiny and surrounded by the ocean, 2 national park Forts, and Old San Juan. You can mistakenly think it's another place to explore. And don't expect any police...