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Doctor in Old San Juan by Video, for Visitors and Cruise Passengers

If you need a doctor in Old San Juan, know that the cruise port lists Ashford Presbyterian in Condado as its hospital. Inside the old city, the only pharmacy counter we verified, at Farmacia Caridad, closes at 4 p.m. on weekdays and is shut on Sundays. For anything that is not an emergency, Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD, sees you by video, at any age, while you are in Puerto Rico, even on a port day.

Old San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico$79Doctor visit
Can we help by telehealth?SometimesIt depends on the evaluation.

Is it an emergency? Call 911.

Pay now, then choose your time right away. Full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more ahead.

See the cancellation policy

You can cancel for a full refund or change the time up to 24 hours before your visit. Within 24 hours you can't cancel and there's no refund. If you don't join in the first 10 minutes, there's no refund.

If you choose a time less than 24 hours away, it can't be cancelled or changed.

If the clinic can't see you, for example because of a technical problem on our side, we refund you in full.

A street in Old San Juan lined with colorful facades and parked cars

Telehealth only

We are a telehealth-only service: we have no office or clinic in this area or anywhere else in Puerto Rico. If you need to be seen in person, this guide shows where to go.

Is this an emergency?

This is not an emergency service. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:

  • Confusion, fainting or hot dry skin after walking in the sun
  • Bloody vomit or diarrhea, or being unable to keep fluids down
  • Chest pain, shortness of breath or stroke signs
  • A fall on the cobblestones with a head injury

Warning signs: when to go to the ER

On this page (9)

The emergency room for Old San Juan and the piers: Ashford

The San Juan Cruise Port's contact page lists 911 for police, ambulance and fire, and Ashford Presbyterian Community Hospital (787-721-2160) as its hospital. It also gives phone numbers for San Jorge Hospital (787-727-1000) and Pavía (787-641-1616), but we could not confirm San Jorge's ER. We found no hospital ER inside the old city.

Ashford is at 1451 Ashford Ave, Condado, PR 00907, east of the islet. The hospital says its ER is open 24 hours, 7 days, with a 24-hour pediatric ER (extensions 1095–1098), and that it is the designated emergency hospital for the cruise docks. More on the Condado page. If someone falls on the cobblestones and hits their head, or collapses in the sun, call 911.

Before you leave home

Why a video visit

For anything that isn’t an emergency, compare what each option takes.

Why a video visit
ComparisonVideo visitEmergency roomCDT or doctor’s office
Getting thereFrom home: join from your phone, tablet or computer.Drive and find parking.Drive and find parking.
Waiting roomSkip the waiting room: join from wherever you are in Puerto Rico.Yes, a waiting room.Yes, a waiting room.
Hours and timeEvery day, any time (Puerto Rico time). Video doctor visits 24/7 — book online and choose your time right away.In Puerto Rico, a median of 4 h 52 min from arrival to departure for patients sent home (US: 2 h 42 min; Oct 2024–Sep 2025).1,2An in-person visit takes about 2 hours on average, including travel.3
Price$79 visit · $49 follow-up · $35 forms. You see it before you pay; no insurance needed.Depends on your insurance and on what is done.Depends on your insurance and on what is done.
LanguageSpanish or English, with the same doctor.Depends on the place.Depends on the place.
PrescriptionsIf appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy.Yes, if needed.Yes, if needed.
When to go in personIf the doctor needs to examine you in person or run a test, she tells you and guides you.In an emergency: chest pain, trouble breathing, weakness on one side or bleeding that won’t stop. Call 911.If you need stitches, an X-ray or a test on the spot.

For problems that are not emergencies. In an emergency, call 911.

Is there a pharmacy in Old San Juan? One counter, with short hours

There is one pharmacy counter inside the old city, but it closes early. From the Farmacias Caridad directory and each store's page on the Walgreens locator (distances are the locator's, not travel times):

  • Farmacia Caridad Viejo San Juan, 105 Gilberto Concepción de Gracia, Ste 1, PR 00901, 787-725-2500. Shop floor: daily 7 a.m.–10 p.m. Pharmacy counter: Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.–1 p.m., closed Sunday. Its listing advertises delivery.

  • Walgreens, 100 Calle Brumbaugh, PR 00901, 787-723-1364: store and photo only, no pharmacy. Open Mon–Fri 7 a.m.–10 p.m., Sat–Sun 8 a.m.–10 p.m.

  • Walgreens, 25 Ave Ponce de León, Guaynabo, PR 00965, 787-782-1798, 2.4 miles. Pharmacy counter: Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

  • Walgreens, 700 Ave Roberto H Todd, PR 00907, 787-945-7710, 2.7 miles. Pharmacy counter: Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

  • Nearest verified 24-hour pharmacy counter: Walgreens, 2505 Carr 841, Guaynabo, PR 00969, 787-287-0528, closed 1:30–2 a.m. for a meal break.

Walgreens counters also close 1:30–2 p.m. daily. Some search results still show a Walgreens on Calle Cruz, but the official locator does not list it. Call before you walk up the hill.

Sick at night in Old San Juan: what to do after 4 p.m.

In the old city the pharmacy counter closes mid-afternoon and stays shut on Sundays, and we could not verify any walk-in clinic or CDT on the islet. Work through it in this order:

  1. Is it an emergency? Chest pain, trouble breathing, confusion, fainting or a head injury: call 911. Ashford's ER in Condado is open 24 hours for adults and children.
  2. On board, or sailing tonight? Go to the ship's medical center first: the CDC says about 95% of illnesses and injuries on cruise ships are treated or managed onboard.
  3. Need a prescription filled tonight? On weekdays the Walgreens counters on Ave Ponce de León and Roberto H Todd close at 8 p.m.; at weekends, 6 p.m. After that, the nearest open counter is Walgreens, 2505 Carr 841, Guaynabo.
  4. Need something over the counter? The Farmacia Caridad shop floor and the Calle Brumbaugh Walgreens store are open until 10 p.m.
  5. Can it wait until morning? Video doctor visits 24/7 — book online and choose your time right away. If the doctor prescribes something, we send your prescription to your pharmacy; work out counter hours before your ship sails.

The cruise piers, Paseo de la Princesa and Calle Fortaleza

The cruise port is made up of piers 1, 3, 4 and 11 to 14, plus Pan American piers I and II, around the San Antonio Channel. From the piers, many passengers start out along the Paseo de la Princesa, a half-mile 19th-century promenade beside the city wall and the bay that ends at the San Juan Gate near La Fortaleza, the governor's official residence. Calle Fortaleza is one of the old city's two main commercial streets (Wikipedia, a secondary source).

Old San Juan's streets are blue cobblestone, and many are steep: with sandals, heat and a long day on foot, sprains and falls come easily. The doctor assesses a mild sprain without deformity by video; if you can't put weight on the foot, the ankle looks misshapen, or there was a head injury, for your safety, get seen in person.

Cruise passengers: ship doctor, telehealth or the ER?

The CDC says respiratory illness accounts for 30–40% of ship clinic visits, and norovirus causes more than 90% of cruise-ship GI outbreaks. If vomiting or diarrhea starts while you are ashore, wash your hands with soap and water, keep up your fluids, and tell the ship's medical staff before you re-board.

A video visit is a good fit when you are ashore in San Juan (before embarking, after disembarking, or on a longer stay) with a sore throat, UTI symptoms or allergies. The doctor sees you while you are in Puerto Rico, so book your visit before the ship sails. See doctor options for cruise passengers.

Virtual urgent care: a doctor in Old San Juan for all ages

For anything that is not an emergency, we offer video urgent care in Puerto Rico at your hotel or anywhere ashore: a sore throat, UTI symptoms, allergies, diarrhea, a mild sprain or a sunburn. Dr. Diana Nieves Castro is a general practice physician with several years of emergency-department experience, and she sees adults and children of all ages, in English or Spanish; if you are visiting the old city and want a doctor who speaks English, the whole visit can be in English.

We evaluate, diagnose and treat; if needed, we give you a lab order for a lab near you. If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. Patients under 21 have a parent or legal guardian on the video, showing ID.

We send you a secure video link that works on your phone, tablet or computer. Visiting? See care for visitors. Cruise passengers and residents of the old city use the same Puerto Rico telehealth as the rest of the island.

What it costs: three prices, no membership

You pay by card through secure checkout; you are charged when you request the visit, with a full refund if the clinic can’t see you. The same price for every age:

  • Doctor visit: a new problem, urgent care (non-emergencies), children, visitors, tourists and cruise passengers. A doctor's note is included if you need one.
  • Follow-up visit: a refill of a medicine you already take (non-controlled), or a review of your lab results if you are an existing patient.
  • School and university forms: the medical form your school or university asks for, when the video evaluation supports it.
  • If a follow-up or forms visit turns out to need a full visit, the doctor explains why and, with your consent, you pay the difference. Full details on our pricing page.

Forgot your medication in port, or worried about seasickness

If it is a non-controlled medicine you already take, such as one for blood pressure or thyroid, the doctor assesses whether it is appropriate to prescribe enough to finish your trip; if it is, we send your prescription to your pharmacy. Have the bottle or a photo of the label handy; the CDC advises cruise travelers to carry their medical history and medication documentation. The CDC also says medication for motion sickness, including seasickness, works best taken before exposure. Book early enough to reach an open pharmacy counter. See lost or forgotten prescriptions.

Heat on El Morro and the city walls, and mosquitoes

Walking El Morro and the city walls at midday is harder work than it looks. The CDC lists muscle cramps, heavy sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness, headache, weakness and nausea as possible signs of heat illness; drink water and find shade. Confusion or fainting is an emergency: call 911. Dengue circulates in the city too: the Puerto Rico Department of Health weekly report (week 37, published September 23, 2026) counts 41 cases in San Juan municipality in weeks 1–37 of 2026. See dengue in Puerto Rico.

Addresses, phone numbers and hours on this page were last verified on 2026-09-30.

Urgent care by video in Old San Juan, San Juan

For urgent problems that are not emergencies, the doctor evaluates you by video from wherever you are in Puerto Rico, without driving or looking for parking. If appropriate, she prescribes and we send the prescription to your pharmacy, or she gives you a lab order.

The doctor can see you by video for:

Call 911 or go to the emergency room for:

  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Trouble breathing or bluish lips
  • Face drooping, weakness on one side or trouble speaking
  • Bleeding that will not stop, a deep wound or a hard blow to the head
  • Fainting, confusion or seizures
  • A baby under 3 months with a fever
  • Thoughts of harming yourself: call or text 988

For problems that are not emergencies. In an emergency, call 911.

When to go to the ER: full guide · Video, CDT or ER?

How we care for you

  • We evaluate, diagnose and treat; if needed, we give you a lab order for a lab near you.

  • We see adults and children of all ages. Patients under 21: a parent with patria potestad (parental authority) or a legal guardian is on camera for the whole visit and shows photo ID.

  • Real-time video visit. We send you a secure video link. It works on your phone, tablet or computer.

  • If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy.

  • You must be physically in Puerto Rico during the visit (visitors, tourists and cruise passengers are welcome).

  • In an emergency, call 911.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a 24-hour pharmacy near Old San Juan?

Not in the old city. The only counter we verified there, Farmacia Caridad on Gilberto Concepción de Gracia, closes at 4 p.m. on weekdays and 1 p.m. on Saturday and is shut on Sunday; the Calle Brumbaugh Walgreens has no pharmacy. The nearest 24-hour counter is Walgreens, 2505 Carr 841, Guaynabo (787-287-0528), closed 1:30–2 a.m.

Where is the nearest ER to Old San Juan and the cruise port?

The cruise port lists Ashford Presbyterian Community Hospital, 1451 Ashford Ave in Condado (787-721-2160). The hospital says its ER is open 24 hours and has a pediatric ER. There is no hospital ER inside the old city. In an emergency, call 911.

Can a doctor see me at my hotel in Old San Juan?

Yes, by video. We are a telehealth service with no local office: the doctor sees you on a video call at your hotel or wherever you are ashore, as long as you are physically in Puerto Rico. She sees adults and children of all ages and offers virtual urgent care for anything that is not an emergency. On board, the ship's medical center sees you in person.

How much is a doctor visit without insurance in Old San Juan?

Each provider sets its own price. We have three prices and no membership: a doctor visit has a published price, like a follow-up visit (for example, a refill of a non-controlled medicine you already take) and school and university forms. You are charged when you request the visit, with an itemized receipt (superbill) on request. We do not bill insurance or Medicare. If you pay without insurance elsewhere, ask for a good faith estimate first.

Can I get a prescription online in Old San Juan?

Yes. If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. Whether you get one depends on what the doctor finds on the video visit; for a refill of a medicine you already take (non-controlled), choose the follow-up visit. Mind the hours: the old city's only counter closes at 4 p.m. on weekdays and is shut on Sundays.

I'm a cruise passenger. Can I use telehealth in port?

Yes, while you are physically in Puerto Rico: ashore, before embarking or on your port day. The video doctor visit has a published price (see pricing). Request it early so the visit happens before your ship sails; you choose your time when you book. On board, the ship's doctor sees you.

Video visit

$79· Doctor visit

Video doctor visits 24/7 — book online and choose your time right away.

Pay now, then choose your time right away. Full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more ahead.

See the cancellation policy

You can cancel for a full refund or change the time up to 24 hours before your visit. Within 24 hours you can't cancel and there's no refund. If you don't join in the first 10 minutes, there's no refund.

If you choose a time less than 24 hours away, it can't be cancelled or changed.

If the clinic can't see you, for example because of a technical problem on our side, we refund you in full.

  • Doctor licensed in Puerto Rico (24027) Verify (opens in a new tab)
  • Visits are not recorded
  • No insurance needed
  • Secure card payment (may include Apple Pay or Google Pay)

Medical care provided by Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD (PR license 24027)

About this page

Author: The Health Initiative

Medical care provided by Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD (PR license 24027)

Disclosure: Founding Executive Director of The Health Initiative

Published: 2026-09-30 · Updated: 2026-10-11