El Morro Castle & Old San Juan Tour: Visit Top Attractions with Local Guides
4.9
159 Ratings
San Juan
Experience the El Morro Castle & Old San Juan Tour with knowledgeable local guides. Explore top attractions like the fort San Felipe del Morro, colorful buildings, and cobblestone streets. Discover the rich history, culture, and nature of Puerto Rico.
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
-
Plaza Darsenas - MEETING LOCATION:
This is a square covered with trees next to peer 1 in Old San Juan. All participants must meet the guide by the fountain next to La Casita de Rones (pink building). - Plaza de Hostos - Original entry way of Old San Juan through the demolished gate of the town.
- Bastión de las Palmas de San José - Observation point overlooking the bay of San Juan. It was originally built to fire cannons at enemy ships.
- La Casa Estrecha - The narrowest building in North America.
- Capilla del Santo Cristo de la Salud - Historic chapel from the 18th Century. Built after a miracle that happen right in the site where the chapel was built.
- La Fortaleza - Palacio de Santa Catalina - This is the Governor’s mansion one of Puerto Rico’s World Heritage Sites. Also, you will see the colorful umbrellas over the street.
- Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista - The San Juan Cathedral is one of the oldest in the Americas. Inside we will see the tombs of Juan Ponce de Leon and Alonso Manso, the first bishop in the New World.
- Hotel El Convento - We will visit the interior of this historic building to see the magnificent art of its ballrooms and meeting rooms. You will also some of the original structures of the Convent built on the 17th century.
- La Rogativa - La Rogativa is a iconic sculpture representing the procession that was held in Old San Juan during the British attack of 1797. Travelers will also see the San Juan Gate which is the last standing gate of the town and will have the opportunity to visit a “garita” (defensive sentry box).
- Casa Blanca Museum - This was the residence of Ponce de Leon’s family for over 200 years. It is the oldest standing structure in Puerto Rico dating from the early 16th Century.
- Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery - We will see the cemetery from above. You will learn why it was built outside of the city walls and so close to the ocean. Also, we will talk about important figures of Puerto Rico’s history that have been buried there.
- Castillo San Felipe del Morro - The tour includes entrance to El Morro Fort! Inside this 16th century castle you will learn its history, battles and importance the arm forces of Spain and the USA. There will be a bathroom and water break inside. After the guided tour in the fort, participants can stay to explore it for a little longer.
What's Included
- Bottled water included
- Entrance to El Morro Fort included ($10 value)
What's Not Included
- Sunscreen
- Sun glasses
- Hats or caps
- Comfortable Walking Footwear
Additional Information
The excursion encompasses a visit to San Felipe del Morro fortress, the premiere sightseeing spot in Puerto Rico. It also takes in notable highlights of Old San Juan including its vibrant edifices and paved lanes. Additional points of interest covered are the inner part of San Juan Cathedral, the Governor’s Residence, and the San Juan Gateway.
The guiding of the tour is done by local individuals possessing stellar customer support and extensive knowledge about Puerto Rico’s history, cultural heritage, and natural landscape. The tour guides are accredited by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and demonstrate proficiency in both English and Spanish languages.
- Not recommended for travelers with walking limitations
Location
La Casita de Rones
Calle Comercio
Please, meet the guide by the FOUNTAIN next to La Casita de los Rones on Plaza Darsenas in Old San Juan.
From the cruise ports (pier 3 & 4) walk westward along the water until you get to Plaza Darsenas.
Pan-American Pier is NOT within walking distance.
You can take Uber or Taxis to Plaza Darsenas.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(159 Ratings)
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Siculagirl
Apr 22, 2024
Antonio is the best! - Antonio was an excellent tour guide! His knowledge of the history of San Juan and the Caribbean was impeccable! I would highly recommend this tour and Antonio!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nicolesy5320xj
Apr 22, 2024
Highly recommended tour with Antonio! - Antonio was an incredible guide!! We had a wonderful morning exploring Old San Juan and El Castillo San Felipe del Morro!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mike_d
Apr 20, 2024
Excellent way to learn the history of Old San Juan on foot - I really enjoyed participating in the Old San Juan and El Morro Castle Walking Tour on April 18. The tour guide, Maria, was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the history of Old San Juan and she was incredibly helpful in answering questions throughout the tour. Maria's passion shone through and really helped elevate the experience. She was also considerate of the heat and did her best to stop in shaded areas, and the bottle of water provided was much appreciated. The tour size was only nine people, which provided a more intimate and accessible experience. The value of the tour was certainly worth the cost - definitely recommend if you're looking to cover a lot of ground and learn a lot about the city's history in a few hours!
Review provided by Viator
Gah0urayd
Apr 20, 2024
Exploring a beautiful and history rich city - Antonio is awesome and so knowledgeable about the fascinating history and stories about Old San Juan. I could hardly capture the beauty with pictures. This tour was on the top of my favorite things about my trip, I loved it. And I got to make some friends along the way!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jayk1087
Apr 10, 2024
Magnificent Maria - Maria was amazing. Very knowledgeable and her love of her culture seeped through. She was made for this job and would highly suggest everyone taking this tour! 10 stars if I could.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
John_m
Apr 9, 2024
Good time, good value. - Our guide did an excellent job navigating the beautiful downtown San Juan area even though it was crazy during Good Friday and not the normal patterns. We saw all the major landmarks and even comes with free admission to the El Moro fort where the tour ends, allowing you to explore the massive fort as long as you'd like.
Review provided by Viator
Michael_g
Apr 9, 2024
Best tour in Puerto Rico - This is the best tour in Puerto Rico. Maria our tour guide is filled with energy and good vibes for the whole walk. Telling us amazing stories of the island. Maria is a history book for Puerto Rico she can answer all of your historical questions about old San Juan. The places she took us the churches, the wall, the government buildings new and old locations and the fort that protects Old San Juan is a must to see. Beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean and old San Juan.
Review provided by Viator
Nancydr2559lk
Apr 7, 2024
Informative family fun - Maria was great!
Single mom, 2 kids with 1 on the spectrum Maria was wonderful with them both. Very informative, accommodating tour
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nicole_t
Apr 6, 2024
Old San Juan - Maria was amazing! She was super knowledgeable and our tour was really good! Loved learning about old San Juan’s history and seeing this beautiful city! Loved it all!
Review provided by Viator
Laurenho9617qe
Apr 5, 2024
PERFECT for first time in San Juan - Our guide, Maria, was so welcoming and accommodating!! Her knowledge of the city’s history and the city today was truly impressive. You can tell she truly loves what she does. 2.5 hours was the perfect amount of time to see San Juan landmarks and learn a bit about each stop. All of the stops on the tour you could technically visit yourself but we wouldn’t have learned half of what we did without this tour. We highly recommend this tour especially for San Juan first-timers and one of your first days in the city. Have fun!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
