Intrigue abounds with tales of daring pirates and sunken ships to keep their interest. There is a small entrance fee to get into the fortress complex, but it’s worth it. What to Do at El Morro Fortress in San Juan Our first stop was El Morro Fortress at just before sunset. Beautiful Bougainvillea were in bloom on every street.Īfter our walk through several parks and neighborhoods, we arrived at El Morro. I never would have found this lush park and fountain on my own. On my Sunset Walking Tour through Old San Juan. Our Sunset Walking Tour guide shows us the route we’ll take. The second option, turning left from the dock, is how our Sunset Walking Tour guide chose to take us to El Morro and Old San Juan. It’s a much more level walk (just a few stairs) and you’ll pass some historic and scenic lookout points. The other way is to cross the street and go left and keep walking. Along the way you’ll pass small shops, quiet cafés, centuries’ old churches and interesting architecture. Go straight uphill from the port through Old San Juan. To get to El Morro, it’s about thirty minutes to walk from the port. Welcome into San Juan Harbor with Old San Juan in the distance.

Nicknamed El Morro, the massive stone fortress sits on a rocky promontory surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the San Juan Bay.īuilt between 15 to protect its harbor and city from invasion, El Morro features a maze of secret access tunnels and dungeons. Rising majestically 140 feet above the sea, flying US, Puerto Rico and Spanish military flags, is Castillo San Felipe del Morro. You’ll sail past what is possibly the most spectacular sight in the entire Caribbean. Grab your camera and stake out your space on the port (left) side of the ship for the magnificent approach into historic San Juan harbor. Wake Up to See El Morroįirst things first. The pier is right across from Old San Juan. There’s plenty of time to explore the old city, even if you arrive at 3pm and depart at 8pm. Instead of spending a long day on a shore excursion, I always recommend a walking tour through Old San Juan. Here are my recommendations for an easy breezy, day in Old San Juan. Things to Do in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico What to Do at El Morro Fortress in San Juan.Things to Do in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Map of port in san juan puerto rico