Puerto rico forts old san juan: Exploring Castillo San Felipe del Morro in Old San Juan

Posted by alexxlab
January 20, 2023
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San Juan National Historic Site – Full Guide

The San Juan National Historic Site is one of the most impressive sights in Puerto Rico, constantly ranked among the top attractions in the Caribbean. These historic landmarks have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. San Juan National Historic Site includes the forts of San Cristóbal, San Felipe del Morro, San Juan de la Cruz (El Cañuelo), and the city walls.

Navigate through tunnels, dungeons, ramps, barracks, stairways, pass cannons, arched passageways, and the famous Garitas. Bring your camera for the hundreds of gorgeous photo ops with San Juan Bay and the Atlantic Ocean as the perfect background.

Fortress Castillo San Cristobal

Covering 27 acres, this is the largest Spanish fort in the New World, an architectural masterpiece, allowing you to travel back 500 years, it is a must-see during your visit to Old San Juan. Make sure to bring your camera for breathtaking photo opportunities. Group tours with friendly park rangers are available, or you may explore on your own.

+ Castillo San Cristobal – San Juan, Puerto Rico

Top Rated Walking Tours with Fort Visit

Castillo San Felipe del Morro

Castillo San Felipe del Morro, commonly known by residents as “El Morro” is the most popular and most beloved landmark in Puerto Rico where family memories are made. El Morro has six levels, with something interesting to see and breathtaking views at every bend. The grounds of El Morro are a playground for families and romantics… a place that invites visitors to sit down to enjoy the breeze that carries the contagious laughter of children flying kites… Senses are invigorated at the grounds of El Morro, is sort of magical… prepare to feel your inner child go free…

+ Castillo San Felipe del Morro – San Juan, Puerto Rico

Fortin San Juan de la Cruz (El Cañuelo)

This small fortification located just west of San Juan served in conjunction with El Morro to protect San Juan Bay. In 1973, it was made part of the National Historic Site and a UNESCO historical site. Fortin San Juan de la Cruz is located in Isla de Cabras, the islet you can observe right across from El Morro, part of the municipality of Toa Baja. Currently, this fort is in need of restoration so you may not enter, however from the park you will enjoy the most amazing views of the walled city of San Juan.

+ Fort San Juan de la Cruz – Toa Baja, Puerto Rico

The Walls of the City

These massive walls, which served to protect the city, visitors may walk admire freely and pass through the San Juan Gate into the most beautiful and charming city in the Caribbean with 16th-century European elegance. Be sure to take a walk on Paseo de la Princesa and Paseo del Morro for great close-up views of the outside walls and breathtaking views of San Juan Bay.

San Juan National Historic Site – Full Guide

Fortress Castillo San Cristobal

+ Castillo San Cristobal – San Juan, Puerto Rico

Top Rated Walking Tours with Fort Visit

Castillo San Felipe del Morro

+ Castillo San Felipe del Morro – San Juan, Puerto Rico

Fortin San Juan de la Cruz (El Cañuelo)

+ Fort San Juan de la Cruz – Toa Baja, Puerto Rico

The Walls of the City

Old San Juan, San Juan: the best tips before visiting

4.5

16 572 Excavations

excellent

125

is terrible

Maria N.

Moscow, Russia11 690 publications

The place of power of the whole island is here

Jan. 2019 • For two

We fell in love with the old town with its winding streets and pretty, brightly decorated houses. They came every evening in a rental car, discovering more and more interesting, iconic places. If you want to visit museums, fortresses or cathedrals, you need to come during the day and before 16:00. There are large parking lots at the cruise ship port, where the Sheraton Hotel is. But we parked for free on the streets. It makes no sense to list all the sights. There are a lot of them. Like cafes and restaurants. For every taste and budget. Be sure to come here in the evening and on weekends or holidays. You can become a participant in the most interesting events or carnival shows. I highly recommend. The locals know how to relax, and the law enforcement and cleaning staff quickly clean up everything after mass festivities. We are witnesses to that. nine0003

Published February 5, 2019

This review represents the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.

yuliy k

Ness Ziona, Israel157 publications 2018

Went there with a cruise, Very cheap shops in terms of prices, Worth seeing the fortress, It consists of 2 parts, The main part has 6 levels, Ticket 7 bucks per adult, children are free, Worth a visit and take pictures, Very picturesque, In the city, be sure to drink a coconut, it will give a lot of energy, Then I recommend breaking it directly on the asphalt and eating it with a spoon, The locals taught us this, They broke it for us, but it’s not difficult, You will succeed! nine0003

Published August 20, 2018

This review represents the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.

Massimo Ciuffolotto

Odessa, Ukraine379 publications

Favorite place

July 2017 • Traveling alone

Not a fan of exotics, dawn and humidity, having traveled almost all the Caribbean, I found an ideal place for me along and across the Caribbean Juan. nine0055 The old town is absolutely stunning, cozy and very peaceful in the early morning hours. You can sell tsakhs along the narrow streets and just catch the buzz.

Published August 29, 2017

This review represents the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.

Asselina79

London, UK15 publications

It’s like being in Spain

July 2017

Very atmospheric! You really feel like you’re in Spain. Narrow streets, paved road, carved bars, lanterns, shutters, everything is simply magnificent. The only downside is traffic jams and lack of parking. The castles are absolutely gorgeous. Overall, you won’t regret it

Published July 13, 2017

This review represents the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.

IgorTuristik

Istra, Russia1,639publications

Gorodok

March 2017 • Family holidays

We were frightened by the abundance of criminal types on the streets. But we didn’t notice anything. Probably in the very center there are points of risk, but on the outskirts the streams of tourists dissipate and there are no crowds in which intruders could operate. Bright, bright, sunny and cozy. Lots of places to take pictures.

Published April 20, 2017

This review represents the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews. nine0003

Maxim V

21 publications

Old San Juan

Jan. 2017 • Traveling alone

I really liked this town. Of all in the Caribbean, the most civilized, but nevertheless retained all its charm. I write civilized because the level of street crime here is much lower than in other similar places. Great nature, a lot of greenery, old paving stones. Local music plays everywhere and many lucky people.

Posted on 29January 2017

This review reflects the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.

benya007

Frankfurt, Germany189 publications

Wonderful place

Jan. 2017 • Family vacation

Great town. Liked it very much. The only thing is that there is hellish traffic. Do not under any circumstances go there by car! Everything is worth it. A free bus around the old city is also a dubious event due to traffic jams

Published January 20, 2017

This review represents the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.

Irina L

Moscow, Russia781 publications 2016 • Traveling alone

Surprisingly pretty, cozy, beautiful old town of San Juan. Two stunning, well-preserved forts. Along the fortress of El Morro and along the fortress wall – a beautiful embankment. You walk around the city with pleasure and admire the old multi-colored houses with openwork lattices on the windows and balconies, entwined with flowering lianas. I would love to visit this city again. nine0003

Published January 1, 2017

This review represents the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.

anastasia s

Yekaterinburg, Russia60 publications

you can walk and walk

2016 • With friends

Gorgeous Puerto Rico !!!! You can walk and admire the blue brick streets. Unreal food in restaurants. Sangria! Here you can buy a freshly rolled cigar and enjoy the aroma of tobacco. Perfect place! nine0003

Published December 24, 2016

This review represents the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.

Mamonth

Kyiv, Ukraine189 publications

Pleasant city

2016 • For two

The city looks like old Spain, the old part is surrounded by a fortress wall, along which a footpath for evening walks is now laid. There are two well-preserved fortresses Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo de San Cristóbal, both with places to wander and things to see. In front of San Felipe del Morro there is a huge lawn field where you can have a picnic with sandwiches. In every street you will find a cafe or restaurant for every taste and budget. nine0003

Published October 4, 2016

This review represents the subjective opinion of a member of the Tripadvisor community and is not the official position of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews.

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How Puerto Rico Island Captivates Travelers – Russian Dallas – Russian Dallas

Travel With The Dallas Telegraph, America

Written by Editorial

on 2020-05-19

If earlier the mission of the watchtowers was to protect Puerto Rico, today it is a tourist photo spot

Christopher Columbus landed on the Caribbean “Island of Charm”, as many today call Puerto Rico, on November 19, 1493. By that time, the island was already inhabited by the Taino Indians. However, this fact did not prevent the Spaniards from starting a new period in the history of the newly discovered territory. Columbus named the island San Juan de Bautista after Saint John the Baptist. Today, only the capital, founded in 1521 by the Spanish colonists, is called San Juan, while the island itself has long been known as Puerto Rico. nine0003 Fearless fauna

Puerto Rico is like the USA, but at the same time it is not. Local residents have a US citizen passport. The official currency in the country is the US dollar. The island’s unique natural parks are part of the United States National Park System. But with all this, Puerto Rico is not an American state, but an American territory – since March 2, 1917, which in legal language sounds like an “unincorporated organized territory.”

Tourist outpost

The island has several times “asked” to take it as the 51st state (according to the results of the vote), but the US Congress has not yet satisfied these requests. At the same time, the United States did not abandon Puerto Rico after the devastating Hurricane Maria, which passed through the island in the fall of 2017. As of early 2018, electricity and water supply has not yet been restored to the entire island, many houses are still destroyed, but the situation here is much better than, say, on neighboring San Martin / San Martin, owned by the Netherlands and France . nine0003 American Conquistador of Fort San Felipe del Morro

Among the other surrounding Caribbean islands, Puerto Rico is a gem in every sense. And although neither Columbus nor other navigators after Columbus found such coveted gold here, they found something that was more valuable – fresh water and a convenient harbor for ships traveling from the Old to the New World. After all, it was not in vain that for centuries bloody battles of the Spaniards with the British, French and Dutch were going on for this tiny piece of land. But the Spaniards were never able to keep this pearl, and after another war, it came under the control of the United States. nine0003 At the very blue sea-ocean, a snow-white island cemetery

Puerto Rico in translation means “rich port”, because one of the island cities was originally called that. This rich and charming island continues to attract tourists. As before, it is a marina for many ships – in our time, these are, for the most part, cruise ships. Travelers roam with pleasure both in the bright old quarters of one of the oldest cities in both Americas and in the Spanish fortresses of San Juan. The two most famous fortresses of the island are San Felipe del Morro (Fort San Felipe del Morro) and San Cristobal (Spanish: Fort San Cristobal). The national symbol of Puerto Rico are watchtowers or guardhouses. If earlier their mission served the strategic tasks of defending the island, today it is a tourist photo spot and something that prevents travelers from confusing Puerto Rico with another country or island in the world. nine0003 Even the abandoned buildings of Saint Juan look elegant and unique

San Juan, both old and new, is a charming Caribbean town with small shops and restaurants, comfortable hotels, cozy beaches for the whole family and picturesque parks.