Visiting Castillo San Felipe del Morro (Puerto Rico): Your Complete Guide
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, also known as El Morro and San Juan National Historic Site, is the starting site of Spaniard expansion into the Western Americas in the 16th century. Puerto Rico was under Spain's rule for almost 400 years and El Morro stood as the military base for this ruling. It has endured wars and battles to keep intruding parties out - filled now with history and cultural treasures - it is a must-see when visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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What is the Best Time to Visit?
El Morro is open year-round with the exception of New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Luckily Puerto Rico also has year-round tropical weather which means mild winters and warm, humid summers. Hurricane season runs June-September. Unless there is a hurricane, there really isn’t a bad time to visit.
There are going to be more crowds during the Summer peak season of July and August and during the rainy season of December through April when it’s a bit cooler.
TIP: It is worth noting that if you are visiting during the Summer or a very sunny day, that there is limited coverage in the park. You will be mostly exposed to the sun. Come prepared with sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses and stay hydrated with the water sold in the park.
How Long Do I Need in the Park?
Castillo San Felipe del Morro is massive. There are 6 levels, tunnels, and endless rooms. You could easily spend 3+ hours here if you take your time to see the entire compound plus read the plaques to learn more about what you are viewing. I recommend to allot at least 1.5 hours - this is about how long it took me to get through a majority of the fort and take pictures to where I felt satisfied and fulfilled from my visit.
How to Get to Castillo San Felipe del Morro
Castillo San Felipe is located in San Juan, Puerto Rico just a short 18-minute drive from the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU). The fort sits on a peninsula, Isla San Juan, that juts out between the Bay of San Juan and the Atlantic Ocean to the North. The best way to get here is by car. Whether that is a rental, taxi, or Uber (Uber works well and is very reliable in San Juan). The alternative is a bus depending on your location. The buses only take you so far so you would need to walk the rest of the way.
Where to Stay near Castillo San Felipe del Morro
Being located in the popular city of San Juan, there is no shortage of great places to stay that happen to be close to El Morro. Here is a short list of some popular areas and accommodations:
Condado
(Luxury): Condado Vanderbilt Hotel
(Mid): The Tryst Beachfront Hotel - This is the hotel I stayed in and can highly recommend it!
(Budget): Abitta Boutique Hotel
Isla Verde
(Luxury): Fairmont El San Juan Hotel
(Budget): TRYP by Wyndham Isla Verde
Old San Juan
(Luxury): Hotel El Convento
(Mid): Decanter Hotel
(Budget): Navona Studios Guesthouse
Things to Do at Castillo San Felipe del Morro
Explore the Inner Walls of El Morro
There are 6 levels and endless rooms and vistas to see. Many parts include plaques that go into more detail on what you are looking at to create an immersive, educational experience. Simply walking around the fort is the main attraction - envisioning life here hundreds of years ago.
Have a Picnic on the Grassy Hills
Surrounding the fortification are rolling grassy hills, the perfect place for a post-visit picnic with scenic views of El Morro and the sea. This is free to do, just bring a blanket and food and join the many others doing the same.
Fly a Kite
Another activity in the surrounding lawn is kite flying. Kite flying days are held here often but even if one is not occurring during your visit, this is a popular spot to fly kites with the sea breeze and open space.
Shop for Souvenirs in the Visitor Center
Located through the entrance of Castillo San Felipe del Morro is a souvenir shop where you can pick up small treasures to remember your visit. This is also where you can go to get your National Park Passport Stamp if this is something you collect in your travels!
Tips & Things to Know
Tickets are $10/adult and your ticket into Castillo San Felipe del Morro also gets you into Castillo San Cristobal for free if you visit on the same day so I recommend visiting both! Just keep your entrance ticket on you.
Wear sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and protective layers because most of the fort you will be fully exposed to the sun with no coverage!
The sooner you arrive after opening, the less crowded and cooler it will be.
There are iguanas that live freely around the fort. Do not touch or feed them, admire them from a distance! Unfortunately, I witnessed tourists messing with the iguanas and it getting very agitated. This is not fair to these animals so leave them be!
Before or after your walk around the fort, visit some of the nearby attractions listed below.
Drink lots of water. You will be doing a lot of walking and it can get very hot and humid. There are shops near the entrance to purchase water and other drinks.
Visit the visitor’s center through the entrance for souvenirs.
There are a lot of stairs and steep inclines. Take your time and take breaks if needed.
Nearby Attractions
Museo de las Americas (5min walk)
Casa Blanca (8min walk)
Puerta de San Juan (10min walk)
Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis (15min walk)
Calle de la Fortaleza (15min walk)
Plaza de Armas (16min walk)
Castillo San Cristobal (16min walk)
Resources
Address: 501 Norzagaray Street, Castillo San Cristobal, San Juan, PR 00901
Phone Number: (787) 729-6777
Hours: 9AM - 5PM
Website: https://www.nps.gov/saju/index.htm
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