The first time I saw Castillo San Felipe del Morro Fort in Old San Juan was by cruise ship approaching the port of San Juan. The approaching view is spectacular by land or sea. Visiting El Morro Fort is my number one cannot miss recommendation for old San Juan, Puerto Rico!
The perfect place to begin any walking tour of Old San Juan is along the North coast. With good sun protection and sturdy shoes, the walk between Castillo San Cristóbal and La Perla is stunning, if you have the time and energy. History buffs will want to visit both Castillo San Cristóbal and Castillo San Felipe del Morro forts in Old San Juan, but if you are not feeling that ambitious or tight on time then El Morro is the better tour.
Castillo San Felipe del Morro Fort is the larger of the two forts located in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Castillo de San Cristobal is located 1.6 kilometers to the East (on the other side of La Perla) and can easily be walked in about 20 minutes.
Our family name is Morrow, so we jokingly refer to El Morro as the Family Fort! My Dad was excited to point out our namesake on the sign.
Notice the hats and sunglasses? The sun is brutal, and there is not much shade exploring Old San Juan and the Forts. Remember sunblock, you will thank me later.
Admission Details
There is a $5 entrance fee (same day visits) for both fortifications, Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristobal, so if you have the time be sure to visit both!
As part of the National Park Service, Annual Pass Holders get free admission to both forts.
El Morro is open 9am to 5pm, seven days a week to visitors.
Sunday is usually the most crowded due to weekend visitors and cruise ship passengers docked in the port of old San Juan. You can check the cruise docking schedule for old San Juan at Cruise Timetables or Cruise Mapper.
Parking is limited, with the majority of parking garages closer to the port to the south. I recommend taking an Island Taxi or Uber directly to the entrance and walk down down to the old city gate. From there you can walk around the fort towards Paseo del Morro and Paseo de La Princessa.
Bilingual Signs
The National Park Service has strategically placed information signs throughout the park. Signs and employees are bilingual (English and Spanish).
The views are spectacular over the Atlantic Ocean and Old San Juan.
Gorgeous views from every angle.
How Much Time Do I Need at El Morro?
We spent a couple hours exploring El Morro fort. If time is tight, you could easily explore everything in about an hour, missing out of the history exhibit if you are short on time.
San Cristobal can easily be explored in an hour, and it is well worth the (same day free) visit.
There is a free trolley that runs during the day, hop on and off to explore Old San Juan.
One of the distinctive features of El Morro is the six level tower at 140 feet high. There are several exhibits located in the tunnels and underground chambers. These tunnels were used to store supplies, ammunition, and weapons, and to move troops and supplies throughout the fort without being detected by the enemy. There are some really interesting exhibits to learn about the complex system, history, architecture, and design of the fort.
El Morro Fort is a not-to-miss attraction for anyone visiting Puerto Rico!