Castillo San Felipe del Morro (A Local’s Guide & History)
Visiting Castillo San Felipe del Morro is something you can’t miss when traveling to San Juan.
With more than 400 years of history, El Morro features an impressive history of battles, and it’s a favorite site to explore in Puerto Rico for locals and tourists alike.
This citadel in Old San Juan is open from 9 am – 5 pm daily and the entrance cost is $10. Inside. visitors will find troop quarters, prison cells, garitas, and exhibits about the fort’s history.
In this post, I will go over everything you need to know before visiting El Morro, starting with a short history lesson:
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How to Visit San Felipe del Morro
How to Get to El Morro
🚶♀️ Walk – Getting to Castillo San Felipe del Morro walking is easy if you’re staying in Old San Juan. You can reach it through Paseo del Morro, starting at Paseo La Princesa, through Calle Norzagaray, Calle Beneficencia, or Paseo Santa Elena.
🚗 Drive – Drive into Old San Juan through Avenida Luis Muñoz Rivera and park on street or one of the private parking lots in the capital city. The Ballajá Parking Garage is the closest parking lot to the fort. Read this post to learn more about driving in Puerto Rico.
🚌 Public Transportation – If you’re coming from the airport you can take the D53 or T5 AMA bus to reach Old San Juan. See the complete routes at the DTOP website.
🚕 Taxi – A taxi from the airport to Old San Juan has a fixed rate of $21, but some additional charges per luggage may apply.
📚 Related Reading: How to Get Around in Puerto Rico
Entrance Costs, Hours, Details
🎟️ Entrance – $10 per person. People younger than 15 get in for free. The entrance fee also covers the entrance to Castillo San Cristóbal, another fort in San Juan.
🕖 Hours – 9 am – 5 pm daily. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year
💵 Payment Method – You have to pay with a card as they don’t accept cash right at the entrance of El Morro.
♿ Accessibility – There isn’t parking right outside El Morro, so you can’t reach the fortress directly by car. The entrance to the fortress is paved and of easy access for wheelchairs. If you need to, you can make further arrangements to visit by calling 787-729-6777.
🖥️ Website – National Park Service San Juan
📞 Phone: 787-729-6960
📍 Map It: 501 Bulevar del Valle, San Juan, 00901
🧑🏻🤝🧑🏻 Tours – Inside Castillo San Felipe del Morro & Old San Juan Walking Tour
What to Expect Inside El Morro
The Entrance
At the entrance, you will reach the paying booth, where park rangers will greet you, charge your entrance fee, and provide a free map. From there you can choose to do a self guided tour or buy an audio guide to get through the park.
👉 Want to visit more amazing places? Check my list of the top places to see in Puerto Rico.
Main Plaza
This is where you’ll enter San Felipe del Morro and it’s the fifth level of the fortress. You will find exhibits, a bookstore, a chapel, a kitchen, prison cells, and bathrooms with spectacular views.
📍 Don’t miss: The garitas, small turrets from where sentinels watched the bay.
The Lighthouse
The lighthouse is on the sixth level of El Morro and you can access it through ramps on both sides of the plaza. You cannot enter the lighthouse itself, but you can tour the complete sixth level of the fortress where you’ll get fantastic views of San Juan harbor, Fort San Cristóbal, and the city.
📍 Don’t miss: The three flags on top of the fort. One of them was the flag used by the Spanish Empire.
The Main Firing Battery
On the fourth level, you’ll find the main firing battery. The platform was used to house the canyons during World War II by the Americans. You’ll also find the infamous garitas (sentryboxes), and the historical latrines. To get to this level you can use the main stairs with 77 steps from the plaza, but keep in mind they can feel quite steep. There are also two smaller “secret” stairs, including a spiral staircase.
📍 Don’t miss: The spiral and triangular staircases the soldiers used to get between floors.
Troop Quarters and the Kitchen
From the fourth level, take the stairs down to the third level, where you’ll find the troop quarters, a second plaza, and a kitchen. From this floor, you can also access the second level of the fort.
👉 Local Tip: Staying in San Juan is great, but you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit other great parts of the island. Read my complete list of fun day trips near San Juan so you know where to go.
The Original Tower
Located on the second level of El Morro you will find the original tower that dates back to 1539. The original tower was built after previous fortifications like La Fortaleza failed to protect the San Juan bay from attacks. The original appearance changed with the years, but it’s the oldest part on El Morro.
📍 Don’t miss: The piece of a canyon ball on the roof, from one of the 1898 attack the small blue whale drawing.
History of El Morro
The Arrival of the Spanish Empire
Christopher Columbus arrived in Puerto Rico in 1493 and claimed it as a territory of Spain. Of its prime location and its resources, Puerto Rico quickly caught the attention of multiple powerful countries.
The Early 1500’s
The capital city moved from Caparra to Old San Juan in 1521. Due to constant attacks and an urgency to protect the San Juan Bay, the Spaniards built the first part of La Fortaleza (literally translated as the fortress), in 1533.
But it wasn’t built in the most strategic location, and the need for San Juan’s defenses gave a path to the construction of the original tower of the San Felipe del Morro Fort in 1539.
👉 New to San Juan? Don’t miss my list of the best things to do and see in San Juan.
The Attacks
In 1589, Field Marshal Juan de Tejeda and Bautista Antonelli began designing and planning a new defensive system for Castillo San Felipe del Morro and the city of San Juan, whose construction would span for decades. In the following years, the capital suffered several attacks:
⚓1595 – Sir Francis Drake, a famous English privateer, attempted to capture the San Juan harbor with 27 ships and 2,500 men, but failed.
⚓1598 – George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland, leads an English attack, entering Old San Juan through land and taking over Castillo San Felipe del Morro for 65 days, giving up after most of his troops got sick with dysentery.
⚓1625 – Boudewijn Hendricksz leads Dutch troops to invade Old San Juan but fails to take over El Morro and retreated after setting fire to the city.
⚓1797 – British General Ralph Abercromby and Admiral Henry Harvey invade San Juan as a result of the Anglo-Spanish War. Following a two-week siege, the British withdrew, after the locals repelled them in Boca de Cangrejos, an event later linked to the legend behind La Rogativa sculpture.
Spanish American War
During the Spanish American War, the US Navy attacked Castillo San Felipe del Morro three times until it succeeded with an invasion on May 12, 1898. The Spanish American War ended with the Treaty of Paris which turned Puerto Rico into a United States colony.
👉 Are you an adventure seeker? Read now about the other fun activities you can do in Puerto Rico.
The World Wars
Although El Morro wouldn’t actively participate in a battle again, the fort continued to serve as a military base for the United States under the name of Fort Brooke. An additional bunker got created on top of Castillo San Felipe del Morro during World War II and in 1908 the lighthouse got remodeled.
National Park Service
In 1961 the United States armed forces moved out from El Morro and the whole fortress became part of the National Park Service. Later in 1983, the United Nations declared Castillo San Felipe del Morro along with the walls of San Juan a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tips for Visiting El Morro
Visit in the Morning or Late Afternoon
If your Puerto Rico itinerary allows it, I recommend visiting El Morro either in the morning or late afternoon, an hour before closure. Overall, just avoid entirely noon, since you’ll be spending a lot of time walking in the sun, and with all the stair climbing and walking, you’ll fatigue easily. Visiting early or later in the day will make your visit more pleasant.
Drink Tons of Water
With all the walking under the sun, it’s easy to get dehydrated. While there is a shop inside El Morro where you can buy refreshments, you can save money by bringing your own reusable bottle of water since there are water fountains next to the bathrooms.
Wear Comfortable Walking Shoes
El Morro is bigger than what it seems on the exterior. You will be walking, climbing stairs and ramps for at least an hour. If you wear sandals not only you’re risking getting hurt, but also falling. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes with a grip that help you enjoy your visit.
Check the Weather
You can enjoy El Morro at its best on a sunny day. Exploring the fort during a rainy day without getting wet is close to impossible, plus the ramps and stairs become slippery and dangerous. For a better experience, check the weather with anticipation.
📚 Bookmark for Later: Best Time to Visit Puerto Rico
Leave Heavy Luggage at the Hotel
If you’re visiting El Morro fortress after checking out, make the arrangements to store your luggage at your hotel even if you have to pay extra.
I’ve seen tourists carrying heavy suitcases and backpacks through the forts, and let me tell you, not only is it unsafe, but it ruins the whole experience. If your hotel doesn’t offer luggage storage, you can use Bounce to find storage locations in San Juan.
👉 Want More Tips? Read my complete list of the best travel tips for Puerto Rico.
Map of Castillo San Felipe del Morro
FAQs About El Morro
What does El Morro mean in Puerto Rico?
El Morro is one of Puerto Rico’s most important landmarks, for being one of the oldest standing structures left by the Spanish Empire in San Juan and Puerto Rico. San Felipe del Morro is also a national symbol of Puerto Ricans’ identity.
Why is El Morro important?
El Morro was an important citadel that defended San Juan from incoming sea attacks during the Spanish Empire’s stay in Puerto Rico, and it was a strategic military defense of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean region. The structure is almost 500 years old.
Did slaves build El Morro?
El Morro was mainly built by artisans, stonecutters, smiths, slaves, and prisoners. Although some Spaniards contributed to the building of El Morro, they got paid for their labor.
What is El Morro named after?
El Morro’s complete name is San Felipe del Morro and is named after King Phillip II of Spain since Puerto Rico was under the control of the Spanish Empire during its construction.
Who attacked El Morro?
San Felipe del Morro was attacked by the English, the Dutch, the British, and finally by the Americans in 1898. Sir Francis Drake, a famous privateer, also attacked the island in 1595.
When was El Morro used?
San Felipe del Morro was used from 1539 to 1961, when the United States armed forces abandoned it, becoming part of the National Park Service up to today.
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Now you know everything you need to visit Castillo San Felipe del Morro on your own. If you’re wondering what else you could do in the city, check out my local list of fun activities to do in San Juan.
More Photos of Castillo San Felipe del Morro
I really like your write ups. Is there a way to print them just as articles so I can take them with me?
Hi Tracy – that’s a good idea and something we can work on adding in terms of functionality. At the moment, we don’t have way.
-Nate from Travel Lemming