During our travels, I like to “collect” National Park Service sites. Sometimes we plan a trip around visiting a park, like Yosemite or Carlsbad Caverns, but other times, these sites happen to be where we are. That’s how I ended up visiting Castillo San Felipe del Morro. Along with the nearby Castillo San Cristóbal, these two fortifications comprise the San Juan National Historic Site.
Castillo San Felipe del Morro is the older of the two forts, built by the Spanish in the 16th century to protect San Juan from pirates and rival European powers. San Juan’s location made it a strategic gateway to the Caribbean, and El Morro was designed to guard the entrance to San Juan Bay.
You can still visit parts of the original structure from the 1500s, though they’re no longer visible from the exterior due to expansions over the centuries. Additional walls, sentry boxes (garitas), and even a lighthouse were added as the fort evolved. While El Morro was highly effective at protecting the bay, it had a significant weakness—it was vulnerable to an attack from land.
That’s why Castillo San Cristóbal was built. Located about a 30-minute walk from El Morro, it was designed to defend against land-based assaults. Both forts are included in the same admission fee, making it easy to visit both in one trip.
After the Spanish-American War in 1898, Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory, and the fortifications were transferred to the United States. The U.S. military later used the complex during World War II, adding an artillery fire control station to monitor potential threats.
The twin fortifications are now a part of the National Park Service and the location is also considered an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
How to Visit El Morro
Located at the western edge of Old San Juan, El Morro is easy to fit into your day while exploring the area. Old San Juan is a very walkable city, but keep in mind that it can be hilly—comfortable shoes are a must.
The fortress itself spans seven levels, which means navigating several flights of somewhat uneven steps. To be fair, when El Morro was built over 400 years ago, accessibility wasn’t exactly a priority!
Hours & Admission:
- Open daily: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Closed on: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
- Entrance Fee: $10 per adult (includes access to both El Morro and Castillo San Cristóbal)
- Free with: America the Beautiful Pass
Our Visit
Most visitors enter the fort by walking across the parade lawn before stepping inside.
Once inside, you arrive at the main plaza, where you’ll find the gift shop, bathrooms, and several exhibits on the area’s history. If you’re like us and don’t have a deep knowledge of Caribbean history over the past 500 years, these displays provide great context. From here, you can also check out lookout posts with views of the bay.
In the main plaza, you’ll find a ramp leading up to the upper level and stairs leading down to the lower levels.
We started our visit by heading up. From the upper level, you get sweeping ocean views, making it a perfect photo spot. This is also where you’ll find the lighthouse, though it was closed to visitors during our visit due to ongoing repairs.
After walking around the perimeter and taking in the views, we headed back down the ramp to a long set of stairs leading to the firing battery and lower plaza. To get a sense of scale, this is a massive complex.
From here, you can take another set of stairs down to the Original Tower, which has been surrounded over the years by expanding levels. There’s also a water-level section, though it was closed during our visit.
Final Thoughts
We’ve explored a few Caribbean forts over the years, and while many share similar features, El Morro stands apart for its sheer scale. Walking through its massive walls, multi-level defenses, and panoramic ocean views, it’s easy to see why this fort was considered an impenetrable stronghold for centuries.
Even though our visit only took an hour or two, it was worth the $10 admission. If you’re short on time or want a different perspective, you can walk the Paseo del Morro trail, which circles the fort for free—but you’ll miss out on the stunning views from the upper levels.
One last tip: there’s no food available inside the fort, aside from a few snacks in the gift shop, so plan to grab a bite at one of the many great restaurants nearby in Old San Juan.
We only had one day to explore Old San Juan, and since we got a late start, we didn’t have time to visit Castillo San Cristóbal. However, we did get a great view of it from our cruise ship while docked in port. Maybe next time!
If you’re planning a trip to San Juan, El Morro is a must-see—whether you’re a history buff, a photographer, or love incredible ocean views. Have you visited El Morro or another historic site in Puerto Rico? Let us know about your experience in the comments!
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