Visit Old San Juan's UNESCO World Heritage Forts

Guide to Puerto Rico’s National Historic Site

Sep 5, 2008

Built by Spanish troops, Fort San Felipe del Morro and Fort San Cristobal are two of Puerto Rico's most visited attractions.

The wall city of Old San Juan is known for its cobblestone roads, 16th Century Spanish colonial buildings and its grand defensive fortresses. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, the Fort San Felipe del Morro and Fort San Cristobal were built to protect San Juan from sea and land attacks. The Spaniards built forts in San Juan to protect the transportation of gold, silver and jewels on its route from America to Spain. The walls and fortifications are a big part of the heritage left by Spain to Puerto Rico.

Fort San Felipe del Morro

Often called El Morro, this 74 acre fort sits at the northwestern most point of Puerto Rico. El Morro is a term meaning promontory or headland. Its location was designed to guard the entrance to San Juan bay and to defend the city from sea attacks.

In 1539, a tower was first built at the site, however the six level fort was not completed until 1787. Today, the fort is an amalgamation of design by Spanish troops and the US government spanning over 250 years. The El Morro is the largest fort in the Caribbean.

El Morro rises 140 feet above sea level and is surrounded by 18 foot thick walls. This six level fortress is a maze of tunnels, dungeons, barracks, outposts and ramps. Make sure to pick up a map guide when entering the fort. The guide explains the layout and use of the different areas and rooms in the fort. Alternatively, guided tours are available every hour on the hour. The program includes tunnel tours, lighthouse talks and walks through the outer defenses of the fort.

Along the walls are the famous dome-covered sentry boxes known as garitas. The sentry boxes served as sheltered lookout posts to keep watch along the fortress walls. Three flags fly over the El Morro: the United States flag, the Puerto Rican flag and the cross of Burgundy (the old Spanish military flag).

El Morro – Hours of Operation

Located a fifteen to twenty minute walk from El Morro, Fort San Cristobal guarded old San Juan from approaches by land. Construction of this 27 acre fort began in 1634 and was finished in 1790. This fort features five independent units, each connected by moat and tunnel. Each independent unit was designed to be completely self-sufficient should the others fall.

A labyrinth of tunnels crisscross deep underground where dungeons are located. A guided tour will tour the tunnels and show you where the first shots of the Spanish-American war were fired. These tours run every hour on the hour. Don’t miss the Garita del Diablo or the Devil’s Guerite, a sentry box where according to legend, devours soldiers sent there to guard.

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