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Offered languages
- English
Embark on a walking tour of San Juan, full of majestic architecture, breathtaking views, and embattled history. Behold the largest Spanish-built fortification in the Americas. Hear stories of pirate battles, greed, and power featuring figures like Sir Francis Drake. Stroll down ancient city streets rich with culture and history, then walk along this beautiful city's old walls and enjoy some gentle ocean views.
After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.
Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Begin from FV7Q+H8W, San Juan, Puerto Rico. After booking the tour, search your emails and texts for "audio tour". Your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR so follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
This tour will conclude in 101-103 Paseo de la Princesa, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00901, next to Pinchos, Al carbón cocina.
Itinerary
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1
Welcome to San Juan! Are you ready to explore this historic capital? Let’s get started! Our tour begins at the colorful La Corazon Steps. You can’t miss it -- the steps have a beating red heart painted on them while the nearby tourist info center is an eye-catching pastel pink. NOTE: The tour is over 2 miles long, with more than 30+ audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2
Pause once you round the bend. There should be bright pastel buildings on either side. Before we continue, let’s briefly review how this tour works: Stories play automatically as you follow the route. When a story is finished, the map will pop back up.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3
Pause here at the intersection. Look at the eye-catching pastel building ahead and to the right. El Antiguo Casino is a beautiful example of the Beaux Arts style, featuring Greek columns, Roman balustrades, and Tiffany-style glass windows. It’s not a casino, if that’s what you’re thinking! It’s a wedding venue!
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Plaza Colon
Hello Columbus! We’re at Plaza Colon, also known as Columbus Square, looking at a towering statue of Christoper Columbus. So what is Columbus doing here? Simple: He was the first Spanish explorer to claim the island for the Spanish throne! He called the island San Juan Buatista, and although its name later changed to Puerto Rico, the name “San Juan” stayed for this city.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You can’t miss the huge fortress ahead. That’s Castillo San Cristobal, the largest Spanish-built fortification in the Americas. Cross using the crosswalks and head towards the Castillo’s main entrance visitor center if you plan to visit. If not, turn left and walk up the slope towards the historic entrance to continue the tour. Keep listening as you walk!
Admission ticket free -
5
Continue walking and look left. See that clump of trees with two tall towers sticking out above? Behind those is hidden a tan stone building with a triangular roof: the Polvorín de Santa Elena, built in 1783. This building served for a long time as a gunpowder magazine. The powder to fight all those battles against the Dutch and the English had to come from somewhere! Nowadays, Polverin de Santa Elena serves as an office for the National Park Service!
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
Castillo San Felipe del Morro (Pass by)
Directly ahead of us is the Castillo San Felipe del Morro, more often referred to as El Morro. It’s probably the most epic fortification in Puerto Rico and much of the Americas. Construction on this castle began in 1539, and it’s a good thing it did! Remember all those attacks on San Juan? They would have succeeded without a doubt if not for this fort.
Admission ticket free -
6
Keep walking as you listen. Farther ahead and to the left, do you see that gray and white structure with the black top, sticking up above the stone wall? It almost looks like a lighthouse, but it’s Bateria Santa Elena aka the Battery Guardhouse!
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7Cuartel de Ballaja
Continue walking as you listen. Look left, at the huge yellow building with three flags flying on top. This is the Cuartel de Ballaja, an old military barracks and the very last large-scale construction project by the Spanish in the city. The second floor now houses the Museum of the Americas.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
Casa Blanca Museum (Pass by)
Pause here. Notice the sign on the right for Casa Blanca. Before it was a home, it was actually the very first fortification in San Juan. Built in 1521, it protected the settlers against revolts by the indigenous Taino. To visit, walk through the gate on your right. Click on Learn More for admissions info.
Admission ticket free -
Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista (Pass by)
Check out the tall white cathedral ahead to the left. This is the Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista, the oldest church in the Americas! Built in 1540, it has survived the innumerable attacks on San Juan, the fire set by the Dutch, and even the recent, and devastating, Hurricane Maria! It seems like no calamity is bad enough to shake these foundations!
Admission ticket free -
8
Continue walking down this shady, colorful, cobblestone street. At the end of the street stands a huge stone doorway. That’s none other than the Puerta de San Juan: the only remaining gate of the old city! Hundreds of years ago, this gate welcomed travelers to the city and kept invaders shut out. Walk through the gate and get a great look at the water beyond.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
9
As you walk, look up at the city walls. Soon you may be able to spot a few buildings behind the wall. Those make up La Fortaleza, Spain’s original fortress here on San Juan, tracing back to before the 1530s. Before the Castillo San Cristobal, that was the only thing standing between San Juan and other conquering nations.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
- How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
- Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
Show 5 more
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
- How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
- Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
- Savings tips: Walking tours: couples can share one tour by splitting headphones
- Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
- For the best experience, bring headphones/earbuds for your walking tour.
- For the best experience, please use an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, an Android device running version 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular connectivity, as these are recommended for navigation.
- Your password can be used on the same number of devices as travelers booked. Enter the same password on each device.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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