Old San Juan 2 Castles Walking Tour: El Morro & San Cristobal
Recommended by 96% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
San Juan, Puerto Rico
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- In-person Guide: English
- Entrance fee to El Morro and San Cristobal included/$10.00 value
- Skip-the-Line/ Quick entry to castle
- 15 minute intermission
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Plaza Colón, San Juan, 00916, Puerto Rico
PLAZA COLON is located right in the entrance of Old San Juan. Look for Plaza Colon. Multi level parking to the left. Guide will be dressed in white soldier attire with a black hat.
End point
- Castillo San Felipe del Morro501 Calle Norzagaray, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
Itinerary
1
Castillo De San Cristobal
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
2
Castillo San Felipe del Morro
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Rain or Shine: This event takes place
- Travelers must keep up with group
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 208 reviews
Review summary
Last 12 months
95 reviews
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Travelers praise the tour guides for their deep historical knowledge and engaging storytelling that combines humor and passion, making Puerto Rican history and the castles accessible and memorable. The castles, particularly El Morro and San Cristobal, stand out for their spectacular views and rich historical significance, with visitors appreciating the chance to explore tunnels, sentry boxes, and open areas while capturing photo opportunities.
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If you’re looking for a small group history tour, this is the one! Uncle J was fun, quirky, and was well loved by the locals. We saw so much and learned a lot in just over two hours.
Response from Host, Nov 2026
Emily, Thank you so much! Fun and quirky—I’ll gladly take both! Keeping my groups small makes sharing the history of Old San Juan much more personal. And being recognized by the locals always makes me smile! So glad you guys enjoyed our time together!
till the next time!
Great tour! A great balance of knowledge and humor. It’s clear that Uncle J knows a lot about the island. He showed up in full costume like the picture - that’s dedication in the hot weather. Be prepared to walk a lot so bring lots of water and stay hydrated.
Response from Host, Nov 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! The Spanish soldier uniform may be a little warm, but bringing history to life is worth every drop of sweat! 😂 I’m delighted you enjoyed the balance of history and humor while exploring Castillo San Cristóbal and Castillo San Felipe del Morro. Our small-group experience makes the storytelling more personal, and you’re absolutely right—comfortable shoes and plenty of water are essential! Thanks again for walking through history with Uncle J!
Uncle J was funny, knowledgeable and entertaining. So helpful to have a guide to the behind the scenes on our tour (even getting us in without waiting in line). The information and history added so much to the depth of our time and understanding of PR.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Chad
Thank you so much! Making history fun, entertaining, and meaningful is what Uncle J Walks is all about! Our small-group experience allows us to go beyond the usual sightseeing and bring the fascinating stories of Castillo San Cristóbal and Castillo San Felipe del Morro to life. And skipping those long entrance lines? That’s just one more way we make the most of our time together! So glad you left with a deeper appreciation of Puerto Rico’s incredible history!
Uncle J is really fun! He knows a lot about the history of the castles and showed a lot of great views of the area. I would recommend the tour to my friends.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! Sharing the history of these incredible castles is something I truly enjoy, and those spectacular views never get old! I’m glad you had a fun experience, and your recommendation to friends means a lot. Thanks for spending part of your day exploring Old San Juan with Uncle J!
Uncle J is the absolute best and this tour was a highlight of our time in San Juan! Not only does this tour include two Castles and a scenic walk, but Uncle J brings it all to life with his incredible knowledge and sense of humor. Walking around with Uncle J we noticed that he is clearly loved by the community and he was greeted with enthusiasm everywhere we went! That sense of connection made us feel like we were in very good hands, guided by someone who knows the history, the people, and the community inside and out. Highly recommend this tour to anyone coming to Puerto Rico!
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Wow! What a wonderful review! You noticed something very special to me. Old San Juan isn’t just a place where I tell stories. It’s my home, and the people here are part of those stories. Sharing that connection with my guests is one of the greatest joys of being Uncle J.
Thank you for your kindness, your enthusiasm, and for allowing me to share a little piece of my Puerto Rico with you!
With warmest regards,
Uncle J 🇵🇷🏰
One of the best experiences you will have bar none. Uncle J is amazing and is passionate about his history.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Eddie
Thank you for those wonderful words! My love for Puerto Rico’s history is only matched by the joy of sharing it with guests like you. You made Uncle J’s day! 🇵🇷🏰
Tonton J.
Beaux garçon. Was very detailed oriented about the castles my husband and I had a great time, we would do it again best tour ever. This is from your Haitian brother and wife Charles and Anna. You were very entertaining and knowledgeable also very flexible. We had a great time together you made our vacation spectacular. Thank you 🙏🏾 please keep the momentum going. God bless .
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Frè mwen Charles ak bèl madanm ou Anna! 🇭🇹🇵🇷❤️
Mèsi anpil pou bèl pawòl sa yo! Se te yon gwo plezi pou mwen pase tan avèk nou toulede. Nou pa t sèlman vizitè, nou te tankou fanmi!
Mwen kontan anpil dèske mwen te kapab fè istwa Puerto Rico vin vivan pou nou, epi fè vakans nou vin pi espesyal.
Frè mwen, pòt Puerto Rico toujou ouvè pou nou! Lè nou retounen, Tonton J ap la pou akeyi nou ak menm enèji, menm souri, ak menm lanmou an!
Bondye beni nou toulede! Anpil lanmou soti Puerto Rico pou frè ak sè mwen yo Ayiti! 🇭🇹❤️🇵🇷
— Tonton J
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of El Morro and San Cristóbal with Uncle J! His knowledge of Puerto Rican history is remarkable, but what really makes his tour special is the enthusiasm and genuine love he has for what he does. He brings history to life in a way that’s both interesting and entertaining.
One thing that particularly impressed us was how well-known and warmly welcomed he seemed to be everywhere we went. He clearly has wonderful relationships with the people in his community, which made the experience feel more personal and authentic than a typical guided tour.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Hi
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful and heartfelt review! Sharing the history of these magnificent fortresses is something I truly love, but sharing the spirit of Puerto Rico is just as important to me. Old San Juan has been part of my life for many years, and the friendships and familiar faces along the way are part of what makes this place so special. I’m delighted that you felt that connection, because there’s so much more to these castles than stone walls and cannons. Thank you for allowing me to share a little piece of my island with you!
till we meet again,
uncle j
Uncle J is a wealth of knowledge and made the experience unforgettable. Fantastic guide where you learn more than you could just walking through.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you so much! I’m glad I could help bring the castles and their history to life. There’s so much more to these incredible fortifications than what you can see just walking through them, and sharing those stories is what I love most. Thanks for walking with Uncle J!
Great tour! Wonderful communication, easy meeting spot. Very informative. My parents and kids loved it :-)
Response from Host, Sep 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Melissa
It was a pleasure having your family along! I especially love hearing that both your parents and the kids enjoyed the experience—that’s a pretty wide audience to keep happy! 😊 I’m glad the communication and meeting spot made everything easy from the start. Thanks for spending part of your time in Old San Juan with me!
uncle j
Uncle J is very knowledgeable and gives history from all perspectives. Amazing value for this experience. If you enjoy history or just want a little more insight about the island this is a must try.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
JC
Thank you so much! I really appreciate you recognizing the effort to tell San Juan’s history from all perspectives. There’s so much more to these castles than the walls themselves, and I’m glad the experience gave you a deeper insight into the island and its history. Five stars are always appreciated! Hope our paths cross again someday. —Uncle J
Uncle J was absolutely fantastic! He was knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and made our tour of Old San Juan unforgettable. He’s truly a walking encyclopedia of Puerto Rican history, but somehow makes every story fun and engaging. We learned a lot, laughed a lot, and had an amazing time. If you want a tour guide who treats you like family, Uncle J is your guy! Highly recommended! 🇵🇷👏😄
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Milbert,
What a wonderful review! I’m so glad you enjoyed the history, the laughs, and our time exploring the castles together. “Walking encyclopedia” made my day—but being treated like family is what Uncle J Walks is all about. 🇵🇷
Our tour with Uncle J was excellent! The evening before the tour we received a courtesy text from Uncle J confirming the tour time and meet up spot, we replied to the text confirming we would be there and he was very responsive. It was nice to know we could contact him directly if we had any issues. When we first met in person the morning of the tour, he greeted us with a friendly conversation and his awesome attire. We talked about his background as well as ours, and he prepped us for his plan for the tour. Before we started walking he gave us a brief historical background on the Spanish colonization to the new world and the design and building of each castle. By the time we had arrived at the first castle we felt as though Uncle J was an old friend and we were going to enjoy the tour. Uncle J seemed to know and have a good relationship with the Park Rangers in both castles. He brought us inside both castles, took care of registration and admission into the castles and we loved not having to worry about any of that. He shared lots of great historical information as we toured the open areas, tunnels, and sentry boxes of each castle and he made sure that we got to see and get photos of all of the amazing views. It was a lot of fun to see him interact very briefly with others as they saw him walking by. He was more than willing to listen to comments or answer questions we had along the way. We definitely had the best time and received outstanding treatment! This is very possibly the best tour experience we've ever had at any vacation/historical spot.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Angel,
Thank you for such an incredibly thoughtful review—it truly means a great deal to me. I’ve always believed the experience begins before we ever reach the castles, which is why reaching out beforehand and adding those personal touches is such an important part of what I do. Once we arrive, I want everything to feel effortless, from walking through the entrance with zero friction to simply enjoying the story without worrying about logistics. Over the years, the friendships and mutual respect I’ve developed with the National Park Service rangers have also become a special part of the experience, and I’m glad you noticed it. Reviews like yours remind me that people remember not only the history they learned, but how they were treated along the way.
Best of luck my friend.
We had an amazing time touring two castles in Puerto Rico with Uncle J as our guide! From start to finish, he made us feel completely comfortable and at ease. His warmth and sense of humor turned what could have been a standard tour into a genuinely fun and memorable experience. We were laughing just as much as we were learning.
Uncle J clearly knows the history and stories behind both castles, and he shared it all in a way that was easy to follow and engaging for everyone in our group. It's obvious he loves what he does, and that passion made the whole tour better.
If you're visiting Puerto Rico and want a guide who's knowledgeable, friendly, and fun to be around, book with Uncle J. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
I’ve always believed history goes down a little easier with a few laughs. I’m delighted you felt comfortable, had fun, and walked away knowing a little more than when we started. It was a pleasure having your group along for the adventure. Until next time—Uncle J.
A lot of walking so make sure you wear comfortable shoes and stay hydrated. My Husband and I learned a lot about the castles and what the island have been through over the past years. Taking a tour with Uncle Jwalk worth it because he knows so much about the castles and history.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What a pleasure having you and your husband along for the experience! There’s a lot of ground to cover between these two incredible castles, and even more history behind those walls. Great advice about comfortable shoes and staying hydrated. I appreciate the recommendation and hope you both left San Juan with some great memories! 🇵🇷
Best walking tour! Uncle J was great, and this tour was the perfect mix of guided history and solo exploration. It was hot (we did the 2pm tour) but the crosswinds helped keep us cool and Uncle J made sure everyone was OK. We had a great time. Be prepared to walk (there are breaks for water and the bathroom) and bring water.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi Sofia,
Thanks for coming on my tour. Yes, the Caribbean in July can get warm. Thankfully, we have the Trade Winds to keep our core comfortable.
Hope to see you again
Uncle j
First and foremost- best tour I have ever taken, and here's why: Uncle J takes a different approach to most mundane tour guides in that he mixes his deep PR historical knowledge with a conversational style that brings history to life and makes it more comfortable to engage and ask questions. Also loved his Pirate/Soldier costume! As we toured San Juan, Uncle J was treated like a Rock Star by locals and tourists alike. He graciously posed for pictures with kids upon request and without disrupting the tour. 5 STARS and will recommend without hesitation!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Best tour I have ever taken”—that’s a compliment I’ll remember! I’ve always believed history is best shared as a conversation, where questions are welcome and the stories behind these incredible castles can really come alive. And being called a “Rock Star” in Old San Juan definitely made me smile! It was a pleasure having you along, and your recommendation means a great deal. Until next time, my friend! 🇵🇷
Lots of good historical information . Our guide was engaging,, knowledgeable, and personable. However, once we saw one fort, we weren’t up to seeing the second. It sounded as though it was gonna be basically more of the same. We thanked our guide and left happy with our tour!
Lots of walking
Wear comfortable shoes
Bring water and wear sunscreen
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review! I’m delighted you enjoyed the history and found the tour engaging, informative, and personable. It was a pleasure sharing Old San Juan’s incredible story with you.
I completely understand that after exploring one massive fortress, some guests feel they’ve had a full experience. While El Morro and San Cristóbal are both Spanish fortifications, each tells a very different chapter of Puerto Rico’s history, with its own unique design, strategic purpose, and unforgettable views.
Thank you again for joining Uncle J Walks. I truly appreciate your recommendation to wear comfortable shoes, stay hydrated, and use sunscreen—it’s excellent advice for anyone visiting Old San Juan. I hope to welcome you back on a future visit!
Uncle J was great. He was very informative and engaging. My boyfriend loved the experience wants to do it again.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Joy,
Thanks for your kind review and engagement throughout the experience. Puerto Rico has a diverse and rich history. As a Puerto Rican, it gives me great joy to bring the castles to life.
Helps when you have great folks, like my ‘big fella”.
Until we meet again.
Safe travels
Uncle J was prompt, knowledgeable, and professional. Despite it just being the two of us, he didn’t cancel on us (which was much appreciated). Most tours will cancel if a minimum hasn’t been met. Grateful he honored our booking.
Took lots of pictures for us and educated us on the history of both castles in a fun and memorable way. Though we’d imagine the pirate costume would be hot to be dressed up in, he not only manages but is very responsive to kids and adults alike that are thrilled to see him as a pirate. Definitely, recommend.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
hi Sandeep
thanks for the kind review. i really enjoyed our time together and it was an honor.
Bless you and safe travels
Uncle J is AMAZING! Such a knowledgeable, kind, and funny guy! 10/10 experience, highly recommend!!! LOVE UNCLE J!!!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
my lil’ bro Charles,
you made our journey thru the castles loads
of fun. your infectious smile made my day.
you have a friend in Puerto Rico
be safe
Uncle J was AWESOME! When the tour started it was just my husband and I (the others were delayed) so we got to ask tons of questions and Uncle J had all the answers! I learned a ton of stuff that my husband evidently already knew. Being able to talk to Uncle J about all the 'unknown' facts made my husbands day. After the tour officially ended, Uncle J walked us back to our starting point and went over several more interesting sights in San Juan, even recommending a few restaurants for us to end our day. If you are looking for a great, fun and knowledgeable tour, this is it. We will take it again next time we are there.
I gave 5 stars because 100 was not an option!
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Nicole
Gave me great pleasure showing you guys my little island with a big heart. I really appreciated the nice sentiments, but when you have “living castles” at your disposal, its
an easy task.
Until we meet again!
uncle j
Some choose to wander the castles , but a guided tour greatly outweighs wandering aimlessly, the historical facts that uncle jay provides while touring both castles takes you back to a time where pirates & life & sea were the norm.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi A’
im glad you enjoyed the expierence walking the historic castles of Old San Juan.
your engagement was off the charts.
best always
uncle j
Uncle Jay is very knowledgeable amd has a great sense of humor. There is a lot of walking out in the sun--wear hats and sunscreen.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hey Callie
glad you had fun!
Uncle was the absolute highlight of our tour—funny, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable. He made the entire experience entertaining while sharing so much interesting history and local insight along the way.
What really stood out was that he went above and beyond the tour itself, offering great recommendations for restaurants, parking, and local spots that made the rest of our visit even better.
Highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a memorable and enjoyable experience!
Response from Host, May 2026
Alissa
thanks for the review! you have a wicked sense of humor!
Wear walkable shoes and bring plenty of water.
Perfect for our family of 7 and we learned about the history of Puerto Rico 🇵🇷
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Chelsi,
Thanks for the nice review. I enjoyed you and your family.
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Uncle J! He’s very knowledgeable and fun. He held our attention for the entire tour. If we make our way back to San Juan, we’ll definitely book with him again.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Angela
Thanks for the kind words. Best of luck always
Uncle j
Uncle J is a real character and has no shortage of stories. Highly recommend his walk as you get to see the best views at both castles and hear his take on the history going back to when it was first built as a Spanish fort up until its use during the Second World War. Highly authentic experience.
Response from Host, May 2026
legendary Tour? i like the sound of that!
appreciate it
This was my first stop for my Puerto Rico trip, and the tour was great!!!! The guide was incredibly knowledgeable, VERY FUNNY, and keeps it real the whole time. You’re in for a treat! You get to see amazing castles, hear some history, and laugh at jokes the whole time. I’d highly recommend this tastefully handsome, charming soldier.
Response from Host, May 2026
Toryn
im glad YOU liked the tour!
God bless ya
Uncle J gets 5 stars! We had the best time touring Old San Juan and learning the history of this beautiful island. He’s truly an encyclopedia of knowledge and made the experience unforgettable.
Response from Host, May 2026
thanks for the galaxy of stars
Member Pricing
From
$56.05
per personWas $59.00(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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