El Morro sits at the far end of Old San Juan and is easy to reach on foot from the historic center. We walked out along the path by the water, a pleasant route that’s manageable even in the heat and gives a strong sense of how the fortress is positioned in the landscape.
Along the way, we spotted several iguanas, including one impressively large specimen. It’s reassuring to know they’re herbivores and generally peaceful by nature.
El Morro’s official name is Castillo San Felipe del Morro. It was built by the Spanish in the late 1500s as part of the defense of San Juan and the entrance to the bay. The location is strategic and leaves little doubt about its purpose. Perched on a rocky headland with sweeping views of the Atlantic, the fortress served for centuries as the city’s primary line of defense against attacks from the sea. For long periods, it played a central role in Spain’s colonial military presence in the Caribbean.
From the outside, El Morro feels massive and uncompromising. Thick stone walls rise directly from the cliffs, signaling function over aesthetics. This is a structure designed to endure. As you get closer, the scale becomes clear. The walls are high, the angles sharp, and the fortress presents itself as closed and deliberate in its design.
We chose to walk all the way around the fortress rather than go inside. That turned out to be more than sufficient, as the exterior alone gives a clear impression of both its scale and its purpose.
El Morro was part of a larger defensive system that included other fortifications in San Juan. Over the centuries, it was expanded and adapted in response to changing military needs. As a result, the fortress today appears layered yet cohesive, with multiple historical periods embedded within the same structure.
In front of the fortress are large grassy fields that are now used by both locals and visitors. People stroll, fly kites, and take breaks with views of the ocean. It’s a striking contrast to the site’s original function, but it also shows how the area has evolved without losing its significance.
El Morro can be visited from the inside, but I don’t think it’s necessary to get much out of the experience. If time is limited, seeing the fortress from the outside is entirely sufficient. If you’re especially interested in fortifications and short on time, I’d recommend going inside the other major fortress instead, San Cristóbal, where there’s more to explore.
El Morro, 501 Calle Norzagaray, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
