Rum and Coffee Shore Excursions from San Juan
From the San Juan cruise piers, Casa Bacardí is about 20 minutes away by its ferry and shuttle from Pier 2, and Ron del Barrilito is 15 to 20 minutes by car. The coffee haciendas in the mountains are a full day out.
| Cruise piers | Old San Juan Piers 1, 3 and 4; Pan American Piers in Isla Grande |
|---|---|
| Old San Juan | On foot from the Old San Juan piers; shuttles to the city from the Pan American Pier |
| Casa Bacardí | Ferry from Pier 2, then shuttle; about 20 minutes in all |
| Ron del Barrilito | 15 to 20 minutes from Old San Juan by car, Uber or taxi |
| Nearest coffee farm | Hacienda Muñoz, San Lorenzo, about 30 minutes from San Juan |
| Mountain coffee haciendas | Over 2 hours each way by car |
| Time zone | Atlantic Standard Time (UTC -4), no daylight saving time |
| Currency | US dollar |
The cruise piers
San Juan Cruise Port is run by Global Ports Holding in a public-private partnership with the Puerto Rico Ports Authority.
Ships use two areas. The Old San Juan District has Piers 1, 3 and 4 on the edge of the old city; Piers 3 and 4 are on Paseo Concepción de Gracia. The Pan American Piers are on Calle Muelle in Isla Grande.
The port says most ships dock at the edge of Old San Juan and the historic district begins just outside the terminal. Shuttles to the city run when a ship docks at the Pan American Pier. Taxis and ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft wait outside the terminals.
Casa Bacardí from the pier
Casa Bacardí is in Cataño, across San Juan Bay. Its site says to take the ferry from Old San Juan Pier 2 and then its shuttle straight to Casa Bacardí; the whole trip takes about 20 minutes. The ferry and shuttle can be added to a tour booking on the Casa Bacardí site.
The port describes Pier 2 as next to Piers 3 and 4, with a passenger ferry to Cataño every hour and a 12-minute crossing.
Casa Bacardí's site also lists Uber, taxi or driving, with parking on site. Tours and tastings are for guests 18 and over.
Ron del Barrilito from the port
Ron del Barrilito is made at Hacienda Santa Ana in Bayamón, on Carretera 5. The producer says it is about 15 to 20 minutes from Old San Juan by car, Uber or taxi.
It runs a 30-minute Heritage Tour and one-hour Tasting and Mixology Tours through the day, with reservations recommended and walk-ins welcome when there is space. The producer asks guests to arrive 30 minutes early.
Ron del Barrilito, Hacienda Santa AnaRum
Bayamón
The Ron del Barrilito visitor center at Hacienda Santa Ana in Bayamón, where the producer says the rum has been made since 1880.
Coffee haciendas from the port
Most coffee haciendas are in the central mountains around Adjuntas, Jayuya, Lares, Utuado and the hills above Ponce. A travel guide to the coffee tours puts the drive at over 2 hours from the San Juan area on winding roads and suggests planning a full day. That leaves little margin on a port day, so check the ship's all-aboard time before you go.
The closest coffee farm is Hacienda Muñoz in San Lorenzo, which Discover Puerto Rico puts about 30 minutes from San Juan. Its tours run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, walk-in, with the English tour at 10:00 AM.
Hacienda MuñozCoffee
San Lorenzo
A coffee farm in San Lorenzo with a 75-minute guided walk through the plantation on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Other excursions from the port
San Juan National Historic Site, run by the National Park Service, includes Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo San Cristóbal and most of the city walls of Old San Juan. The standard entrance pass is $10 per person, valid 24 hours for both forts; visitors under 16 do not need a pass, and the park does not accept cash.
El Yunque National Forest, run by the US Forest Service, is the only tropical rainforest in the national forest system. The main entrance is on Road PR-191 in Río Grande, reached from San Juan by PR-26, PR-66 and PR-3. El Portal Visitor Center tickets are sold on Recreation.gov.
San Juan National Historic Site feesEl Yunque on Recreation.gov
Back on board
- Puerto Rico is a US territory. The port says entry requirements are the same as for any part of the United States, and US mobile plans count as domestic coverage.
- San Juan is on Atlantic Standard Time (UTC -4) and does not observe daylight saving time, according to the port. Check the ship's clock against your phone.
- All passengers and luggage go through security screening before boarding, according to the port.
- Carnival's liquor policy says alcohol bought in ports is stored until the end of the voyage and handed back in a designated lounge on the morning of debarkation. Other lines set their own rules; check yours before buying rum.
- Tipping is customary in restaurants, hotels and taxis, according to the port.