Help

Tickets for Castle of San Juan de Ulúa: Guided Tour

Travel back in time & explore the history of Veracruz's most notorious building

Provider: Tranvías Veracruz SA de CV

Instant ticket delivery
Starting time: 12:00
Duration: 3h
Live guide: English, Spanish
Max group size: 10
Smartphone tickets accepted

Upgrade your experience

Explore more ticket options including tours and city passes

Find out more

More ways to experience San Juan de Ulúa

Find out more

What's included

Tour from Plaza Acuario to the San Juan de Ulúa fortress
Admission to San Juan de Ulúa
Guided tour in Spanish or English (English-speaking for an additional fee, to be selected when booking)

What's not included

Tram transport from the meeting point to the fortress (available to purchase onsite)
Passenger care insurance
Gratuities and other optional personal expenses

Meeting point

Plaza Acuario de Veracruz, Boulevard Manuel Ávila Camacho, Ricardo Flores Magón, 91700, Veracruz

Opens a new window

Upgrade your experience

Add a little extra in the checkout to make the most of your visit

Learn even more about the Castle of San Juan de Ulua and its history with a guided tour in English, led by an expert guide.

  • Join a group of explorers for a fun and insightful return trip to San Juan de Ulúa from Veracruz
  • Take a guided walk around the ancient fortress and learn how it went from a grain storage area to being one of the country's most feared prisons
  • Find out firsthand what occurred in the most storied prison in Mexico, where legends of Mexican bandits were born (for a good reason!)

For almost 350 years, the San Juan de Ulúa Fort in Veracruz served as the main military stronghold of the Spanish Empire in the Americas. Step back in time with a guide on a fascinating return trip from Veracruz, and get the lowdown on a historic site that has been a colonial fort, a presidential palace, a prison, and more!

You wouldn't have wanted to be at San Juan de Ulúa 300 years ago. This impressive fortress was originally constructed using a mortar made of oyster shells, turtle eggs, sand, and salt water, but its prison cells held far scarier things.

Dive into the facts and legends surrounding one of the oldest fortresses in the Gulf of Mexico with a knowledgeable local guide. Find out how it's linked to some of the region's greatest historical events, and how it went from being used for grain storage to holding some of the country's most feared prisoners.

Check out the salt-stained walls, soak up the historic atmosphere, and be glad you're allowed to walk out!

  • Show your smartphone voucher to the guide at the meeting point, Plaza Acuario de Veracruz
  • Customers need to be at the meeting point at 12:00 sharp!

Tour itinerary (subject to weather & traffic conditions):

  • 12:00: Board the tram outside Plaza Acuario
  • 12:30: Transfer to San Juan de Ulúa
  • 13:05: Arrival at the fortress
  • 13:20: Start guided tour inside the fort
  • 14:20: End of guided tour
  • 14:50: Board the tram back to Plaza Acuario
  • 15:20: Arrival at Plaza Acuario
  • Rescheduling is possible until 24 hours before your visit.

Guided tours

Get an in-depth experience of San Juan de Ulúa