San Juan de Ulua
San Juan de Ulua
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Visitors can tour this impressive fort, which Hernán Cortés built to deter pirate attacks.
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4.5
1,114 reviews
Excellent
704
Very good
306
Average
83
Poor
12
Terrible
9
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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marisa582002
Mesquite, TX51 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
This is a nice place to visit, it used to be a very famous prison, is the Mexican version of Alcatraz. 4 Mexican Presidents were in this jail. Has a lot of history. It was very hard for prisoners to escape, but there were some that were able to do so. You have to visit if you go to Veracruz!!
Written 2 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GrandTour17356
Los Angeles, CA1 contribution
I visited the fort for research material for my historical novel, the war with Mexico (1846-1848). The fort was attacked on 4 occasions: by the Americans in 1847 and 1914 (which was news to me), by the French in 1864 (while we were busy with the Civil War) and a fourth time which I do not recall. Pirates liked the port of Vera Cruz as well. I think of the fort as being petite when I compare it to the Spanish fort in St. Augustine. It is also petite compared to a huge drydock vessel moored close buy, cargo carriers stacked with containers 4 units high, and the surrounding city. I went looking for holes in the wall caused by the American and French bombardments, but found none! American Express donated $150,000 (a plaque so attests) to repair the fort. The entrance is guarded by armed soldiers. The site is now shared with the Mexican navy and is refereed to as arsenal #3. A large number of patrol boats and civilian sailboats occupy the harbor. Fort Ulua, though built of coral reef, was apparently plastered over and painted a canary yellow and red ocre. Fully restored and painted it would shine like a jewel in the Caribbean. The Fort is connected by a causeway now being covered with sand from the surf that actually form dunes! There is a small museo on site. I wanted a history of the fort in print, but none were offered for sale.
Written 29 December 2002
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travel3362
Chelmsford, MA2 contributions
A gem in the middle of cargo containers. Very interesting history and architecture. Our guide was very good, but strict about keeping us close by. Not good walking(difficult) for some seniors(especially). It will be a real tourist attraction in about 5-10 years, when the canal is finished. It is drained now for archeological digging, and repair of the base of the fort. No concern about visitor safety like in the states, ie no railings, if you fall in, oh well(as it should be). Had to pay 20 pesos to use the facility, which was marginal-no surprise.
Great photo ops. Short trip from the port.
Great photo ops. Short trip from the port.
Written 4 January 2004
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LordCaptainTea
La Paz, Mexico200 contributions
Sept 2024 • Solo
The fort can be reached by two routes: a) By taxi, which charges between 80 and 150 pesos. b) By boat, the departure is on the sea wall and costs 45 per person per trip. The place has cost but I touched it was partially flooded and they let me in for free. I was only able to visit a third of the premises. Without Guide, the visit would be very poor since what matters are the stories of the place, the cost of a tour is 700 pesos (600 haggling) or 70 pesos per person if you gather 10 people. It is a place with a lot of history, a must if you go to the port.
Automatically translated
Written 25 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wanderer8066
miami,florida1 contribution
It was very neat a must see if visiting veracruz ! Did you know that romancing the stone was filmed there.
Written 10 July 2003
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A Tripadvisor Member
well. the forth of san juan de ulua in the port of veracuz, mexico,iit is an intersted place to visit ,(today part of it is under repairs)i was there in earely december 20001, it got a lot of history, it got more than 400 hundreth years old. it was a forth against buccaners and pirates, then was a customs wherehouse ,santa inquisition torture jail of the catolic church.military wherehouse and a prision (chucho el roto was there,benito juarez,lopez de santa ana, etc)if you travel to veracruz ,dont forget to go to san juan de ulua, the entrance fee is 30.00 pesos. (3.20 us dls)and is better to get a guide tour is better because they explain everything, is very intersted, so thats my experience in san juan de ulua forth in veracruz, mexico. pedro garza.. email pedro@garza.to bye. and god bless you..
Written 27 December 2001
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ericwally
1 contribution
Apr 2015 • Couples
We booked a ride for 150 pesos each on an open topped bus. Our guide spoke not a word of English and there were no interpretive signs. In and out of these dungeons for one hot and sticky hour. After all was said and done, we really had very little clue. Had to get home to find out about it. Thought it would be about Cortez..Our bad. Wouldn't recommend it.
Written 4 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
imat63
Kenmore, WA4 contributions
Feb 2012 • Couples
have to pay to go inside, not alot to see
also was unable to take photos inside
also was unable to take photos inside
Written 13 February 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FTriay
Mexico12 contributions
San Juan de Ullua used to be a jail back in the time of President Venustiano Carranza, it was considered the worse Jail of all Mexico, and after being in Alcatraz, I think this one was 10,000 times worse. It is an experience that you can´t miss if you are visiting Veracruz, but the whole place is not very safe for young children. As a teacher I always think about the risks and this place in located right next to the ocean and there are many hidden places where kids can get easily lost. The admission fee is very low and it offers discounts to teachers, elders ( over 60´s) and teachers. It´s a very interesting and mysterious place.
Written 11 August 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John P
Collingswood, New Jersey286 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
Our second trip to Veracruz and we decided to go to San Juan de Ulua this time.
We took the two-level very touristy looking open air bus from the malecon. It turned out to be a great choice and saved us some money. My husband is a Mexican native so he was my interpreter.
Take hats, water, sunblock and a large umbrella with you. If you forget them, you can purchase before you enter (where the transport drops you). You NEED these items. It is HOT and HUMID and you can not purchase anything once you have paid your entrance fee!
There was a gentleman who met our bus who ended up being a tour guide. There is a charge and he only speaks Spanish. But our guide was well worth the MXN$40 per person change. He was very informative and interesting. He also answered everyone’s questions. If you are traveling with someone who speaks Spanish, this is the way to go!
This historic site teaches a lot about the human condition and inhumanity. It took about 250 years to build by the Spaniards using slaves and intended to be used as a site for torture and imprisonment. It remained open as a prison for about 216 years and then was later converted to a military arsenal/fort in the early 1900s.
The site is massive! Our guide spent about an hour with us and then we had about 45 minutes to explore on our own before meeting back at the drop off pointe and then returned to the malecon.
The TOTAL trip cost for the 2 of us including the bus, the tour guide fee, and entrance fee was about US$16.00! (MXN$50 each for the bus, MXN$40 each for the tour guide, MXN$60 each for the entrance fee).
We took the two-level very touristy looking open air bus from the malecon. It turned out to be a great choice and saved us some money. My husband is a Mexican native so he was my interpreter.
Take hats, water, sunblock and a large umbrella with you. If you forget them, you can purchase before you enter (where the transport drops you). You NEED these items. It is HOT and HUMID and you can not purchase anything once you have paid your entrance fee!
There was a gentleman who met our bus who ended up being a tour guide. There is a charge and he only speaks Spanish. But our guide was well worth the MXN$40 per person change. He was very informative and interesting. He also answered everyone’s questions. If you are traveling with someone who speaks Spanish, this is the way to go!
This historic site teaches a lot about the human condition and inhumanity. It took about 250 years to build by the Spaniards using slaves and intended to be used as a site for torture and imprisonment. It remained open as a prison for about 216 years and then was later converted to a military arsenal/fort in the early 1900s.
The site is massive! Our guide spent about an hour with us and then we had about 45 minutes to explore on our own before meeting back at the drop off pointe and then returned to the malecon.
The TOTAL trip cost for the 2 of us including the bus, the tour guide fee, and entrance fee was about US$16.00! (MXN$50 each for the bus, MXN$40 each for the tour guide, MXN$60 each for the entrance fee).
Written 6 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Seaside31276183413
Mexico City, Mexico
Estarán abiertas las instalaciones para Semana STA 2021?
Written 1 April 2021
Derian C
Veracruz, Mexico
Cuanto me cobra un taxi del centro al hotel bulevar del mar
Written 30 December 2020
Hola Derian C..al Hotel Boulevard del Mar..te cobran $60 pesos, se encuentra en el Boulevard Avila Camacho en costera perteneciente a Costa de Oro😊
Written 31 December 2020
Cuánto de Paraje a Cuitlahuac de ida y vuelta solo para dejar una persona y ya con la misma nos regresamos??
Written 9 December 2020
En autobus normal deben ser como 150 pesos
Written 8 August 2020
Cierran los lunes , este dia solo esta abierto en época de
vacacies verano y semana santa
Written 9 March 2020
La entrada $60 pesos, en la entrada hay guías cobran 50 pesos, yo iba sola y eso cobraban.
En realidad si deseas hacer el recorrido solo lo puedes hacer sin problema, hay explicaciones en cada lugar de lo que representa, la diferencia sin las historias que lo hacen más divertido. El día que yo fui había un guía que iba integrando gente debía que era gratis y pues ya al final le dieron propina.
Written 29 December 2019
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