Photo: Victor Pineda · CC BY-SA 2.0 · editedSan Juan de Ulúa
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Rodrigo SanSs · CC BY-SA 3.0 · edited
Why go
- The San José lighthouse, installed on the San Pedro bastion in 1793–1796, was the first modern lighthouse in Nueva España and Hispanoamérica.
- The harbor served Spain’s silver fleet, carrying silver exports to Spain.
- Jesús Arriaga, known as Chucho el Roto, was a famous prisoner here who escaped more than once.
Opening hours
Today09:00 – 16:30Show all
Don't miss
- Caballero Alto towerCompleted in 1710, Caballero Alto rises within the San Crispín bastion.San Crispín bastion
- Coral-stone fortificationsThe first forts, begun around 1535 to defend the port from pirates, were built mainly from local coral stone.San Juan de Ulúa
Know before you go
- Open Tuesday–Sunday, 09:00–16:30.
Tips for your visit
- Part of the complex remains closed while the former presidential palace undergoes renovation.
Interesting facts3
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Reefs around the island formed a barrier against natural hazards and pirates.
San Juan de Ulúa - Wikipedia -
1984
San Juan de Ulúa stood in for Cartagena’s stronghold in the 1984 film Romancing the Stone.
San Juan de Ulúa - Wikipedia -
The island’s original Nahuatl name was Chalchiwehkan.
San Juan de Ulúa - Wikipedia
History
The island initially sheltered ships bringing goods and travelers from Spain; passengers and cargo crossed to the mainland in small boats. Under Porfirio Díaz, the prison became notorious for cruelty, and thousands of citizens were confined here. Parts of the original structure were demolished to build workshops. The fortress also became a symbol of Mexican resistance to foreign invasions and occupations.
- 1518Juan de Grijalva reached the island, the farthest point of his expedition from Cuba.
- 1519Hernán Cortés met emissaries of Moctezuma II’s Aztec Empire here before founding Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz on the mainland opposite.
- 1524A Franciscan oratory was built on the island by enslaved workers from Guinea.
- 1565Construction of the present fort began and continued for almost 50 years.
- 1568Spanish forces defeated privateers led by Francis Drake and John Hawkins in the harbor.
Show all
- 1580sBattista Antonelli redesigned the fortress.
- 1825The Spanish garrison surrendered to General Miguel Barragán, ending Spain’s last stronghold in present-day Mexico.
- 1838French forces bombarded the fortress during the Battle of Veracruz in the Pastry War.
- 1853Benito Juárez was briefly imprisoned on the island from 29 September; other political prisoners included Melchor Ocampo, Servando Teresa de Mier and Melchor de Talamantes.
- 1882Work began to convert the fortress into the National Arsenal, with major alterations for naval industry.
- 1915Venustiano Carranza decreed that the fortress cease to be a prison and used it briefly as the federal executive’s seat.
- 1962The site became a protected historic monument under INAH’s care.
- 1984A local museum of the fortress opened.
How to get there
- CarThe fortress is near the port’s piers and cannot be reached on foot from downtown Veracruz; take a taxi or join a tour.
Sources: San Juan de Ulúa - Wikipedia · Veracruz - Wikivoyage (see) · Historia · ¿Cómo llegar? · Acceso · San Juan de Ulúa - Wikipedia · San Juan de Ulúa - Wikipedia · San Juan de Ulúa - Wikipedia · checked 28 Sep 2026
Questions and answers
How did San Juan de Ulúa get its name?
Juan de Grijalva added San Juan to Ulúa.
When did San Juan de Ulúa become a protected historic monument?
In 1962, when the shipyard was dismantled and the site was entrusted to INAH.
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