Bacardi Rum Factory – A Tour & Free Drinks
Posted on Feb 14th, 2007 by Gwenn • Updated on Jan 6th, 2012
We took a trip to Bacardi Rum Factory to see the tour. I admit, the free drinks were also a draw for me! I have been on other sugar cane and rum tours on other islands and always enjoyed them. This was different, more of a tour about Bacardi that takes place at their factory, but not a factory tour. But it is generally entertaining.
Two things before we start:
- it is freezing inside the tour building – I was happy to have a sweater with me!
- bring the e-mail addresses of friends so you can send them a video e-card from the tour.
This is a run down of the tour we took: When we got to the Bacardi gate, we said we wanted to take the tour and the guard gave us a parking pass for the dashboard (it has rum drink recipes on the back!).
After parking, we walked into an open-air area — with the bar and chairs and tables set up. We stopped at the desk to the left and the Bacardi greeter gave us tickets for the tour (in either English or Spanish) and 2 free drink tickets per person. The tours are every 20 minutes (alternating English and Spanish). So there may be time for a drink before the tour, but no drinks are allowed on the tour, so drink fast — or wait and have the drinks after the tour.
Our tour was called quickly, so we boarded the tram. The driver talks a little about the company and a sculpture on the 1 minute drive to the tour building (we could have walked there!). The tour is not of the actual factory – but a new tour building. The tour is an hour of a glitzy, informative, entertaining commercial for Bacardi.
They start with some history of sugar cane in the Caribbean and the origins of rum making. Then there is a nice movie about the Bacardi family history, and the Bacardi rum making process. I love the music in that movie!
Next you go into a reproduction of the original factory and the guide tells you how the rum was made and shows you how it is stored in burned oak barrels. Then you can look at all sorts of old Bacardi family memorabilia – pictures, original bottles, documents and a section to smell the types of rums.
Then you go into a "bar" where a bartender shows you how to make Mojitos and a Cuba Libre. He also explains what Bacradi rums are available and how to use them. No samples here. 
Then onto a neat section where they display all sorts of old Bacardi drink ads from magazines from the 1940′s to today – kind of cool! They also have computers available so you can send out a video e-card to friends at home. We made complete fools of ourselves and sent it out so everyone could get a chuckle!
Then back on the tram and a quick buzz past the actual factory where they tell you what is going on inside and then they whisk you back to the starting visitors center. Of course you get dropped off so you have to go through the gift shop. But the prices are about the same or better than in the supermarkets on the island, and they have all sorts of neat Bacardi clothes and accessories available. Also, some rums (Bacardi Reserva Limitada) are available at only a few places in PR, so they make nice souvenirs. (Note 6/10: Limited Reserva is now available at the Duty Free store in the airport for about $84).
The bartenders will make all sorts of mixed rum drinks or rum straight up. Don’t forget to tip your bartenders- they really appreciate it!
All in all the tour takes about an hour and then we chilled out with the drinks for about another half hour, so it is a nice, free way to spend a half day. No pictures are allowed in most of the inside portion of the tour, but one can have your picture in front of Casa Bacardi!
We recently revisited the Bacardi Factory Tour and found that they’ve completely remodeled the gift shop.
Bacardi does not charge for the tour – it’s free! However, if you go with a tour operator, it will cost you anywhere from $25 – $40 per person. That is a rip and the tour isn’t worth that much.
The tours are available 7 days/week — Mon – Sat from 9 am – 6:00pm (last tour @ 4:30pm) and Sun 10am – 5pm (last tour @ 3:45pm). Open 357 days a year- closed only 3 Kings Day (1/6), Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Years Day
Allow 2 – 3 hours.
phone: 787-788-8400
website: www.casabacardi.org
Drink responsibly and Don’t Drink and Drive.
Directions from San Juan – By car, get out of San Juan, go on Rt 18 until Highway 22 W, get off at the exit for Catano / Road 165. There is a little brown Bacardi sign. Take Road 165 until km 2.6 – follow the brown Bacardi signs. The Bacardi factory is visible on the right side just before the exit. You can also turn right at the light at Int 888 (it is in an industrial park area).
From Old San Juan – Take the ferry from Pier 2 to Catano, for $0.50 pp, each way. When you arrive in Catano, go to the right for a taxi to the factory for about $3.00 pp each way.
The drive from our house in Rio Grande takes about an hour and 15 minutes. It should be about 20 mins from the San Juan area.
You may be able to get some of the rum cheaper at the Duty Free store in the airport.
Use this map to locate places mentioned in this article. You can click on a placemark to view the GPS coordinates for that place.
Sir:
We are coming on a crusie ship on 8/16/08 and we should be docking at 3 pm. Do we have time to see Bacardi??? We were at your plant 2 years ago and happen a great time. We took the boat over ourself but with this docking time will we have time again. I hope so. Please let me know. There going to be 4 of us. Thanks Lou
Comment by biglou13 on March 25th, 2008 at 3:07 pmSounds like you’d be cutting it pretty close. With the ship scheduled to dock at 3pm, there’s no telling when you’ll actually get off. By the time you catch the ferry and pick up a taxi to Bacardi, you just may be too late for the last tour (which starts at 4:15).
Why not just stop by the Casita or the Don Q shop for some free rum drinks?
Hope this helps.
Comment by Ray on March 27th, 2008 at 4:33 pmJust like Lou, we are planning a cruise which arrives at 3pm (October 21). Using your other suggestions, where is the Casita or the Don Q shop?
Thanks.
Comment by Barbara on May 18th, 2008 at 12:53 pmBoth the Casita and Don Q are on the waterfront across from Pier 1. Acutally, the Casita is a little to the west of Pier 1. This map will help.
Comment by Ray on May 18th, 2008 at 1:35 pmIs there a way to get there by bus or taxi? What would they charge? Instead of taking a tour down there…
Comment by Ari on June 2nd, 2008 at 1:11 pmI’m going to assume that you’re stay in the San Juan / Isla Verde area.
There’s no easy way to get from that area to Bacardi via bus. It’s possible, but not practical for tourists.
A taxi would cost around $28 one way.
Your best bet would be to get to the ferry terminal (pier 2) in Old San Juan and take the ferry to Catano and then a taxi to Bacardi. The ferry is 50 cents one way. And the taxi ride to Bacardi from that side of the bay is only a couple of bucks.
Comment by Ray on June 7th, 2008 at 9:19 amhow far is it from the pier the curise ships pull in, to the ferry terminal #2
Comment by john on July 6th, 2008 at 5:29 pmThat really depends on at which pier your cruise ships docks.
If it’s one of the piers in Old San Juan, then the walk is less than 5 minutes.
If you dock at the Pan American pier (on the south side of the bay across from Old San Juan), you’d have to take a taxi to get to the ferry pier. If you’re at the Pan Am pier, I don’t know which makes more sense: taking a taxi to the ferry pier, then the ferry to Catano, and then another taxi to Bacardi, OR to just take a taxi directly from the Pan Am pier to Bacardi.
Comment by Ray on July 7th, 2008 at 10:05 amAs one of the most ardent fans of Bacardi on the planet [im irish so there is no limits]
Comment by james veaney on November 16th, 2008 at 6:38 ami enjoyed this article thank you.
I actually did this tour with my boyfriend about a month ago after a long day in the Morro and Old San Juan and thank god we did because the factor was very informative and the drinks where delicious.
Comment by CJ on June 10th, 2009 at 2:50 pmWe justed cruised 2 weeks ago to Old San Juan, read the comments before we sailed and went to the Bacardi factory. Thank you so much for your info. We took the water ferry for 50 cents and a $3.00 taxi ride. Bacardi Factory had a great tour and the drinks weren’t bad either. We went with 17 people and all enjoyed the excursion without having to pay 4 times that amount to the cruiseline! Thanks again!
Comment by Twirler on July 12th, 2009 at 9:17 pmI would like to know if if necessary to make an appointment to go to the Bacardi Factory tour.
Comment by Miguel Picart on December 17th, 2009 at 10:57 pmThank you. We are planning to go Saturday or Sunday (Dec 19th or 20th.
No reservations necessary. Just show up and enjoy your free drinks until it’s your turn for the tour.
Comment by Ray on December 17th, 2009 at 11:10 pmThanks for the GREAT information and the links. I am going to Old San Juan next December and this was on my list of things to do!
Comment by Jennifer on December 31st, 2009 at 2:35 pmWe’re going to San Juan next month. Hopefully nothing has changed as far as the tour and transportation. We will be staying on Ashford Ave in Condada, how far is that from the Old San Juan ferry?
Comment by Dimples on March 14th, 2010 at 2:02 pmCondado to the Cataño ferry terminal in Old San Juan? It’s about 2.75 miles, or a $12 taxi ride.
Comment by Ray on March 14th, 2010 at 2:59 pmMust see! We went to PR for Christmas and decided to go to the Bacardi tour. It was one of the most fun I had on a trip! The tour is great and the people are so friendly. We visited the gift shop and their prices are pretty reasonable. The drinks were pretty good, too. One thing that you must try is the rum flavored cake in the snack shop…Yum! Next time I visit PR I’ll visit the tour again for sure!
Comment by YC on March 14th, 2011 at 6:24 pmcan i get bacardi reserve in the us?
Comment by ka on May 25th, 2011 at 5:34 pmdo they have an age limit? I’m well over 21 but my younger sister isn’t.
Comment by lulu on July 1st, 2011 at 10:03 pmThere is no age restriction on who can go on the tour, as long as minors are accompanied by an adult. The drinking age in PR is 18. Obviously, they won’t give alcohol samples the minors … their “free drink” tickets will get them a soda.
Comment by Ray on July 2nd, 2011 at 9:04 amYes. Bacardi Reserve is now being sold in the States.
Comment by Ray on July 2nd, 2011 at 9:06 am