On my most recent vacation, I had one full day in Puerto Rico before embarking on a cruise. I had my itinerary all planned out…but it didn’t quite turn out how I planned. We’ll get to that in a second, but let’s talk about what went right.

A Breakfast-less Morning (Sort of)

 We were going to get breakfast before we took the hotel’s complimentary shuttle to Old San Juan. The shuttle didn’t start until 10AM so we wanted to wait until it was closer to 10 to get the free breakfast that’s offered.

Unfortunately for us, they stop serving breakfast at 9AM Monday-Friday.

It wouldn’t have been too big a deal normally but because we were going to a rum distillery and taking a mixology class, we wanted to make sure we had food in our system.

We caught the shuttle to Old San Juan after seeing some fellow guests catch their ride to the El Yunque Forest. Mom and I originally wanted to do that, but it would’ve tied us up most of the day and my mom was worried she wouldn’t be able to keep up. At least we know for next time that the tours will pick up at the Hyatt House San Juan.

After riding the shuttle to Old San Juan, we made a quick stop at Starbucks for breakfast on the way to the ferry.

Catching the Ferry to Casa Bacardi

We were headed to Casa Bacardi, a rum distillery that offers tours and mixology classes. With your tour or class ticket, they had an option to add a ferry and bus shuttle to their facility. The distillery is in Cataño which is across the way from Old San Juan.  While driving is an option, the quickest way there is to take the ferry. It’s only $1 for a round trip by itself. The shuttle package we got was $15 per ticket so I’m assuming the bus ride portion is $14. I highly suggest adding transportation to your tour ticket if you’re going to Casa Bacardi. It saves you the headache of trying to wait for a ride share to take you there.

 
We arrived at the ferry terminal about 40 minutes early. I couldn’t find the right ticket, but I guess the worker gave me a pass and let me and Mom in based on our Casa Bacardi shuttle tickets.

There was only one other person in the waiting area, but more people came in the closer it got to the next ferry ride. The ferry runs every hour except between 12 and 1 and the shuttle is about the same.

While on the ferry, we got to the other side in about 10 minutes. We sat on top on the way there and it was a nice ride. The sun was out and shining. It was a beautiful day… at least starting off.

Getting off the ferry, we saw the shuttle was at the front of the terminal building waiting for all people who had purchased the add-on transportation. It’s a small purple bus that has Casa Bacardi on it.

Traffic aside, the shuttle also took about 10 minutes to get to the distillery.

Casa Bacardi 

When we got Casa Bacardi they checked our IDs, checked us in, and gave us a token to use to get a free drink. Everything was in an open, outdoor area but it was covered so you could enjoy your drink in the shade.

With your token you can get either one of three non-alcoholic drinks or one of three cocktails. Any drinks outside of those 6 options were an additional cost.

I got in line, but I’m pretty sure I got in line at the wrong spot. I thought there were two separate lines, but it was one line where you can go to whichever bar tender was opened when they were ready. I

The bar tender still served me, so I assume it was fine.

Since we were in Puerto Rico and were doing a mixology class later, I got a virgin piña colada. It was delicious and the straw had sugar on the inside.

Mom and I had arrived maybe 15 minutes before our tour/class started and those 15 minutes went by fast. I didn’t finish my drink before we had to get on the tram, but they let you take it with you. Our guide let me keep the acrylic cup my drink came in, but I forgot I was supposed to transfer it to a disposal plastic cup. My mom didn’t have time to get a drink because she’d gone to the bathroom.

Ride Around the Distillery 

We were on our way! We took a brief tour of the facility which all tour options offer, learning about Bacardi. Our guide informed us it started in Cuba before they moved it to Puerto Rico. How also told us how rum is made (molasses, water, and yeast). Apparently, Bacardi has 3 distilleries around the world: Puerto Rico which does 80% of production for the US, Canada, Europe, and Africa; Mexico does 10% of production for themselves and South America; and India for 10% production in Asia.

Mixology Class 

After our tram tour, it was time for the mixology class. The class is $89 after taxes. We made two drinks: a classic daiquiri and a whisky smash with rum.

They gave us about a 3rd of an ounce of $180 rum that was aged for 75 years to start off with before our guide taught us how to make the drinks to our liking. I was happy about this because I like my drink on the sweeter side. He also showed us how to probably use the different bar tender tools. I don’t drink often but I did have a mixology kit at home, so I appreciated the lesson.

This class was such a good time. The guide was so much fun and had great energy. Even if you don’t drink often, you’ll have a great time. Now, I know how to make a couple of drinks and I’ve learned a new skill!

After the class, they let us out at the gift shop. My mom said they were getting us all liquored up and then taking us to the gift shop to spend money, haha!

Mom got herself a shirt. I was going to get one, but I changed my mind at the last minute. I wanted something more specific to Puerto Rico. The gift shop also had a mixology set, jackets, magnets, keychains, and if I remember correctly, bottle openers.

While we were in the gift shop, it started raining. It would’ve been surprising because of how beautiful was earlier on the tram ride, but I had been checking the weather, so I knew it was coming eventually. Thankfully, Mom and I were in the gift shop long enough for the rain to stop so we could walk back to the main area where we checked in.

Heading Back to Old San Juan 

We took a few more pictures around the Casa Bacardi property while we waited for the shuttle bus to take us back to the ferry terminal.

Again, we got there about 45 minutes early. The security there said we could walk around Cataño or visit a restaurant so we didn’t have to wait in the terminal so long, but we decided to go in.

When the person asked for my ticket this time, I showed him the same ticket I showed the last person.

“No, the ferry ticket,” he said.

“Is this not the ferry ticket?” I asked, especially since this was the ticket I showed to get over here. Although I realized the person who let me in never scanned it.

Eventually, I realized the first ticket I found was the ferry ticket and this worker was able to scan it. He asked about the mixology tour because I guess he’s considering checking it out.

While we waited, I went to the restroom, which had signs on the wall not flush the toilet paper (I used the Google Translate app to translate the sign). I remember when I went to Mexico they had the same sign due to their plumbing. When you’re traveling, be sure to check if you’re able to flush toilet paper. I think the extremely touristy places may accommodate but more local ones will not.

After waiting 30 minutes, it was time to get back on the ferry.

Change in Plans

After Casa Bacardi, the plan was to walk around Old San Juan and take pictures in the classic Calle de la Fortaleza (the umbrella street) and visit the Castillo de San Marcos, but nature had other plans.

Even though the rain stopped at Casa Bacardi, it started back up again almost as soon as the ferry arrived and this time is was not stopping. We went back over in the rain so the top of the ferry was closed off. Thankfully, I’d brought ponchos with us so we were covered.

Though it was raining, we still got lunch at La Casita de Rones, a restaurant about a block away from the ferry terminal. I’d chosen the restaurant beforehand because it had beautiful outdoor decor and a great view of the coast on a non-rainy day.

The outdoor seating was covered so we could still eat outside but the wind pushed some misty rain in our direction, landing some raindrops in our opened cups.

When the food came, I made sure to shield it from the mist. We both got skirt steak tacos which were great.

By the time we finished eating, it wasn’t raining too much. We took some pictures, but ultimately we wanted to just catch our shuttle back to the hotel. We got some souvenirs along the way and made it to the pick-up spot just in time.

I was a little bummed that we couldn’t fully walk around like I wanted. However, I had hope we could see a little more of Old San Juan in the daylight the next day before we got on the cruise ship.

The next post will be embarkation day! Be sure to be on the lookout next week!

Have you visited Casa Bacardi before? Are you considering it now? Let me know in the comments!