What to see and do at the Bacardi Distillery, Catano, Puerto Rico
The Bacardi distillery, also known as the Bacardi Rum Factory, is a famous rum distillery located in Catano, Puerto Rico
The distillery is known for producing high-quality rum, and by the turn of the century, it was the largest rum distillery in the world. Today, the Bacardi distillery in Catano produces a wide range of rums, including Bacardi Superior, Bacardi Gold, and Bacardi 151, as well as several other flavored rums.
We have been to the Bacardi Rum Factory many times and last visited it on 12/27/2005. You can take the ferry from old San Juan to Catano. The ferry departs every 30 minutes and is fifty cents each way. The Puerto Rico Ferry transports riders across the San Juan Bay to the Cataño pier in less than 10 minutes. Taxis can be found at the bus station to complete the last 2 miles of the trip to the factory. From the factory, you can view the Castillo San Felipe del Morro across the bay.
Several different tours are offered at the distillery. The legacy tour provides information about Bacardi and how they make rum at the factory, but it is not a tour of the factory itself. All visitors must be 18 years or older with a valid ID.
The Bacardi Rum Factory was established in 1862 by Don Facundo Bacardi Massó, a Spanish immigrant who went to Cuba in the early 19th century. In 1936, due to political unrest in Cuba, the Bacardi family decided to move the distillery to Puerto Rico, where it has been operating ever since. The current factory was built in 1958 on 127 acres in the town of Cataño. The rum production facility is the largest premium rum distillery in the world.
The Bacardi distillery in Catano is a popular tourist destination, with over 250,000 visitors each year. The facility offers guided tours that take visitors through the distilling process, from the fermentation of molasses to the aging of the rum in oak barrels. Visitors can also sample different rums and learn about the history of the Bacardi family and the company.
Looking for things to do? Viator offers numerous tours to Bacardi and elsewhere in the Catano area. Click here for details.
