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    Recommended Reviews - Grotto

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    Alexis B.

    The Grotto is a cave-like sculpture designed by local San Antonio artist Carlos Cortes along the Riverwalk. It's worth a stop and a picture if you're on this part of the Riverwalk (between the Pearl and the San Antonio Museum of Art). We stopped by on a walk along the Riverwalk before dinner this past week, and I had forgotten how strange and cool of a sight it is along the Riverwalk!

    Grotto!
    Vineet C.

    I've been to San Antonio tens of times and never knew this place existed. It's really off the touristy river walk path. If you are down in the heart of downtown I'm not sure I'd come all the way here just for this but if you are already in the Pearl district/brewery area it's worth a quick dash over to this. My two young kids enjoyed seeing the cave structure and even found a crawfish in a pond that was a part of the cave. It's was a cute picture opportunity for the kids!

    Nick H.

    Grotto? This place is definitely is millennial. Someone spend some money on this and I am not sure what the purpose is. Is it art? Is it graffiti? It kind of reminds me of a place a crazy man who murders people might live or even Pennywise's Layer! This is not a natural grotto. It is a man made area that I am sure many have different opinions about. It is definitely something people are yelping about because.. I found it on yelp! If you feel like taking a walk from the main shopping area or after eating, this is probably worth it. Head this direction and take some cool pictures for your social media pages. That being said, if I was not close by, I would not want to come here. My take on the Grotto is that it is "Strangely Fascinating." I found myself spending more time that I would have expected here. There is a great deal of detail and makes me wonder if some of it's creation was an accident or whether it all came from design. I am going with half of it was an accident. Overall, I am a fan!

    Looking down from above
    Cynthia M.

    A fascinating creation unusual and artsy. Great to have creativity along the River Walk!

    Laura F.

    It's a neat sculpture and pretty cool for pictures. Be sure to look for the random objects hidden in the walls. They have really revamped that area of the Riverwalk. It is worth a visit.

    Groto
    Banjo U.

    I parked in the street. You won't see the face from far, you have to go near it. You can be in and out of this place for 5 minutes. The place doesn't look very well kept. There is some trash on the site and on the stairs to access it.

    Dennis S.

    This spot along the museum stretch of the SA riverwalk is a short walk away from the Pearl and a really cool spot to rest in the shade and take pics. The hidden figures molded in facade are cool features and catch you by surprise as you focus on the water features.

    Tom K.

    When you're strolling along the Riverwalk, you'll see several interesting things to look at if you remain alert. The Grotto is one such interesting thing; it's a somewhat unique and different-looking sculpture that resembles (for lack of a better word) a Grotto. Close by you'll also see the F.I.S.H. exhibit. This consists of a large fish that hangs from bridge on the road that crosses the river. This is one of many cool attractions to see and take pictures of - how many others can YOU find? ;-)

    Mzta O.

    This was a really neat find. I saw an arrival about and knew I had to locate it. I did want more of a cave experience but it is still a must see.

    Grotto face waterfall
    Jenn D.

    Pretty cool spot. Beautiful, interesting artwork! Worth the walk. Great shade on sunny day.

    Curt C.

    A fantastical grotto, along the Museum Reach of the Riverwalk. This man-made cave even includes a series of waterfalls! It was made by the local artist, Carlos Cortes, who is a very talented concrete artist in the style of "El Trabajo Rustico." His family has been doing it for generations, which really shows! As you step through the jaws of a jaguar, check out the stalactites that hang from the ceiling. Everything looks completely natural, as do all of the features of the cave. If you look closely, various figures are sculpted into the stone walls that make up the inside of the grotto. It's a great place to get out of the sun while strolling down the Riverwalk and watch the ducks swim by.

    Timothy A.

    I was hoping for a more cavernous adventure in the Grotto, but even thought it's just a small structure along the RiverWalk, it was still pretty impressive. Stalactites and Stalagmites adorn this piece of art (some of which are covered in shells) and the river adds a nice touch to the feel of the display. Stairs are located behind the Grotto so you don't have to walk a mile to get to it if you know where to park or walk from a main road. A fancy little water fall flows through the Grotto from the mouth of a mythical creature / person / something, which was a nice surprise when I started taking pictures. The view from the other side of the river is nice too and makes for some good background pictures for your phone or tablet.

    Brittany S.

    This beautiful man-made rock formation/water fountain is found along the RiverWalk near the Riverwalk Bridge and locks and dam, not too far from the main tourist hustle and bustle of San Antonio's Riverwalk. My hope is that more visitors will venture this way and see the natural and peaceful aspects of the Riverwalk. PS: My jaw was on the floor for nearly five days in amazement at the landscaping efforts of the San Antonio crew along the RiverWalk. Immaculate! Stunning! Such a great investment.

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    4 years ago

    Curiosity cool. I heard the city paid millions for it. You have to see it for yourself and decide if it was worth it.

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    Ask the Community - Grotto

    Do you have to pay admission?

    No admission. This is a public place along the river walk.

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    Review Highlights - Grotto

    A short walk south from the Pearl riverwalk entry point or you can also enter from street level at the Camden Bridge or Newell Bridge.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    The First Inhabitant - The First Inhabitant

    The First Inhabitant

    5.0(2 reviews)
    1.2 miDowntown

    Historic sculpture on the Commerce Street Bridge. Commissioned by the San Antonio Express, Waldine…read moreTauch created a seven foot tall sculpture to honor the Native Americans. Ms. Tauch was a very well known sculptor in Texas. She was paid $1000 for her sculpture. The sculpture features a First Native American in a full headdress holding shallow bowls in each hand. Each bowl served as public drinking fountains at some point. Pause to think about the historical significance and history that happened here as you visit the San Antonio Riverwalk.

    Yanaguana! This is one of my favorite places to hang out…read moredowntown San Antonio. If you can figure out how to get here without a car, this is a great vantage point to see San Antonio, and a great place to start off an adventure downtown. I've always wondered who built this, and Helene S.'s review was quite illuminating! So this sculpture is next to Sebastian's International Torch of Friendship, a maybe 30-40' high red sculpture that's hard to miss. Between this sculpture and that one is the famed Portland Loo- an outdoor free restroom. There's also the elevator that takes you down to the Riverwalk here. Standing on the bridge where this First Inhabitant sculpture is, this is a good spot to eavesdrop on the river cruises below, or just smell the Mexican food coming from Casa Rio. The Indian depicted in this carving must be a Yanaguana Indian chief, as they were the first Indians who were known to inhabit the San Antonio River area thousands of years ago. They covered an area a bit more up river near the University of Incarnate Word down along this river to where the Missions are today. Today, down the street at Hemisfair Park, you'll find Yanaguana Gardens, which celebrates this tribe.

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    The First Inhabitant - The First Inhabitant

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    The First Inhabitant

    San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

    San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

    4.7(97 reviews)
    5.5 mi

    There's nothing like walking back in time, and I highly recommend you visit here to do so. This is…read moreone of four (five with The Alamo) San Antonio missions in the National Parks system, and you get to walk back in time at this CCC-restored, community advocated site whose advocacy history is also on display. Put on your sunscreen and set aside 2-3 hours, or more if you like! A couple hours flew by before we noticed, and there is so many neat things to see. You are also walking into the present: San Jose is still an active congregation where you can attend mass, light a candle, and the congregation might be already having an event. Thankfully the air-conditioned chapel was open during our visit. As a fee-free site, you can leave $ for the congregation in a donation box by the holy water, or visit the gift shop. Alas the gift shop inside the mission walls was closed, but the visitor center (after staff lunch) was open and full of souvenirs and reading material. What a beautiful chapel, and lovely landscaping and birds outside. Some even nested in crevices outside the chapel walls. A profound spot all around. San Jose isn't the closest mission to downtown, but is the only site with a visitor center, and a good spot if your kid's earning a junior ranger badge (ps, the junior ranger badge collection displayed at the visitor Center is itself amazing).

    Very nice. Great walk to take in the city and just get a feel of the culture and history. This…read moremission offers great sight into the past as it offers informational summaries through the sight. You get a feel of the history, and lifestyle of this time. The sight is kept very nice as plants and flowers bloom through to surround the beautiful historic buildings which tower over with great aura to the tourists. It makes you wonder why people settle for these minimalist structures these days. There is also grave sights and statues throughout reminiscing on the significance of these time and this part of history. Very interesting and I'd say definitely worth a stop.

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    San Antonio Missions National Historical Park - Mission Concepción

    Mission Concepción

    San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
    San Antonio Missions National Historical Park - Small Model

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    Small Model

    La Villita Historic Arts Village - Entrance

    La Villita Historic Arts Village

    3.9(120 reviews)
    1.3 miDowntown
    $$

    We were here during the week and it was very quiet. Only a handful of stores were open on Wednesday…read morearound 5pm. Very easy to walk and browse. Love the local cats that wander around and live in some of the stores. The cats look homeless, but they are domesticated street cats. The stores have a lot of amazing locally made items - a lot of talented artists. One store - the bird and pear had fun stickers, art work and sauces, a lot of souveniers available. The prices were decent for a tourist area. There was a least one store that has a sign posted, no photos allowed in the store. Please be aware and respectful of these requests. I would love to be able to go back at some point when more stores are open.

    I visited La Villita Historic Arts Village in the morning, and unfortunately there wasn't much…read moregoing on at the time. The area is charming and has some interesting historic buildings, but many of the shops and galleries felt quiet, which made the experience a little underwhelming. I enjoyed walking through the village and appreciating the architecture and atmosphere, but it lacked the energy I was expecting. I can see how it would be much more enjoyable during a special event, festival, or later in the day when more businesses are open and there are more visitors around. It's a pleasant place to stroll through if you're nearby, but I would recommend checking the hours and event schedule before visiting to get the most out of the experience.

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    La Villita Historic Arts Village
    La Villita Historic Arts Village
    La Villita Historic Arts Village

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    Grotto - landmarks - Updated August 2026

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