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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.

    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? ;-)

    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.

    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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    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.

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    San Antonio - The Saga

    San Antonio - The Saga

    4.4(33 reviews)
    1.3 miDowntown

    We absolutely loved this. How fun that you can see a free light show and get a history lesson at…read morethe same time. The church itself is beautiful and provides the perfect backdrop to the images. The music that goes along with it seemed to match up and provide the right mood. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the sound system was. At 25 minutes long it was just right for hanging out in the square to check it out. There are small tables - try to get an upfront one for the best view. 100% Recommended!

    Okay, so I showed up with my out-of-town family thinking this was a Christmas light show. Umm,…read morespoiler, it's not. I was pretty disappointed. But now that I know what it actually is, I've got to say it's great for a free downtown show. There's also a parking garage super close, and they've got chairs set up in front of the church, which is helpful. The light show itself is an artistic take on US and San Antonio history from a French artist using laser lights and sounds, but no words. There's also a great deal of religious Catholic symbolism. To be honest, I was lost for a good chunk of it. I wish they'd at least flashed the years they were showing--I couldn't really keep up with the timeframe showing was until they hit Frederick Douglass (I think?), and that was way deep in...but still everything was visually pleasing even if I didn't understand. Tips: 1) If you're sensitive to lights, bring sunglasses like I did to let your eyes adjust. The laser lights are super bright. 2) Check the website before you go. 3) It's not Christmas-y at all, but if you're up for a free 24-minute artsy history vibe, you might enjoy it more knowing ahead of time.

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    San Antonio - The Saga
    San Antonio - The Saga
    San Antonio - The Saga - Before the show

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    Before the show

    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

    Grotto - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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