During our vacation in San Juan, we wanted a different type of experience, so we booked the Casa…read moreBacardi Legacy Tour at Casa BACARDI in Catano. Trip Advisor recommended arriving early to enjoy the welcome drink, and we are glad we followed that advice. The drink was excellent, and the on site grill gave us a chance to try some local cuisine before the tour began. There were also plenty of great photo opportunities around the welcome center, which we took full advantage of.
Our tour started promptly with our guide, the very charismatic France. She mentioned she was new, but she carried herself like a seasoned professional. Her mix of humor and Bacardi history made the tour engaging and enjoyable. We saw the exterior of the factory, explored the museum with its artifacts and displays, and watched a short film about the company's legacy.
At the end of the tour, we sampled premium Bacardi blends and then visited the gift shop. The tour lasted about an hour, which felt just right. The gift shop was well stocked with a wide range of items, including many varieties of rum. My only critique is that the shop does not accept cash, which is my preferred payment method. Even so, I purchased a nice Bacardi cigar ash tray with my credit card before we walked back to the welcome center.
From there, we went to the ride share area and took an Uber to the Catano port, where we caught the short ferry across to Old San Juan. That spontaneous add on turned out to be a highlight. It was fun, scenic, only twenty minutes, and cost four dollars for two people. It was a great bargain.
Overall, the Bacardi tour was fascinating, informative, and very enjoyable, thanks in large part to France and her energy. We left feeling like we truly understood the history of the rum and the company. It was absolutely worth it.