Museo del Mar (Maritime Museum)

Museo del Mar, or the Maritime Museum, is located in Old San Juan and focuses on Puerto Rico’s seafaring history. The collection highlights the island’s role in maritime trade, navigation, and exploration over the centuries. Exhibits include ship models, navigational instruments, maps, and historical artifacts connected to Puerto Rico’s relationship with the sea.

The museum was established to preserve and share Puerto Rico’s maritime heritage, reflecting the island’s long-standing dependence on the sea for trade, defense, and cultural exchange. Located in a restored historic building, Museo del Mar offers context on how ships and shipping routes shaped the economic and social development of the island.

Visitors will find a collection that includes:

• Scale Ship Models – Replicas of vessels used throughout history, from Spanish galleons to modern ships.
• Navigation Instruments – Tools once used by sailors, such as compasses, astrolabes, and sextants.
• Maps and Charts – Historical maps documenting trade routes and exploration in the Caribbean and beyond.
• Maritime Artifacts – Items recovered from ships and maritime trade, offering insight into everyday life at sea.

The exhibits provide a straightforward look at how maritime activity influenced Puerto Rico and the wider Caribbean.

Hours: Everyday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Entrance fee: $3