El Galeon AndalucÃa is a full scale replica of a 16th-17th century galleon that would have been part of Spain’s West Indies fleet, and is currently the only one in the world that sails today.
Currently docked in Old San Juan until January 31, 2016, El Galeon is open daily for tours. If you have the chance, take the time to check it out and step back 500 years and see what life was like sailing the seas in the 16th &17th century’s.
The ship is open to visitors daily from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm with five of the six decks available to tour.
El Galeon is 500 ton galleon that is about 160 feet long with a 32 feet beam. The ship has four masts that hold 6 sails for a total of 11,000 square feet. The ship can average speed around 7 and typically has a crew between 15 to 35 people.
Ignacio Fernandez Vial designed the replica for the Nao Victoria Foundation and it took 17 months to build and was launched in Spain in November 2009.
We visited the ship the other day and loved the experience. The weather was on the windy side so the ship was swaying a little, but that just added to the experience, though my wife was not too thrilled about the movement…
The ship is filled with history and being able to stand on the deck and wander around this tall ship really gives you a perspective on how life would have been back in the day. The attention to detail is evident in every part of the ship, from the Captains Wheel to the numerous cannons that protected the ship from pirates and enemies.
You can roam around the ship and take as long or as short as you want, with most areas open to the public. The only negative I will say is that the area on the top deck with the Captains Wheel was roped off and you had to pay an extra $5 if you wanted a photo at the wheel. That dissapointed me.
Having said that, there is plenty to see on the ship and it’s not everyday that you have chance to stand atop of a tall ship and imagine sailing the seas.
El Galeon AndalucÃa
Location: Docked in Old San Juan until Jan 31, 2016
Hours: 10am – 6pm daily
Cost: Adults $10, Children $5, Under 5 Free
More Info: Website
