Casa Bacardi

Rum plays a long, colorful role in the history and economic development of Puerto Rico [1]. Established in 1862 by Don Facundo Bacardi Masó, Bacardi is the top-selling rum in the United States and is still owned and operated by its founder’s descendants.

For an interactive lesson on its production, Casa Bacardi Visitor Center (Carr. 165, km 6.2, Cataño, 787/788-8400, www.casabacardi.org [2], Mon.–Sat. 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., last tour at 4:15 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., last tour at 3:45 p.m., free) offers audiotaped tours of its largest distillery, bottling operation, and museum of historic artifacts. Admission includes two drinks and a trolley tour of the surrounding gardens. The factory is a 20-minute drive from San Juan [3]

Alternatively, visitors can catch the AquaExpreso ferry (6 a.m.–10 p.m., $0.50) at Pier 2 in Old San Juan [4] to Cataño, where a publico van will provide transportation to the factory for $2–6, depending on the number of riders.