Juan Sebastián de Elcano Arrives in Pensacola

Open for Public Tours June 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8

The Juan Sebastián de Elcano, the world's third largest tall ship, arrived Wednesday, June 3 at the Port of Pensacola to help commemorate Pensacola's 450 anniversary. The Elcano will dock through June 9 giving the public several opportunities to enter the west side of the Port of Pensacola to board and tour the ship June 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8. Public access to ship tours at the Port will begin approximately 30 minutes prior to tour start times. Public parking is available at Commendencia Slip and visitors should enter at Commendencia St.

The tall ship is named after Juan Sebastián de Elcano who sailed with Magellan on his first circumnavigation of the globe, and then completed the circumnavigation after Magellan’s death during the voyage. The Elcano was launched on March 5, 1927. It is the official training ship for Spanish Midshipmen of the Spanish Naval Academy and has sailed more than 1.5 million nautical miles on 77 cruises, 10 of which have been around the world. Considered to be a "floating embassy," the ship’s presence in foreign countries and ports has enhanced Spanish foreign policy across the globe.

Free public tours will be available at the following times on the West side of the Port of Pensacola:

• Wednesday, June 3: 3-6 p.m.
• Thursday, June 4: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-6 p.m.
• Saturday, June 6: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3–6 p.m.
• Sunday, Monday, June 8: 3–6 p.m.

Spanish explorers arrived in Pensacola in 1559 to establish the country’s first major European settlement. The Elcano visit will represent this journey and honor the community’s Spanish heritage. The tall ship first visited Pensacola in 1959 during Pensacola’s 400th anniversary.