Visiting Alcatraz Island
The Isla de los Alcatraces was named by the Spanish explorer Manuel de Ayala
, and translates to mean the "Island of Pelicans." Alcatraz has been used as a Civil War fort, a Federal prison, a symbol of Native American plight, and is now a tourist destination.
Many of the buildings that originally stood on the island are no longer there. Some prison building burned during the 1960s' American Indian Alcatraz occupation.
The guard's residences, deteriorated beyond repair, were torn down in the 1970s. The remaining buildings are the barracks from the military base, the cell house, the lighthouse, and a few others.
The "Day Tour" is most popular. It includes round-trip transportation to the island and the audio tour.
Also popular and well-rated is the Night Tour, which includes extra activities. It is slightly more expensive, but allows tourists to visit other attractions in the city during the daytime and see the island at night.
There are many boats that can take you around the island, but only one is allowed to take visitors on the island for a tour on foot. Alcatraz Cruises is the only company that is allowed to actually stop their boat on the island.
Alcatraz tours are very popular and tickets sell out fast. Make sure you call ahead and make reservations, if you are planning on going in the summer time, you may need to call ahead a week in advance to get a spot on the ferry reserved.
Many hotels in San Francisco have tickets at the concierge or front desk. Many visitors buy from their hotel, but the tickets not used by hotels are released to the Alcatraz ticket booth just before it opens.
If you miss your ferry, the ticket office can put you on standby for the next boat. Don't expect to get on the very next boat; however, you will only get on if there is enough room.
The boat trip to Alcatraz takes about 15 minutes each way from Pier 33 in San Francisco. Your tour can last as long as you would like or until the last boat leaves the island.
Some people stay for a couple of hours while other groups can be there for an entire day. It really just depends on you group, so be prepared for anything.
Take note that there is no food available on the island. Sometimes it is sold on your boat, but not always.
Make sure you grab a bite to eat and use the restroom before your tour, especially if you are planning on being there for a couple of hours. No one wants to be stuck out on the ocean hungry and thirsty.
The tour typically starts with a brief orientation, including warnings about seagulls, directions to the toilets, etc. The white spots all over the island are not paint, they are seagull droppings, and many visitors have been known to get hit.
National Park Service activities that help you learn about Alcatraz Island include a self-guided tour book that is offered in several languages for about $1. There are also ranger-led tours, an orientation film, visits by authors of books about Alcatraz and the audio tour.
For the most enjoyable experience, try to go on a clear sunny day. The ocean breeze can be pretty chilly, especially in the winter months, so be sure to bring a sweater.
If you get ocean sickness, the boat ride to Alcatraz may not be for you, and in that case you can view the popular spot from afar. San Francisco offers numerous observation decks that allow visitors to look through binoculars to see things from far away.
Try not to visit during the nesting season. This is when the bay smalls the worst because of those seagulls.
A typical tour gives a history of the island and what it was used for, and some guides even show video footage of the island. Since Alcatraz is so popular, you should make reservations in advance to ensure your spot on the next boat.
by: Terry Daniels
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