How to Plan a Can Tour in San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas, is a city rich in history, culture, and natural beauty—famous for the Alamo, the River Walk, and vibrant Tex-Mex cuisine. But among its many attractions, one lesser-known yet deeply immersive experience has gained traction among locals and visitors alike: the Can Tour. Contrary to what the name might suggest, a Can Tour in San Antonio is not about recycling or beverage containers. Instead, it’s a unique, self-guided urban exploration activity that involves visiting a curated list of public art installations, hidden alleyways, street murals, and culturally significant landmarks, often marked by small, metallic “can” tags or QR codes placed discreetly around the city. These tags, originally introduced by local artists and community advocates as a way to democratize art access, have evolved into a citywide treasure hunt that celebrates San Antonio’s creative soul.

Planning a Can Tour isn’t just about sightseeing—it’s about engaging with the city on a deeper, more personal level. It encourages slow travel, mindful observation, and connection with neighborhood stories often overlooked by traditional tourism. Whether you’re a local looking to rediscover your city or a visitor seeking an authentic, off-the-beaten-path experience, a Can Tour offers a compelling alternative to crowded attractions and commercialized tours. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to plan your own Can Tour in San Antonio—from understanding the concept and mapping your route to using the right tools and avoiding common pitfalls.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Understand What a Can Tour Is

Before you begin planning, it’s essential to clarify what a Can Tour entails. The term “Can” refers to small, cylindrical metal tags—resembling soda or beer cans—that are affixed to lampposts, walls, or sidewalks at designated points of interest. Each tag bears a unique number or symbol and often includes a QR code that links to audio stories, historical facts, or artist interviews. The concept was pioneered in 2019 by a collective of San Antonio-based artists who wanted to make public art accessible without relying on museums or guided tours. The project, called “Can You See It?”, has since expanded to over 120 locations across the city, with new additions added quarterly.

The tour is entirely self-guided, meaning you choose your own pace, route, and focus. Some participants complete the full circuit in a weekend; others spread it over months, visiting a few stops per week. There’s no right or wrong way to do it—only your own curiosity as a guide.

Step 2: Research the Current Can Tour Map

The official Can Tour map is maintained by the San Antonio Arts Collective (SAAC) and updated monthly. It’s available online at sanantonioartscollective.org/cantour. The map is interactive and color-coded by neighborhood: Downtown, Southtown, the West Side, and the East Side each have distinct clusters of can locations.

Begin by reviewing the map to identify which areas align with your interests. For example:

• If you love murals and street art, prioritize Southtown and the Pearl District.
• If you’re drawn to historical narratives, focus on the West Side, where many tags highlight Mexican-American heritage and labor history.
• If you prefer quiet, scenic routes, explore the East Side along the San Antonio River bend.

Download or print the map. Many tags are located in areas with limited cell service, so having an offline version is crucial. You can also use the SAAC mobile app (available on iOS and Android), which includes GPS tracking, audio playback, and photo uploads for each stop.

Step 3: Choose Your Route Based on Time and Interest

There are three main route options: the Short Loop (6–8 stops, 2–3 hours), the Medium Circuit (12–15 stops, half-day), and the Full Expedition (50+ stops, 2–3 days). For first-timers, we recommend starting with the Short Loop.

Here’s a sample Short Loop itinerary:

1. Can

   003 – La Villita: A mural depicting 19th-century Tejano families, paired with an oral history from a local historian.

2. Can

   011 – The Blue Door Alley: A narrow passageway transformed into a collage of recycled metal art; the audio story explains the community cleanup initiative that inspired it.

3. Can

   022 – San Pedro Creek Greenway: A tag embedded in a bench overlooking the creek, sharing the ecological restoration efforts of the area.

4. Can

   037 – The Hidden Garden of St. Mary’s: A quiet courtyard with a sculpture made from repurposed church bells and a story about post-Hurricane Katrina solidarity.

5. Can

   045 – The West Side Market Wall: A large-scale mural of local vendors, with QR code linking to interviews with immigrant entrepreneurs.

Use Google Maps or Apple Maps to plot walking distances between stops. Most can locations are within 0.2 to 0.5 miles of each other, making walking the ideal mode of transport. Avoid driving between stops—it defeats the purpose of the immersive experience.

Step 4: Prepare Your Gear

While the Can Tour requires minimal equipment, having the right tools enhances your experience:

• Smartphone with fully charged battery: You’ll need it to scan QR codes and access audio content. Bring a portable charger if planning a longer route.
• Headphones: Many audio stories are intimate and best experienced privately. Noise-canceling headphones are ideal for busy areas.
• Comfortable walking shoes: San Antonio’s sidewalks can be uneven, especially in historic districts.
• Water bottle and light snacks: Stay hydrated, especially during warmer months. Many stops are not near convenience stores.
• Small notebook and pen: Some visitors like to jot down reflections or sketch the art they encounter.
• Camera or smartphone for photos: While photography is encouraged, be respectful of private property and avoid blocking public pathways.

Consider downloading offline maps via Google Maps or Maps.me. Some can locations are in areas with poor cellular reception, and you don’t want to miss a stop due to a dead connection.

Step 5: Start Your Tour with Respect and Curiosity

When you arrive at a can location, take a moment to observe your surroundings before scanning the tag. Notice the architecture, the plants, the sounds, the people passing by. The art is not just the mural or sculpture—it’s the context.

Scan the QR code with your phone’s camera or a QR reader app. The audio will begin automatically. Most stories last between 60 and 90 seconds. Listen fully. Pause if needed. Reflect. Then move on.

Do not remove, damage, or relocate any tags. They are part of the city’s cultural infrastructure. If you notice a damaged or missing can, report it via the SAAC website. Community stewardship is a core value of the tour.

Step 6: Document and Reflect

After each stop, take a few minutes to record your thoughts. You might use a voice memo, a journal, or even a social media post (tagging

SanAntonioCanTour). Reflection deepens the experience and helps you retain what you’ve learned.

Many participants create digital scrapbooks using apps like Notion or Google Photos, organizing their tour by theme: “Voices of the West Side,” “Nature in the City,” or “Art as Resistance.” These collections become personal archives—and sometimes, inspiration for others.

Step 7: Extend Your Experience

Once you’ve completed your chosen route, consider going deeper:

• Attend a monthly Can Tour Meetup, hosted by SAAC on the first Saturday of each month. These gatherings include guided group walks and artist Q&As.
• Submit your own artwork or story for consideration as a future can location. The collective welcomes community submissions.
• Volunteer to help maintain the tags. Cleaning, repairing, and documenting conditions is done by volunteers year-round.

Some people turn their Can Tour into an annual tradition, revisiting the same stops each season to observe how the art and environment change over time.

Best Practices

Timing Is Everything

San Antonio’s climate plays a major role in how you experience the Can Tour. From May through September, daytime temperatures often exceed 95°F. Plan your tour for early morning (7–10 a.m.) or late afternoon (4–7 p.m.) to avoid heat exhaustion. Winter months (November–February) are ideal, with mild temperatures and fewer crowds.

Also consider the lighting. Many murals are best viewed in natural daylight. Avoid visiting at night unless the location is well-lit and in a safe area. Some tags are placed on private property with limited visibility after dark.

Respect Local Communities

Many can locations are in residential neighborhoods. Be mindful of noise, parking, and personal space. Do not enter private yards or disturb residents. If you see someone nearby, smile and nod—many locals are proud of their community’s involvement in the tour.

Some tags reference sensitive historical events, such as segregation or displacement. Approach these with humility. Listen without judgment. Let the stories speak for themselves.

Engage with the Art, Don’t Just Photograph It

It’s tempting to treat each stop like a photo op. But the true value of the Can Tour lies in the emotional and intellectual connection. Ask yourself: What emotions does this piece evoke? What does it reveal about the people who live here? How does it challenge or affirm what I thought I knew about San Antonio?

Try the “5-Minute Rule”: At each stop, sit quietly for five minutes. Observe without your phone. Let the environment sink in. You’ll be surprised how much you notice when you slow down.

Plan for Accessibility

The Can Tour is designed to be inclusive. Most locations are wheelchair accessible, and audio content is available in both English and Spanish. If you have mobility challenges, check the SAAC website for a dedicated accessibility filter on the map. Some routes have been redesigned with ramps and smoother pathways in response to community feedback.

For visually impaired visitors, audio descriptions are detailed and rich. The SAAC team also offers tactile maps upon request—just email info@sanantonioartscollective.org.

Leave No Trace

Carry out any trash, including wrappers or bottles. Some can locations are in parks or greenways that rely on community care to remain beautiful. If you see litter, pick it up—even if it’s not yours. Small acts of stewardship make a big difference.

Share Responsibly

Posting about your Can Tour on social media can help spread awareness—but avoid “check-in culture.” Don’t tag exact locations unless the artist or SAAC has approved public sharing. Some pieces are intentionally subtle, meant for those who seek them out, not for viral exposure.

Instead, share your reflections: “Today I heard the story of a woman who built a school in her backyard during the 1950s. Her courage lives in this mural.” That’s the kind of content that honors the spirit of the tour.

Tools and Resources

Official Can Tour Map and App

The primary resource is the San Antonio Arts Collective Can Tour Map (sanantonioartscollective.org/cantour). It’s updated weekly and includes:

• Interactive Google Maps interface with filtering by theme, language, and accessibility.
• Audio recordings in English and Spanish.
• Artist bios and background essays.
• Seasonal highlights (e.g., “Fall Murals of the River Walk”).

The SAAC mobile app, available on iOS and Android, adds GPS tracking, offline mode, and a checklist feature to mark completed stops. It also includes a “Next Stop” notification that alerts you when you’re within 100 feet of a can location.

Supplemental Resources

For deeper context, consider these companion resources:

• “Voices of San Antonio: Oral Histories from the Margins” – A free downloadable PDF from the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Institute of Texan Cultures. Includes interviews with artists featured in the Can Tour.
• San Antonio River Walk Walking Guide – Published by the San Antonio River Authority. Helps you connect the Can Tour with the city’s waterway system.
• “The Art of Resistance: Street Murals in South Texas” – A 2022 book by Dr. Elena Martinez, available at local libraries and independent bookstores like BookPeople San Antonio.

Community Platforms

Join the San Antonio Can Tour Facebook Group (over 8,000 members) to share tips, ask questions, and discover hidden stops not yet on the official map. The group is moderated by artists and historians who regularly post updates and themed challenges (e.g., “Find the Can with the Most Colors” or “Locate the Only Tag Made of Brass”).

Instagram is another vibrant hub. Search

SanAntonioCanTour to see user-generated content. Many participants post short video clips of the audio stories, creating a living archive of the city’s voices.

Printed Materials

For those who prefer analog tools, printed Can Tour booklets are available at:

• San Antonio Public Library branches
• San Antonio Museum of Art gift shop
• Pearl Brewery Visitor Center
• Local coffee shops like La Barra and Caffeine & Co.

Each booklet includes a map, a list of all current tags, and space for notes. They’re free and updated quarterly.

Audio and Language Tools

If you’re not fluent in English or Spanish, use your phone’s built-in translation features. Most audio files are transcribed on the SAAC website, so you can read along. For non-native speakers, we recommend listening to the audio first, then reading the transcript to reinforce comprehension.

For users with hearing impairments, transcripts are available in plain text and can be accessed via screen readers. The SAAC team also offers closed-captioned video versions of all audio stories upon request.

Real Examples

Example 1: Maria’s First Can Tour – A Retiree’s Rediscovery

Maria Gonzalez, 68, moved to San Antonio in 1972. After retiring, she felt disconnected from the city she once loved. One day, while waiting for her granddaughter at the San Antonio Public Library, she picked up a Can Tour booklet. Intrigued, she decided to try it.

Her first stop was Can

028 at the corner of South Flores and South Alamo. The mural depicted women in 1940s factory uniforms, holding tools and children. The audio story was narrated by Maria’s own aunt, who had worked in that very factory. Maria sat on the bench for 20 minutes, crying quietly. She hadn’t heard her aunt’s voice in 30 years.

That day, Maria began a new ritual. Every Tuesday, she visits two can locations. She brings her granddaughter, now 10, who draws pictures of the art. Together, they’ve completed 47 stops. “It’s not a tour,” Maria says. “It’s a homecoming.”

Example 2: The Student Project – Can Tour as a Classroom

In 2023, a group of high school students from Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio turned the Can Tour into a semester-long project for their social studies class. They were tasked with researching three can locations, interviewing the artists (when possible), and creating a podcast episode.

One team focused on Can

089, a tag embedded in a chain-link fence near a former school for Black children during segregation. The audio story featured a 92-year-old teacher who taught there. The students tracked down her daughter, recorded her memories, and added them to the official SAAC archive.

Their podcast, “Echoes on the Fence,” was featured on the city’s public radio station. The students later presented their findings to the San Antonio City Council, which led to the installation of two new can locations honoring local educators.

Example 3: The Traveler’s Journey – From Tourist to Advocate

James Li, a software engineer from Seattle, visited San Antonio on a whim in 2022. He stumbled upon a can tag while walking the River Walk. Curious, he scanned it and heard a story about a Mexican-American family who saved their home from demolition by turning it into a community art space.

James was so moved that he spent his entire week on the Can Tour. He posted about it on Reddit, and his thread went viral. He returned the next year—not as a tourist, but as a volunteer. He now helps maintain the tags in the West Side and has started a nonprofit to fund public art in underserved neighborhoods.

“I came for the tacos,” he says. “I stayed for the stories.”

Example 4: The Artist’s Contribution – From Tag to Legacy

Leticia Ruiz, a muralist from the East Side, was invited to create a can location in 2021. Her piece, Can

112, features a portrait of her mother, a domestic worker who raised five children while attending night school. The audio story includes her mother’s voice recounting her journey.

After the tag was installed, residents began leaving flowers, notes, and handmade trinkets at the site. A local poet wrote a poem inspired by it. A filmmaker created a short documentary. The city later named the adjacent park after Leticia’s mother.

“I didn’t think a small metal can could do so much,” Leticia says. “But it became a monument.”

FAQs

Is the Can Tour free to participate in?

Yes. All can locations, audio content, maps, and apps are completely free. There are no fees, tickets, or reservations required.

Are the can tags permanent?

Most are designed to last for years, but some are temporary. The SAAC rotates about 15–20 tags annually to make room for new stories. Check the website for the “New This Month” section to find the latest additions.

Can I create my own can tag?

Yes. The San Antonio Arts Collective accepts community submissions. You can propose a location, story, or artwork through their website. Proposals are reviewed quarterly by a panel of artists and historians. If accepted, SAAC handles fabrication and installation at no cost to you.

Are the audio stories available in languages other than English and Spanish?

Currently, only English and Spanish are supported. However, the SAAC is working with local universities to expand into Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Indigenous languages. Submissions for multilingual content are welcome.

What if I can’t find a can tag?

Tags are intentionally subtle. Look for small, cylindrical metal objects—about the size of a soda can—on walls, lampposts, benches, or sidewalks. They’re often near art, but not always directly on it. If you’re certain you’re at the right location and can’t find it, check the SAAC website for updates. Some tags are temporarily removed for maintenance.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes! Most locations are dog-friendly, as long as your pet is leashed and you clean up after them. Many can locations are in parks or greenways that welcome animals.

Is the Can Tour suitable for children?

Absolutely. Many tags feature child-friendly stories, colorful art, and interactive elements. The SAAC website has a “Family-Friendly” filter to help you select age-appropriate stops.

How long does it take to complete the full Can Tour?

There are currently 124 active can locations. If you visit one per day, it would take about four months. Many people take years, revisiting favorites and discovering new layers each time.

Can I use the Can Tour for a school field trip?

Yes. The SAAC offers free educational kits for teachers, including lesson plans, discussion guides, and printable scavenger hunts. Email education@sanantonioartscollective.org to request materials.

What happens if a can tag is stolen or damaged?

Report it immediately via the SAAC website. The collective replaces damaged tags within two weeks. Community vigilance keeps the tour alive.

Conclusion

The Can Tour in San Antonio is more than a walking tour—it’s an act of cultural reclamation, a quiet rebellion against the commodification of experience, and a celebration of the everyday stories that shape a city. Unlike traditional attractions that demand your attention, the Can Tour invites you to listen, to wonder, to feel. It doesn’t tell you what to see; it shows you what’s already there, waiting to be noticed.

By planning your own Can Tour, you become part of a living, evolving narrative. You honor the artists, the elders, the neighbors, and the forgotten voices whose stories are etched into the city’s fabric—not in grand monuments, but in small, metallic tags that whisper to those who pause long enough to hear them.

Whether you spend an hour or a year on the tour, the goal isn’t to check off locations. It’s to return home changed—more curious, more connected, more alive to the beauty hidden in plain sight.

So lace up your shoes, charge your phone, and step out. The next can is waiting. And it has a story only you are meant to hear.