Tips for Visiting San Juan with Kids (Puerto Rico)

Your family vacation will be an epic adventure in exotic-feeling San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is just a two-hour flight from the continental United States, and as a U.S. territory, no passports are needed. A blend of Spanish, Indian, and African influences gives it international charm. Easterly trade winds provide a tropical yet mild climate, with temperatures in the 80s year-round. Here are fun things to do and tips for visiting San Juan with kids!

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Old San Juan History

At almost 500 years old, Old San Juan is the oldest city in the Western Hemisphere. It encompasses the historic colonial section of the city of San Juan. It is divided into seven square blocks. The northern side of the city is all uphill and residential.  Take in the stunning juxtaposition of progress and decay covered in street art and bold Caribbean colors.

Old San Juan with Kids

Take the hop-on-hop-off trolley to help you get around the city. The trolley is not a tour service, so keep in mind that it does not offer a narrated ride. It is not the fastest way to get around but could be a lifesaver when the kids get tired and need a break.

Don’t miss Calle San Jose, famous for its flag door. It is considered the best photo stop among tourists. The southern part of Old San Juan is the commercial and tourist section. Mom-and-pop shops, upscale retailers, restaurants,  and piers can be found.

The city’s eastern side is protected by Fort San Cristobal. The western area of the city is boarded by Paseo La Princesa Esplanada, La Fortaleza (Governor’s Mansion), and Fort El Morro. It is the oldest area of town where you can find 300-450-year-old homes and buildings.

When visiting San Juan with kids, you must pick up a piragua from a local street cart vendor to keep cool as you walk. The affordable frozen treat is unique to Puerto Rico. Made from hand-shaved ice it is covered in fruit-flavored syrup like Tamarind and Coconut.

Book a tour of Old San Juan through TripAdvisor and Viator now!

Fort El Morro

We visited Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, known as El Morro. Standing at the entrance to San Juan harbor, this six-level fort was named in honor of Spain’s King Philip II. It is part of the National Park Service and the admission fee is minimal with kids 15 years old and under getting in for free. Better yet, your ticket is good for admission to both the El Morro and San Cristobal forts for an entire week.

Grab a map from the park ranger when you arrive and use it to take a self-guided tour. Plan on spending a couple of hours at the fort. Short films about battles and the fort’s construction run all day. Watch a film in English on the hour and ½ hour or in Spanish on the ¼ and ¾ hour. You can also attend a 30-minute talk every hour on the hour in English and on the ½ hour in Spanish. They are led by park rangers who will tell you about life at the fort and answer any questions.

Be sure to arrive early at El Morro. Area schools take field trips to the fort and it can become crowded quickly, especially if cruise ships are also in town. The open-air fort is made entirely of stone and concrete and can get extremely hot. Pack plenty of bottled water and sunscreen.

Other points of interest within El Morro:

• Garitas: These sentry boxes are located all around the outer walls of the fort. You can step inside them and imagine what it would have been like to be a lookout.
• Tres Banderas: Three flags are flown at the topmost level of the fort. They are the United States flag, the Puerto Rican flag and the Cross of Burgundy flag (an old Spanish military flag flown at the fort from 1539-1785).
• Lighthouse: Rebuilt by the U.S. Army in 1908, it looks a little out of place among the stone of the fort.
• El Morro Water Cannon Battery: This area was used to protect the entrance to San Juan harbor. Some of the remaining cannons are on display.
• Torre Antigua: Torre Antigua, or “Old Tower,” is the oldest part of El Morro. Go down its tunnel, and you can see a shell fragment from the 1898 U.S. bombardment still stuck in the walls.
• Kitchen and Forge: These impressive “rooms” are where meals were prepared and metalwork was created. The walls are still stained with soot from the hot fires!

ToroVerde for Thrill Seekers

For extreme thrill-seeking families, take a day trip to ToroVerde (“green bull” in Spanish). Located in Orocovis, a 90-minute drive from San Juan, this ecological adventure park offers some of the most breathtaking views of Puerto Rico’s mountainous jungle. Explore via zip lines, mountain bikes, American Ninja Warrior-style mazes, and suspended bridges that look like something out of Indiana Jones. Combo packages allow guests to create the adrenaline rush of their dreams.

The Condado Plaza Hilton

The Condado Plaza Hilton’s central location makes it the perfect springboard for adventure-seeking. It’s just a 10-minute drive from Old San Juan. The landmark 571-guest room hotel was designed in the early 1960s. The hotel includes a combination of sleek and retro, much like San Juan itself.

Many rooms have private balconies with beautiful cruise ship-style (steep drops straight down) water views. Ten on-site restaurants, bars and cafes serve up fare for every taste. Guests also enjoy a protected beach and swimming area, four outdoor pools, tennis courts and a 24-hour fitness center for parents.

Located between the historic sector of Miramar and San Juan’s sophisticated shopping and dining district, El Condado Plaza Hilton is the only hotel in the area to overlook both the Atlantic Ocean and the Condado Lagoon.

Dining at the Condado Plaza Hilton

Ten different restaurants, cafes, and bars located at Condado Plaza Hilton are sure to please everyone in the family. Be sure to try traditional mofongo, an Afro-Puerto Rican dish featuring fried plantains mashed with garlic and oil in a wooden pilón, also known as mortar and pestle.

Food allergies can be accommodated. My severely nut-allergic son had plenty to eat, and I was surprised that almost everything we chose to eat was already prepared without any nut allergens or danger of cross-contamination.

We give a thumbs up to the following on-site eateries:

• Cafe Caribe: This casual, family-style restaurant serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Think typical American egg dishes, tropical fruit platters, classic pasta, meat-and-seafood entrees, traditional Puerto Rican comfort dishes and an extensive selection of gelatos and desserts. Floor-to-ceiling windows boast dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean.
• Aqua Bar and Grill: This casual pool-side grill offers fresh salads, grilled fish tacos, fried plantains, American-style burgers and flatbread pizzas made to order.
• Eight Noodle Bar: Located on the second floor of the hotel, this restaurant cooks up traditional and modern takes on Chinese and Japanese specialties. Sit at the sushi bar to watch the expert chef create your Dragon Rolls and California rolls by hand. The portions are very hearty, so be sure to bring your appetite or ask for one entree to share.

Water Activities at the Condado Plaza Hilton

There is water everywhere at Condado Plaza Hilton. From the protected reef right in the Condado Lagoon to four oasis-style pools, overheated explorers can spend the afternoon and evening enjoying them all.

Stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, pedal boats, and snorkel equipment are also available for rent on-site. The paddleboards and kayaks are complimentary while the pedal boats and snorkel equipment require an hourly fee.

With the support of the Condado Lagoon Reef Restoration Project, the reef offers marine life lovers a chance to experience a snorkeling adventure right off the resort’s small beach. Excellent for first-time snorkelers, the calm, shallow waters and abundance of tropical fish make it a must-do.

A family of people-friendly manatees lives in the stillest part of the lagoon farther down the strip from Condado Plaza Hilton. Pick up a head of lettuce at one of the local shops. Then, kayak over for an encounter that can only be described as a once-in-a-lifetime. Don’t be alarmed if they swim right up and bump the kayak to say hello.

Whether you choose to kayak with manatees and zipline or just sip piraguas and sit by the pool, visiting San Juan with kids will be a memorable experience. Read reviews and book your Puerto Rico vacation with kids at Condado Plaza Hilton now!

Learn More

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Save These Things to San Juan with Kids

Dreaming of a family vacation in Puerto Rico? Be sure to keep this list of kid-friendly activities in San Juan for future reference. Just pin the image above to Pinterest. Go ahead and follow Travel Mamas on Pinterest while you’re at it!

Which fun things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico with kids would you like most? Let us know in the comments below!

My son and I fell head over feet for Puerto Rico’s urban jungle and historic time capsule that is Old San Juan as guests of El Condado Plaza Hilton. As always, opinions, stories and experiences are my own.

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