It has taken me a while to complete my posts about our family trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and I am pounding out this post before all the details leave my mind! Today, I’m going to share our trip to El Condado in San Juan, Puerto Rico with kids. This post focuses on the best ideas for kids at Condado Beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. I use various programs to include affiliate links in my blog posts – such as the Amazon Associates Program and various travel partner programs – to earn from qualifying purchases.
I wish I could tell you we made our way around the whole island while we were there, but that just wasn’t in the cards for our trip. Car rentals are at a premium right now (at the time I write this post), and there were no rentals available. Also, many of the island attractions are on a reservation-only basis right now and most did not have available reservations when I booked my trip one month ahead of vacation time.
If you are interested in making it to Fajardo or Vieques, I would suggest making transportation arrangements and reservations as soon as possible.
Where is Condado Beach?
Condado Beach is a public-access beach located in the district of El Condado. Condado is a walkable “neighborhood” type of place loaded with ritzy restaurants and hotels, tourists, and a trendy vibe.
Where to Stay with Kids in Condado Beach
Abbita Boutique Hotel
We stayed at what is now called Abbita Boutique Hotel San Juan. You can read my other post with details about our stay at this hotel on Condado Beach. Our stay was pleasant, and the hotel staff was very friendly. I liked the convenient location of our hotel to restaurants, the beach, and the busy strip.
Condado Palm Inn in Condado Beach
Condado Palm Inn is part of the Hilton Tapestry Collection of hotels. And I do love the Tapestry Collection. This hotel is super chic with a great proximity to Condado Beach. As far as reviews, this one gets great reviews for being family friendly and having a good breakfast.
The Condado Plaza Hilton
The Condado Plaza Hilton has four swimming pools which is a fantastic feature for families with kids. I often find when we stay at hotels with multiple swimming pools that there tend to be one or two that families gravitate toward while the others tend to be more adult-oriented. This is another Hilton hotel, and I find that staying at Hilton provides some comfort in knowing that a certain standard should be met – no matter where you are.
La Concha Resort
At a higher price point, La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort gives amazing views from the hotel rooms as it is situated right on the beach. This four-star hotel offers private balconies to guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows for optimal viewing of the ocean.
Condado Downtown Tantra Apartment
Reviewers rave about the terrace views at this one bedroom Condado Downtown Tantra Apartment. Now, a parent of very young children might be nervous with the terrace and the idea of young children climbing, etc. But parents of older children would surely love the views and the proximity to both the downtown and the beach! The living room has multiple pull out sofas, and there is a small kitchen.
What to Do with Kids at Condado Beach Area
If I am being perfectly honest, we did not find many things to do with kids at Condado (or San Juan, in general) IF we are thinking in terms of the usual kid attractions (amusement parks, kid-centered activity centers, etc.) we find all over the mainland. As it turned out, we really enjoyed the area – despite the fact that it wasn’t very kid-centric.
Luckily, our children are pretty content with basic activities and so they were none the wiser that the area seemed to be lacking in the kidcentric ways we are accustomed to at home. We all had plenty of fun while in San Juan! Our oldest daughter (8) said this was the best vacation of her life.
Apparently, there is the Old San Juan Children’s Museum. Somehow, we were not aware of this during our stay, and no on mentioned it when we asked for ideas for what to do with kids at Condado.
Two different Uber drivers told us San Juan is not really a kid-focused area. Both said San Juan is more of an adult-centered area with activities geared more toward adult entertainment – nice dining, casinos, inclusive resorts, etc. I would say that especially seemed true in Condado.
We spent our days beaching and pooling and exploring Old San Juan. We found our own things to do in San Juan with kids. Our girls were happy as pigs in mud doing these low-key activities.
Research Special Dates Before Your Trip
One thing I do regret is we did not take advantage of La Noche de San Juan on the eve of June 24 – while we were there. Ugh. I hate missing out on a celebration! In fact, I did not even know this celebration was a thing until the next morning when our Uber driver asked us if we celebrated La Noche de San Juan the night before. He said he was super busy with all of the people celebrating all while we had been sound asleep in our hotel.
Basically, on this night, which is held two days before the summer solstice, family and friends gather at the beach and plunge themselves backwards into the water for good luck. You can read here to learn more about La Noche de San Juan and plan ahead if you will be visiting Puerto Rico at the end of June.
I would suggest you go to your friend Google and ask “holidays in Puerto Rico in (insert month of your trip)” just so you can be prepared and not miss out!
Ideas for What to do in Condado with Kids
Take Morning Strolls on Condado Beach as the Sun Rises
Mornings are a beautiful time to stroll Condado Beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico! This time of day might be too early for true swimming for some people. But it’s a perfect time to listen to the waves crash, watch the sunrise, and admire the pretty birds fluttering across the morning sky!
The girls had such a grand time watching the tiniest little crabs scamper about the boardwalk.
Explore Ashford Avenue and Other Main Streets of Condado
Walk through the downtown Condado area for some tourist shops and local restaurants. If you are lucky like we were, you might even see Superman strutting down the street with a boombox on his shoulder. The girls still talk about seeing Superman that day!
A trip down Ashford Avenue is a must! It’s nicknamed the “Fifth Avenue” of San Juan for good reason. We visited some exquisite shops. One carried only wardrobe items handmade in Italy.
Stop at one of the street side vendors for a piña colada fresh in the pineapple. For the kiddos, you can order virgin coladas without the alcohol.
Enjoy some tostones or authentic stewed meat alongside rice and beans.
Or maybe you would prefer some other street food – like arepas.
Head Back to Condado Beach for Some Real Beach Time
Now, it’s time for a warm after-lunch visit back to the beach – this time for real swimming and playing in the sand! Having a hotel-sponsored beach chair and umbrella makes a beach outing nice!
A visit to Condado Beach is a must for any family considering planning ideas for kids at Condado Beach. You did plan a vacation to an island for a reason, right?
However, as with any beach trip, you will want to be prepared for water safety. Apparently, Condado Beach is known for having a strong undercurrent. We did not notice any issues, but you can never be too safe. Read up on how to notice a rip current so you can be prepared at any beach around the world.
Don’t miss the fun splash pad located right off the beach. It’s a fun way for kids (and adults) to rinse off the sand! For us, it was on our way on the short walk back to the hotel. So it made for an easy stop and an extra play time for the girls.
Just beyond the splash fountains is a large field where many kids can adults came to play soccer and other recreational activities.
On several occasions, there were large groups of kids there with teachers or leaders – as though they were on some type of summer camp outing.
The simple things like the splash fountains made my girls happy. This shows even a more grown-up focused area like Condado can still delight kids!
Don’t Forget the Ice Cream
If you’ve ever made it through a vacation with kids without a stop for ice cream, I’ll have to learn your tricks! My girls can spot an ice cream place from a mile away! There are several areas for frozen treats in the Condado area.
Visit the Condado Lagoon for Water Sports
If your family is interested in paddle boarding, kayaking, or snorkeling, you can rent equipment from several suppliers for water activities in Condado Lagoon (Laguna del Condado). Even better, you can book a night kayak tour in Condado Lagoon!
The lagoon was right behind our hotel, and we saw people out there regularly enjoying some water activities.
Older kids might especially enjoy some of these activities for kids at Condado Beach.
Travel Out of Condado for More Fun Activities for Kids
Obviously, if you expand your zone, you can find more things for kids to do in Puerto Rico.
- Visit the Coqui Water Park in Fajardo.
- Visit the Carolina Children’s Museum in Carolina (Reservations were required while we were there.)
- Take the Cataño Ferry for a budget-friendly morning or afternoon ferry excursion to Cataño. (The round trip tickets were only $1 per person.)
- Go down to Carolina, just a little ways for some beginner surf lessons!
- For older kids, go on a bio bay kayaking tour in Puerto Rico after dark. (These bio bay tours of the bioluminescent bays are extremely popular. You do have to travel outside of San Juan for any of the three popular bio bay kayaking tours – one in Fajardo, one in Vieques, and one in Lajas.)
- Hike around the El Yunque National Forest and enjoy plenty of activities there.
And that’s it! We hope you enjoyed our candid thoughts on ideas for traveling with kids at Condado Beach. Safe travels, wherever you find yourself! Be sure to check out some of our other posts from our trip to San Juan in the list below!
More Travel Posts
If you enjoyed reading our ideas for kids at Condado Beach, you will surely enjoy some of our other travel posts!
Guess and Company Christmas Warehouse in Des Arc
How to Book a Savannah Cooking Class
5 Fun Things to do in St. Louis
Places to Eat at Branson Landing
Down
What to Do in Panama City, Panama
Atlantic and Pacific Restaurant
Treehouse Cabins in Eureka Springs
Our Stay in a Caribbean Beach Resort Pirate Room
Tips for a First Time at Disney World
Disney Animal Kingdom Outfit Ideas
Cinderella’s Royal Table Visit
Weekend in Charleston Itinerary
Gorgeous Luxury Cabins in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Spudnut Shoppe in El Dorado, Arkansas
Staying at Comfort Inn San Juan (Abitta Boutique San Juan)
Best Ideas for Kids at Condado Beach in San Juan
Cruising Ducks for Duck, Duck, Cruise
Quotes About Cruising and Cruising Captions
Leave a Reply