Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico: A Review
If you’re looking for a picture perfect hotel on the shores of San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Caribe Hilton is an excellent choice!
This beautiful property has views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Condado Lagoon, a historic fort on-site, and one of the most stunning lobbies I’ve ever seen.
Whether you’re planning to relax by the pool for days on end, or use the hotel as a base from which to explore Puerto Rico, the Caribe Hotel is worth a stay.
In the review below, I’m sharing our favorite parts of the hotel, what to expect during your stay, and why you have to have a piña colada while you’re here.
Views of the Condada area of San Juan from the Caribe Hilton
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Caribe Hilton: An Overview
When we arrived in Puerto Rico, we took a taxi from the San Juan airport and headed straight to the hotel.
When we got there, I was amazed.
I’d been to many Caribbean islands at this point in my life, including studying abroad in the Bahamas, cruising to the Western Caribbean, and climbing waterfalls in Jamaica, so I knew that these tropical hotels like to lean into the island vibes and their gorgeous settings.
Still, I was amazing to arrive at the Caribe Hilton to find how just how well that the hotel has done so, despite it being on a stretch of very populated coast outside of San Juan.
The entire lobby is open air, as in there aren't any actual front doors. You walk right in from the valet parking area into the check-in area.
The open area valet area and entrance into the main lobby
There's a tropical bird in the lobby, and all day long, you can sit in the lobby and hear the sound of palm trees rattling in the warm breeze.
I was entranced before we'd even checked in.
That entrance really set the tone for our entire, week long stay, which was punctuated by these moments of feeling as if I was a thousand miles away from anything but a tropical drink and the pool.
Where is the Caribe Hilton?
The lobby area leading out to the pool
The Caribe Hilton is located at the mouth of the Condado Lagoon in the Condado area of San Juan.
When you think about San Juan, you’re probably picturing the historic area, known as Old San Juan or Viejo San Juan.
Old San Juan is just one small part of the larger San Juan area, which sprawls away from the historic part.
Condado is one of the main hotel and restaurant areas just outside of Old San Juan.
The Caribe Hilton is 2.2 miles from Plaza Colón on the eastern edge of Viejo San Juan, making it technically within walking distance, but probably further than you’d like to go on a hot July afternoon.
While it is outside of the main historic part of San Juan, the Caribe Hilton’s location puts it within easy distance of everything you might want to see in this part of the island, including El Yunque National Forest, multiple boat and kayaking tours, and the Bacardi Factory tours.
Learn more about where to sightsee, eat, and stay in my First Time Visitor’s Guide to Puerto Rico!
How close is the airport?
The Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) is 6 miles east of the hotel, which is about an 11 mile ride by car.
I would not recommend walking, as 1) that’s going to be a very long, hot hike, and 2) you’d be walking along the 26 Expressway, which isn’t conducive to pedestrian traffic.
There is an active taxi rank at SJU with both traditional taxis and Uber/Lyft drivers, and getting from the airport to the Caribe Hilton will cost you about $20 or so.
Will I need a rental car while I’m staying here?
That depends completely on what your plans are while you’re in Puerto Rico.
If you only want to hang out at the hotel and venture into Viejo San Juan, you could easily make that happen without a rental car.
In fact, the concierge at the Caribe Hilton is really helpful in recommending and setting up tours, so if you’re interested in seeing a part of the island that needs more than just a simple taxi/Uber ride, just ask at the desk.
However, if you want to be able to check out the local beaches or El Yunque on your own, you’ll want to get a rental car.
Luckily, driving in Puerto Rico is super easy for anyone who has a valid U.S. driver’s license.
They drive on the same side of the road and on the same side of the car as we do in the U.S., so the learning curve here is much lower than doing a road trip in Ireland or driving around in Scotland.
You can pick up your rental car at the airport, and the Caribe Hilton has both self-parking and valet parking options. (The valet parking is $5 more a night, so it might be a place to splurge.)
The History of the Caribe Hilton
The hotel's been around for a long time, but it has remained fresh through a series of renovations throughout the year.
It opened its doors in 1949, and you can still see vintage touches around the hotel, including in the architecture and some of the decor.
The Caribe Hilton was considered the island’s first modern hotel with all of its amenities and its enviable location on the lagoon.
It weathered many hurricanes until Hurricane Maria tore through the property in 2017. The hotel got a complete refresh and reopened in 2019 for business as usual.
Another claim to fame is that the piña colada was created at the Caribe Hilton bar back in 1954. Today, the drink is the official beverage of Puerto Rico, so you make sure you stop by the bar for a taste.
For the sake of scientific research, I had to try one while I was there. (Okay, it was like 3.) I’m happy to report that the first piña colada recipe in the world is also one of the best I’ve ever tasted.
Explore more of the Caribbean in these posts:
The Hotel Rooms
One thing I love about this hotel is that every single room has a view.
Beyond that, the rooms are pretty standard for a Hilton or Hampton Inn.
You can choose from a king or two double beds, and the room has a desk, a chair or two to relax in, a TV, and a decent sized bathroom.
The decor leans towards neutrals with a hint of the Caribbean, so you’ll get some splashes of blue and green amidst the white and grey.
We stayed in a room with the double beds, and it worked well for my family. Honestly, we weren’t in the room very often as we’re people who like to explore as much as possible on vacation.
But, it was nice to sit and watch the waves lap over the lagoon in the evenings as we were winding down for the day.
We had a balcony that overlooked the ocean, the fort, and the Condado Lagoon. You can also ask for a view of the front of the resort (which is mostly views of other hotels and some landscaping) or the pool area.
Read more hotel reviews from our family travels here.
Caribe Hilton Amenities
San Geronimo Fort
The historic San Geronimo Fort
One of my favorite parts about the property was the San Geronimo Fort that's located just a few hundred feet from the lobby on the Condado Lagoon.
This fort was built in the mid-1700s, and served as an important defense against the British as they attempted to take the Condado Lagoon in the late 1700s.
Guests aren't allowed to tour it right now due to some structural renovation needs, but it's incredible to know that such an interesting part of history is incorporated into the hotel’s landscape.
Pool
The pool area is one of the best parts of the entire property, and it’s worth booking a stay on its own.
The pool is located right next to the water, so you can listen to the waves crash on the shore while you’re splashing around in the pool or reading in one of the chairs.
There are 3 different areas to the pool, depending on what your level of relaxation is. Kids will love the tiny, shallow children’s splash area, while there is also a large Tropical Pool and a deeper infinity pool, all in the same complex.
Ask at the front desk for the daily pool activities, including water aerobics, daily DJ sessions, pool tube rentals, and water basketball games.
Making the most of the “beach” area
NOTE: While the hotel website mentions that they have a pool and beach area, calling it a “beach” is honestly too kind.
Because of the hotel’s location on the lagoon and the ocean, the currents here are too strong to allow for any real swimming.
There are a few beach chairs by the water’s edge, and several hammocks that are perfect for reading or watching the sunset.
If you want a true beachfront experience in Puerto Rico, you’ll need to head away from San Juan and out to one of the resorts on the other side of the Condado Lagoon such as the La Concha Resort or the Condado Vanderbilt Resort.
Food
There are 9 different food options on-site, making it so that you don’t really need to leave the hotel unless you want to.
If you’re feeling really fancy, you can get a reservation at the Morton’s the Steakhouse, but there are plenty of casual options, too.
The swim up bar is convenient for those lazy pool days, while the hotel’s Starbucks is good for quick snacks and drinks.
There are several sit down places if you prefer to linger over a meal (but don’t want to get dressed up), including the Néctar del Caribe for breakfast, Caribar for tapas and the hotel’s signature piña colada, and Lola’s for traditional Puerto Rican cuisine.
The hotel has come a long way in their on-site food offerings since the post-Hurricane Maria, as this was the area of the hotel that I felt was the least impressive before the renovation.
Final Thoughts on the Caribe Hilton
Would I go back to the Caribe Hilton?
Yes, I’d definitely book here again whenever we’re visiting San Juan.
I think it would be an incredible place to just stay and relax by the pool (but let’s not kid ourselves as I’ve never relaxed on a vacation once!).
If you’re planning to see more of the city that just the area directly around the hotel, weigh the cost of a taxi/Uber against just renting a car as you’ll need one or the other to get around.
The views of the ocean, fort, and Condado Lagoon were gorgeous and the property was beautiful from the lobby to the room balconies.
Ultimately, if I was in town just to explore more of Old San Juan, I'd probably head closer into town, just for convenience of being able to step into the historic district without worrying about paying for transportation.
