A Week in Puerto Rico, Part 1: Castles, Coconut Frappes, and Caribbean Views
✈️ : The Proaños flew out of ATL (we gound an amazing deal we could not pass up thanks to Going)
🌴: We explored San Juan, Luquillo Beach, and Fajardo
If you’re looking for a family-friendly trip packed with history, beach days, and tropical treats, Puerto Rico should be at the top of your list. My husband and I spent a week soaking up the sun with the kids, and we’re sharing our highlights to help you plan your visit to PR!
Exploring Old San Juan: Castles & Coconut Frappes
You have to explore the two iconic forts of Old San Juan: Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristóbal. Pro tip: pay once and visit both. It's an easy walk between the two and your ticket to either gets you into both. It’s really neat to envision what life was like back in the day when the castles were used during major historic events.
Castillo San Cristóbal
One of the coolest parts of Castillo San Cristóbal is its network of tunnels. Built as part of the fort’s defense system, these tunnels let Spanish soldiers move between sections of the fort without exposing themselves to enemy fire. They also doubled as a way to stop enemy troops. If invaders tried to tunnel in, parts of the tunnels could be collapsed to block their path. One tunnel even leads to an old dungeon, where you can still see traces of where iron bars or heavy wooden gates once stood.
After all that castle exploring, we stopped at Café del Niño, a little cafe with big views and the best coconut frappuccino. (Do yourself a favor and also try the guava and cheese smoothie…total Puerto Rico vacation vibes in a cup.)
Heads up: There’s a pigeon park right next to the café. It’s fun for kids and animal lovers, but...watch your head. We enjoyed it!
Other places to stroll through in San Juan include:
Paseo de la Princesa: A beautiful tree-lined promenade with fountains and local artisans selling crafts.
Plaza Colón: Great for photos and people-watching.
Umbrella Street (Calle Fortaleza): A fun, colorful street that’s perfect for your Instagram moment (if the umbrellas are up!).
You could easily spend a whole day or two in Old San Juan just wandering, eating, and soaking in the laid-back Caribbean vibe.
Stay tuned for part two, where we share details about our absolute favorite beach of our week in Puerto Rico, plus our experience staying at the famous El Conquistador resort!