San Juan activities

[czmom]

We will be staying 2 nights after our cruise to SJ in January. Any recommendations for fun activities? Our kids will be 8 and 10.

 

[cedricandsophie]

The Old Town is fun to walk around. We were there last year two days before a cruise. One day we rented a car for 50 and drove to national park. Hiked to a great waterfall. Strenuous hike but doable. Also drove around to look at beaches. We stayed at embassy suites close to airport. It had a great pool

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

Old San Juan and visit the forts. You can buy a National Parks passport and have it stamped in the parks. Pretty neat. It was blistering hot when we went for Easter this year, but we enjoyed it. We stayed at a hotel in the Condado Beach area (San Juan Marriott Stellaris) awesome family hotel. We booked a snorkeling trip through East Island Excursions to Icacos island. It was about an hour ride from the hotel (they picked us up). It was amazingly beautiful. Near Icacos is the Palominitos Island where Pirates of the Carribbean was filmed. Sometimes the boat stops there, depends on weather I think. Highly recommend that trip. We were on the boat with the slide, and the kids LOVED it!

 

[czmom]

Old San Juan and visit the forts. You can buy a National Parks passport and have it stamped in the parks. Pretty neat. It was blistering hot when we went for Easter this year, but we enjoyed it. We stayed at a hotel in the Condado Beach area (San Juan Marriott Stellaris) awesome family hotel. We booked a snorkeling trip through East Island Excursions to Icacos island. It was about an hour ride from the hotel (they picked us up). It was amazingly beautiful. Near Icacos is the Palominitos Island where Pirates of the Carribbean was filmed. Sometimes the boat stops there, depends on weather I think. Highly recommend that trip. We were on the boat with the slide, and the kids LOVED it!

Great ideas! Was the passport easy to find? My kids would love getting it stamped.
Also, did you book the snorkeling tour before you arrived? Looks awesome!

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

Great ideas! Was the passport easy to find? My kids would love getting it stamped.
Also, did you book the snorkeling tour before you arrived? Looks awesome!

You get it right in the gift shop! I believe there are three different spots to get it stamped at each fort (there are a couple of forts). We did San Cristobal.

Definitely book the snorkeling before you go, I know it books up! My friends went a few weeks after we did, and they also loved it. Super friendly staff, clean equipment that they were sanitizing after everyone use, they serve a lunch of sandwiches, salads, chips, unlimited rum punch (we don't drink), and non alcoholic punch for kids. They also provide flotation devices, so it's great for the kids. I will warn you, the water was a bit rough getting to our destination, so if you get seasick, make sure you bring the bonine! Once at the islands, it was fine!


Here is a pic I took from the boat of Icacos. Beautiful, crystal clear blue water!

 

[bumbershoot]

We booked a snorkeling trip through East Island Excursions to Icacos island. It was about an hour ride from the hotel (they picked us up). It was amazingly beautiful. Near Icacos is the Palominitos Island where Pirates of the Carribbean was filmed. Sometimes the boat stops there, depends on weather I think. Highly recommend that trip. We were on the boat with the slide, and the kids LOVED it!

Thanks for that suggestion! Hadn't seen that mentioned on the CC ports of call boards.

We're going to be in SJ for 4+ days before our cruise and that snorkeling trip sounds nice.

Our main thing we want to do (might help OP though 2 nights might not allow for it) is visit Arecibo Observatory.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

Thanks for that suggestion! Hadn't seen that mentioned on the CC ports of call boards.

We're going to be in SJ for 4+ days before our cruise and that snorkeling trip sounds nice.

Our main thing we want to do (might help OP though 2 nights might not allow for it) is visit Arecibo Observatory.

Oh we didn't go on a cruise, we were just vacationing in PR over Easter of this year

 

[ludari]

During my post cruise visit to PR I went scuba diving which as great but obviously not ideal for your kids. I also did kayaking at the bioluminescent bay (I believe some tour groups offer boats instead of kayaks) which was absolutely amazing. I also found Old Town and the surrounding churches, shops and ruins to be very interesting as well.

 

[DLgal]

The El Yunque rainforest is pretty neat. The forts are a must do. I prefer San Cristobal over El Morro, but it is easy to visit both. There is a free trolley bus that goes between.

If you see a Piragua stand, stop and get one. It is PR shaved ice treat, like a snowcone. Carry cash for those.

I second a hotel in the Condado area. The Marriott Stellaris and La Concha are two of the best ones.

 

[czmom]

During my post cruise visit to PR I went scuba diving which as great but obviously not ideal for your kids. I also did kayaking at the bioluminescent bay (I believe some tour groups offer boats instead of kayaks) which was absolutely amazing. I also found Old Town and the surrounding churches, shops and ruins to be very interesting as well.

Thanks! I was just looking into an electric boat tour of the bioluminescent bay.

 

[czmom]

The El Yunque rainforest is pretty neat. The forts are a must do. I prefer San Cristobal over El Morro, but it is easy to visit both. There is a free trolley bus that goes between.

If you see a Piragua stand, stop and get one. It is PR shaved ice treat, like a snowcone. Carry cash for those.

I second a hotel in the Condado area. The Marriott Stellaris and La Concha are two of the best ones.

We have a condo in Isla Verde booked through VRBO. Is Condado area much better?

My kids will love shaved ice!!

 

[DLgal]

We have a condo in Isla Verde booked through VRBO. Is Condado area much better?

My kids will love shaved ice!!

Isla Verde has nicer beaches. It is just quieter and a bit further out from the "action" of Old San Juan and Condado, which is basically a strip of restaurants and shops. I will say that if a pool is important to your kids, the one at the Marriott was great and had a slide as well as a swim up pool bar/quick service spot.

 

[Jess_S]

Thanks! I was just looking into an electric boat tour of the bioluminescent bay.

If you do wind up booking one, I would love to hear the details. I have been considering booking as well, but the logistics of travelling there in particular are a sticking point.

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh we didn't go on a cruise, we were just vacationing in PR over Easter of this year

I got that. I was just stating my plans. That's all.

 

[gourt]

I would recommend the Flavors of San Juan food tour. It's a walking tour through old San Juan where you stop at 5 or 6 places for small bites with some San Juan history along the way. We loved it! Would do it again.