Caribe Hilton Review: Laid Back Luxury on the Beach in Puerto Rico

Some days, the bartenders at Caribar, the lobby bar at Caribe Hilton, make and serve 200 Piña Coladas. And why not? The hotel, the first Hilton to be built outside the continental US, claims to be the place where the iconic drink was invented. But you don’t need to know where the drink was invented to enjoy one (or more) while lounging in the sun watching the waves lap ashore at this iconic 17-acre resort. At least I didn’t when I visited in late November 2023.

The drink is a symbol of the hotel, which exudes the same fun, laid-back tropical vibe you get when you think “Piña Colada.”

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Guest Rooms

The hotel is divided into three buildings:

• The quieter low-rise Garden Wing with views of the tropical gardens
• The high-rise Beach Wing
• The high-rise Wave Wing  

In all, the resort has 652 rooms, nearly all of which have balconies, a must for me when visiting the tropics. In fact, I spent as much time on my balcony as I could, looking left to swoon over the azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean or looking right to see the bustling views of San Juan.

Standard king rooms sleep two, standard double rooms sleep four and a few king rooms have a chair that pulls out to a single bed suitable for a child to sleep. In addition, the resort has 33 suites that sleep up to six, and connecting rooms are available for larger families.

My ocean-view king room felt huge and the balcony stretched the full width of the room, with two chairs and a small table. The large bathroom had a huge walk-in shower and double vanity sinks.

All of the guest rooms include wifi, coffee makers, mini-refrigerators, a safe, HDTVs and black-out curtains.  

SheBuysTravel Tip: Ask for a high floor for the best views over neighboring hotel rooftops.

Things to Do at Caribe Hilton

This is not an all-inclusive hotel, so you won’t be torn about whether to stay on property or venture out to explore the island. The hotel will help you book excursions to see the sights, such as a visit to the El Yunque Rainforest or a tour of Old San Juan. Whenever you’re at the hotel, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy.

Daily Activities

The friendly front desk staff will give you a copy of the activities planned during your stay. Expect to find things such as limbo, Latin dance lessons, aqua aerobics and beach tennis. My favorite: yoga on the beach. It’s easy to find your Zen when you hear the water lapping at the shore.

If you need more Zen, head to the shaded hammock garden or the resort’s beautiful tropical gardens.

And, of course, you don’t want to miss the complimentary Piña Colada sampling at the Bagua beach bar, daily at noon.

The $42 daily resort fee covers:

• Wifi throughout the resort
• Fitness center access
• Tennis court use
• Beach chairs & umbrellas
• Piña Colada tasting

Pools

I couldn’t be dragged from the beach and the ocean waters, made calm by the rock jetty that protects the shoreline here. But if you’re more the pool type, you’ll have plenty to keep you happy. The beachfront pool complex includes three pools, one of them an infinity pool; a kids’ fountain pool; hot tub; and a swim-up bar.

Extending into the water off the beach is a unique round sundeck. It’s lined with comfy pillows for lounging and great views out over the water. I loved it, but didn’t last long. Even in November, the Puerto Rican sunshine was too intense and the sundeck was too far above the water for a quick dip to cool off.

When I visited just after Thanksgiving in 2023, the pools and beach never felt crowded and there were plenty of lounge chairs everywhere.

SheBuysTravel writer Bethany Kandel, who stayed at the resort during a full-capacity vacation week, found most of the poolside chairs were taken. But there still were plenty loungers available on the beach and in the shaded hammock area. And, she says, staff members were happy to set up an umbrella for her.

Zen Spa Océano

Sadly, my busy resort visit did not allow time for me to vist this modern, 8,500-square-foot spa It offers 15 treatment rooms and a hair and beauty salon. There’s also a hydrotherapy room, sauna and steam rooms and an outdoor whirlpool.

I had my eye on the aromatherapy Shiatsu massage. It’s on my list for a future visit.

Fitness Activities

While I never really understand running on a treadmill (especially when you can run on beach or swim in the ocean), I get that some people do. At least running on a treadmill at the Caribe Hilton’s 24-hour fitness center means you can look out at nature rather than watch TV while you run.

The resort also has three tennis courts named for 2016 Puerto Rican Olympic Gold Medalist Monica Puig. You can play free one hour per day. If you neglect to pack your racket, rent one at the hotel and buy a can of tennis balls.

Perhaps the coolest activity at the resort is SNUBA, a cross between snorkeling and scuba diving. It happens in the calm waters off the hotel beach.

I was signed up to try it, but then learned it’s risky for people (like me) who have asthma. But the folks who went reported it is a unique experience. You don a white helmet, attached by a hose to a breathing machine that allows you to breathe while walking along the ocean floor for a close-up look at the reef and fishes.

Dining

• Morton’s The Steakhouse. I had one of the best meals of my life here. Morton’s specializes in prime-aged beef and seafood entrees, paired with an extensive wine collection. Make a reseration for dinner when you make your reservation to stay. It’s a don’t-miss dining experience.
• Caribar. This lively restaurant/bar is smack in the middle of the lobby. It serves as the heart of the hotel and the place to people watch while sipping a Piña Colada. On weekends there is live entertainment.

• Néctar del Caribe. This beachfront restaurant offers an extensive breakfast buffet and tropical breakfast cocktails. Try the house specialty: Piña Colada French Toast (caramelized pineapple relish, whipped coconut cream, toasted coconut, and almond brittle).
• Rustica Ristorante. Located off the lobby, this casual restaurant serves Northern Italian cuisine with more than a dozen types of pasta. In addition, the menu includes antipasto, meats, seafood, and a large, international wine selection.
• Lola’s Puerto Rican Cuisine. Also located off the lobby, Lola’s is a cozy eatery that serves tasty, traditional Puerto Rican dishes like mofongo, fried pork and arroz mamposteao (rice and beans).

• Bagua. The poolside bar and grill, Bagua offers sandwiches, burgers, tacos, and snacks. There’s also a swim-up bar. More importantly, it’s where the daily Pina Colada tasting happens.
• Starbucks. Where would we be without our daily caffeine fix?
• Ice Cream & Cookies Co. is a popular spot for house-made waffle cones, ice cream, and candy.

Note to parents of teens: The drinking age in Puerto Rico is 18.

Is Caribe Hilton Safe for Women Travelers?

I am a huge fan of Puerto Rico. On my four visits, I have visited tourist sites such as the ‘El Yunque’ Rainforest and El Morro fort in Old San Juan and I have spent time in the neighborhoods mixing with islanders. I have always felt welcomed and safe.

On this trip, I was traveling solo and I never felt unsafe. The staff was warm and welcoming and the beach feels private. (While Puerto Rican law states that all beaches are public, the resort’s beach is bordered by a natural rock jetty. The resulting cove makes it difficult for anyone not staying at the hotel to reach the secluded beach area. So there’s little worry about who might be able to wander along while you’re relaxing in the sun.)

My room came with a door that closed automatically, a dead bolt and secondary lock and a wide-angle peephole so I could easily see what was happening in the hallway outside my room.

The Storied History of Caribe Hilton

The Caribe Hilton, which turns 75 in 2024, celebrates its history – and that of Hilton International — throughout the hotel, including such remarkable milestones as the first hotel company to have a hotel with cold running water (1920s), the first to offer room service (1930s), and the first to have in-room TVs (1940s).

The 652-room hotel was the first modern hotel to be built on the island. It opened in 1949 as a Hilton but it was owned by the government of Puerto Rico until 1990, when it was sold to Hilton International for $80 million.

Elizabeth Taylor put the hotel on the map when she vacationed there in 1950 with her first husband, Conrad Hilton Jr. Following in her footsteps, the Caribe Hilton became the playground for the rich and famous – from Gloria Swanson to Barack Obama.

In 2017, the hotel was seriously damaged by Hurricane Maria. It reopened after a $150 million renovation that included installing a generator to ensure the hotel could continue to operate in the event Puerto Rico’s unreliable electric grid fails again.

Getting to Caribe Hilton

Puerto Rico is an easy, direct flight from my home in Chicago and, since Puerto Rico is a US territory, there’s no passport required and no lengthy customs line at the end of the flight.

The Caribe Hilton, at 1 San Geronimo Street, is about 15 minutes from the Luis Muñoz International Airport. It’s a scenic 2-mile walk along the waterfront — or a 10-minute cab ride — to explore the cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, historic forts and local culture and cuisine of Old San Juan.