This year, I’ve frequently been traveling to Puerto Rico, promoting my book, The Dining Traveler Guide to Puerto Rico. One of the highlights of this experience is being able to experience a variety of local-owned hotels and restaurants. One of the properties I had the pleasure of visiting was Candelero Beach Resort, a local-owned all-inclusive hotel in Puerto Rico. All about our experience:
About Candelero Beach
Candelero Beach Resort is locally and family-owned by the Suárez family of Palmas Hills Partners. The hotel sustained substantial damage by hurricane Maria and Irma and was forced to shut its doors. The resort reopened in December of 2018 and has become a pillar of the local Palmas del Mar community.
Location
Located at the upscale development of Palmas del Mar in the town of Humacao, Candelero Beach Resort is around a 90-minute drive from San Juan. The hotel is a beachfront property with access to several pools and a sandy beach. If you are all about exploring beyond the hotel, you’re in luck! Here are several places that you can visit that are less than an hour’s drive: El Yunque Rainforest, scenic route 901 in Yabucoa, the kiosks of Luquillo, and the natural reserve of Humacao.
If spending a relaxing weekend at a hotel is your thing, there’s plenty to do at the property without having to leave Palmas del Mar. Given that it is one of the few all-inclusive properties in Puerto Rico, that means that you can indulge in the many restaurants on property. You can also play a round of golf, take a dip at one of the pools, or go for a walk at the Pterocaprus forest located just 10 minutes from the hotel.
Our Room
My friend and I shared a room with two comfortable queen beds, excellent in-room wi-fi access, and a mini-fridge. The colorful accent wall wallpaper in a tile pattern gave a pop of color to the neutral tones of the decor. The rooms are pretty spacious, which is perfect if you’re traveling with a small family or friends.
Food and Drink
There are eight food and beverage options to choose from at Candelero Beach Resort. From a wood-fired oven pizza to a wine-bar, the choices are many at this all-inclusive hotel. If all-inclusive hotels are not your thing, you can also choose a partial package as well.
We dined at the Puerto Rican restaurant, Oregano Cocina Criolla, for breakfast and dinner. We enjoyed the creative take on some Puerto Rican classics. I highly recommend you order the criollo omelet for breakfast. This decadent omelet, filled with savory chunks of lechon, sweet morsels of sweet plantains, and cheese is the ultimate Puerto Rican breakfast. Needless to say, a little stroll in the forest did me well after breakfast!
Make sure to have a drink at Mahi Ceviche and Tapas Bar, the lobby bar at the property. Our bartender, Pedro, was very creative when it came to the cocktails. We told him what we liked, and voilá, he created the perfect cocktail. We paired them with granitos, a local dish from Humacao. This fried rice cake, topped with a spicy crab, is the ideal snack.
Candelero Beach Resort: The Verdict
If you’re looking for a cozy hotel with all the amenities for a perfect vacation, Candelero Beach Resort is a great option. I truly appreciated that from the moment you walk in, the property truly embraces its Puerto Rican heritage and highlights local businesses. From a Gustos coffee at the lobby (local coffee chain) to the plena music setting the atmosphere at check-in, you know that you are in Puerto Rico. Looking forward to returning and bringing my family along.
Candelero Beach Resort, 170 Candelero Dr, Humacao, Puerto Rico. Website
Disclaimer: I was hosted by Candelero Beach Resort, but opinions are my own.
