My list of the best things to do in Puerto Rico with kids to help you plan your trip!
There are SO many fun things to do with kids in Puerto Rico it’s hard to know where to begin.
In fact, I’d argue that Puerto Rico is the most affordable and kid-friendly island in the Caribbean.
It is easy to get around with a rental car and has a huge variety of activities to keep kids busy.
Where else can you hike up a mountain in a rainforest, swim in crystal clear waters, and kayak in a bioluminescent bay, all in one day?!
Read on for my top things to do in Puerto Rico with kids, compiled over many visits to the island.
All of these activities are accessible from the northeast part of the island, which is where I recommend you are based when traveling with kids.
El Yunque National Forest
My top pick for things to do in Puerto Rico for kids is a visit to El Yunque National Forest.
That’s because there are SO MANY things to do there with kids! Here is a list:
- Visit the only tropical rainforest in the US Forest System
- Swim under a waterfall that is only a 5-minute hike from the road
- Hike to a tower on top of a mountain for incredible views (easy enough for most kiddos)
- Explore a scenic river
- Ride horses
- Zipline
- Learn about the human history of the rainforest
- Soak up lots of knowledge in the Vistor’s Center
- Eat some authentic Puerto Rican food
- Slide down a natural rock waterslide
You’ll see exotic plants, waterfalls, scenic rivers, and historic sites within the park.
Here are my suggestions for what to do with kids in the rainforest:
- Short hike (5 minutes) to Juan Diego waterfalls (bring your swimsuit!)
- Moderately difficult 1.6-mile roundtrip hike up Mt Britton to the tower (if your kids aren’t up for that hike yet, climb up Yokahua Tower instead)
- Short and easy 1-mile roundtrip Angelito Trail to play in Rio Mameyes
- Check out El Portal Visitor’s Center for exhibits, the gift shop, and lunch
All of these activities are located in the La Mina Recreation Area.
Click here for all of the details on visiting El Yunque including activities and how to get there.
Currently, you no longer need a timed reservation to access many of the experiences in the rainforest.
If you want your trip to the rainforest to be extra educational, you can spend a few hours exploring the Visitor’s Center. You’ll see Puerto Rican parrots along with other interesting exhibits.
The rainforest is not to be missed on a Puerto Rico family vacation!
For more details, click here for all of the things to do in El Yunque rainforest Puerto Rico.
Day Trip To Culebra & Flamenco Beach
My absolute favorite day trip in Puerto Rico is a visit to Culebra.
Culebra is a small island 17 miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico. It and Vieques ( a nearby island) are sometimes referred to as the “Spanish Virgin Islands”.
The main attraction for us was Flamenco Beach, which often makes it on lists of the best beaches in the world!
First of all – Flamenco Beach did not disappoint.
I feel like I am spoiled for beaches forever.
It’s a challenge to get to, however, which is part of what keeps it so nice!
Check out my post on how to get to Flamenco Beach via ferry or plane here.
There is an abandoned tank from the Navy on the beach you can walk down to check out. It’s really cool to see and take pictures with.
We brought our snorkeling gear and were able to see some fish around the reefs off the beach.
It was my daughter’s first time snorkeling outside of the pool and it was the perfect introduction. The water is clear, calm, and shallow.
Here was my spot in the sand for the day. Looks like paradise, right?
Here are some of the things to do with kids on Culebra:
11. Rent a golf cart and explore the island
12. Snorkel off the beach to see fish and more
13. Take your picture with a WWII tank that has been turned into a work of art
14. Chill on one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet
In fact we were having so much fun we couldn’t bring ourselves to go home!
I was able to get us tickets on the late ferry so we could spend an extra five hours in Culebra.
We grabbed dinner at a little restaurant next to the ferry dock and were joined by a new friend (This might have been the highlight of the entire trip for my daughter.)
We are still talking about our day on Culebra years later.
A trip to Culebra is at the top of my list of things to do with kids in Puerto Rico.
Learn how to plan your own day trip to Culebra and Flamenco Beach here.
Bio Bay Kayak Tour
One evening we ventured over to Fajardo, which was about 45 minutes from our condo, to take a kayak tour of the Laguna Grande “Bio Bay”.
Bioluminescent plankton live in abundance in the Bio Bay. They give off a neon blue-green color when you disturb them.
There are only five places in the world where they live in such high concentrations that the water appears to glow – and three of these places are in Puerto Rico!
Here are the fun things kids get to do on this tour:
15. See bioluminescent plankton glow on your hands
16. Paddle through a mangrove forest in almost total darkness
17. See fish jump out of the water right by your boat (happened both times I have done this tour)
I had to see this amazing sight for myself so I booked a kayak tour of Laguna Grande, the most popular of the three Bio Bays.
Unfortunately, you can’t capture the glowing plankton on camera, but here we are paddling into the bay as the sun sets.
We went on a night with cloud cover and a moon about half full, making it hard to see the glow without help.
So our tour guides pulled a giant tarp over all of the kayaks to make it darker.
Then we could easily see the “bling bling”. They looked like thousands of tiny diamonds in the water!
I booked our kayak tour with Pure Adventures through Viator and was really happy with it.
The price was reasonable and the adventure and unique experience made it worth it for me.
You’d be fine on this trip even if you’ve never kayaked before.
Our guides gave basic instructions and safety information and were super professional.
Tours left at 6:15 and 8:15 and we took the earlier one since the later one was after my daughter’s bedtime.
If you want to best chance to see the bioluminescence, I suggest booking on a night with as little moon as possible.
You can click here to research moonrise times.
Since my daughter wasn’t into paddling herself, I did all of the work for both of us, which made it pretty tiring.
But with two people to paddle, it would be an easy trip. I highly recommend booking a Bio Bay kayak tour on your trip to Puerto Rico.
Things To Do In Puerto Rico with Kids: El Morro
One of the top places to visit in San Juan is the huge fort known as “El Morro” or more officially Castillo San Felipe del Morro.
It occupies the northwest corner of the city and was designed to guard the entrance to San Juan.
We visited on the last day of our trip and it ended up being a highlight for us!
El Morro was built from the 1500’s to the 1700’s and is such a cool piece of history.
It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is managed by the US Park Service.
Kids get in free and adults are $10 each unless you have a National Parks Pass – then it’s free!
You also get admission to the other fort in San Juan, Castillo San Cristóbal, if you visit within 24 hours.
We spent several hours exploring the fort and had a blast.
It’s rare to be in a building so old in the New World!
Here are the cool things kids get to do at El Morro:
18. Get your picture sitting on a cannon
19. Explore a historic fort that looks like real-life Pirates of the Caribbean
You can learn about the Spanish colonization of the Caribbean, the era of pirates, and how Puerto Rico became a US Territory at the fort.
The historical treatment of native people of the island is sad and upsetting, but important to understand as a visitor.
I highly recommend setting a few hours aside to explore El Morro.
I think it’s one of the best things to do in Puerto Rico with kids.
Beach Day
There are lots of beautiful public beaches along the northeast coast of Puerto Rico that are perfect for a beach day with kids.
Here are a few of our favorites!
Luquillo Beach is the closest beach to El Yunque. There is ample parking right in front of the beach that is usually free on weekdays and a few dollars on weekends.
There is plenty of space to spread out which is a great benefit of this beach.
There is a kiosk that is usually open that sells tropical drinks and snacks.
The waves are calm and you’ll see lots of kids swimming in the water.
Plus the Luquillo Kiosks are a short distance away with tons of options for dinner afterward!
Friends of ours who used to spend the winter in Puerto Rico recommended the Luquillo Kiosks as a place to grab some local food.
The kiosks are mostly restaurants but there are some gift shops and bars in the mix, too.
We went on a weeknight and it was pretty empty – but I’ve heard that the weekends bring the crowds.
There were lots of places to eat dinner but we chose Kiosk #20 – Terruno.
We enjoyed some authentic Puerto Rico food that was SO delicious. Even my seven-year-old daughter loved everything.
Most of the restaurants have open-air dining that looks out on the ocean. You can find something for everyone at the kiosks.
Don’t be scared by their ramshackle appearance – the kiosks are essential Puerto Rico and you won’t be disappointed!
Another beach that is nearby is Seven Seas Beach in Fajardo. You’ll see fewer tourists here – it’s more of a local beach.
You can rent kayaks off the beach at Seven Seas beach which is a great activity.
Parking is usually just a few dollars (if there is anyone working at the gate).
There isn’t much beach at high tide so if you can plan a trip at low tide you’ll have more space.
The water is calm and clear so this is another great beach for young kids!
There is also a restaurant with a take-out window just across the street in case you get hungry.
Seven Seas Beach is another great option for a beach day with kids in Puerto Rico.
Things to do with kids in Puerto Rico: Explore Old San Juan
While I’ve already mentioned a visit to the historic fort, El Morro, exploring the rest of Old San Juan on foot is another fun activity for kids.
Here kids can
20. Take a picture with colorful buildings or under a giant Puerto Rican flag
21. Visit the cats at Callejon Hospital, and
22. Eat lots of yummy Puerto Rican treats.
It’s a beautiful, historic city that’s easy to navigate.
We grabbed some lunch in a little café that was very affordable.
You can find them all around the city and they are tourist-friendly. Pretty much everyone in the city speaks English.
We loved the colorful buildings and the old steps. It’s a quintessentially Caribbean vibe.
Definitely make a stop by Calle de la Fortaleza – it’s the street that was previously covered by colorful umbrellas and the Puerto Rican flag.
It’s the perfect place to take a selfie or a group photo to remember your trip.
I also have to mention the amazing frappes we had at San Juan Frappes – they were so good!
Be sure to stop in and grab a drink if it’s hot.
Also, it would be criminal to skip paletas, so be sure to stop by Senor Paleta and grab one.
Exploring the streets of Old San Juan is a must-do on a Puerto Rico family vacation. There’s also lots of shopping if you are into that. 🙂
For even more ideas for things to do in Old San Juan, check out this post.
I hope you found lots of ideas for things to do in Puerto Rico with kids!
If you are interested in any other guided tours or activities around Puerto Rico, check out these suggestions below from Viator.