Puerto Rico - One Week Adventure with kids
A Caribbean delight that's easily traveled to from the US - a short tolerable flight for children of any age. Let's be honest adults appreciate short flights too! One of the best tropical experiences to be had without the need for a passport. From the beautiful sandy beaches to the Spanish flare in Old San Juan there is a range of activities to appease just about any traveler type.
Tips:
👌To properly explore all the wonder the island can offer be sure to rent a car. Some of the best parts of the island are outside of San Juan.
👌Old San Juan is a typical old island city with narrow roads, tight parking. If that's not your driving thing, a shuttle/cab/ride share service might be the best option to get there.
👌There are no freeways and travel time to sights takes longer than expected. Planning ahead is helpful when deciding on accommodations and desired sights. A one week vacation is likely not enough time to travel the entire island.
Accommodations
There are many vacations rentals and resorts to be found on island. Pricing is obviously dependent on whether you wish to have the ocean on your doorstep or all the amenities of a resort. There are several resorts on the NE side of the island that are great options. A family, friendly option is the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar for it's expansive beach, several large pools, planned daily activities, proximity to other activities, and several accommodation options - both timeshare and resort rooms available. Timeshare options are bookable on Airbnb or Vrbo and will likely be less money than booking direct with the resort. Comparatively, PR is likely one of the lesser expensive Caribbean island options due to reasonably priced flights and resorts options. It's worth noting, that while the Wyndham is a great option, if you're looking for the ultra high end resort - the St. Regis in Dorado would probably be a better fit. Expect to drop some significant money to stay there.
Another option closer to the city is Hyatt Residence Club Dorado. This hotel is located west of San Juan with many one and two bedroom options with kitchens. While restaurant options at the hotel are limited and the ocean can be quite rough at times, it's location is ideal for some island exploration. When traveling with kids, a kitchen can be an added bonus to save some money on food - especially if the kids are of the picky eating variety.
Adventures with a Little Mix of Food
There are some pretty awesome adventures to be had on PR. If you appreciate the ability to explore on your own, PR has some great options.
Zipline - In the middle of the island, there is the perfect place for a zipline adventure. Toro Verde Adventure Park is a trip highlight and has many options depending on ones need for speed and adventure. While not one of the highest on the thrill seeking list (but still thrilling) - the ziplines and climbing towers are probably the best value. There are seven ziplines of differing heights and lengths perfect for any age. The total tour lasts a couple of hours with an open air truck that picks you up at the end.
The view from a couple of the platform towers. Ziplines went down the side of Orocovis. Truly a spectacular view from any tower. Wear clothing with a zippered pocket as you are allowed to use your cell phone for video and pictures. A
Loopy Case would come in handy - dropping your phone would be devastating.
El Yunque Rainforest
Another very inexpensive adventure is the
El Yunque Rainforest. El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the national forest system. It's a small park with some breathtaking waterfalls and adventure hiking. Some little jungle creatures may await you.
It can be muddy if it's just rained, so don't wear your best outfit or shoes. There are small pools that are swimmable at the bottom of the waterfalls. Entry tickets are required, which helps make the parking manageable - the park is small and parking is limited. Tickets can be purchased at
recreation.gov ahead of time. During peak season, tickets do sell out.
On the way to the Rainforest, there is an area called Luquillo. There is the beautiful Luquillo beach and food kiosks. If you are hear at night, may locals drive through the food kiosk area with their music blasting and bass bumping. The first time the music cranks, you might jump in your seat. It's entertaining for sure.
La Parrilla is a good choice for seafood lovers - the seafood Paella was amazing!
Island tours - In PR, there are several islands reachable by boat. At certain times of the year, travel to some of the islands can be hit or miss depending on the ocean waves. One island, Culebra, which was once used for bombing practice by the US military has tanks that rest on the pristine beaches. This is a popular island for a photo for the 'gram with one of the tanks.
When that island is not reachable, most of the Catamarans head to Icacos. Icacos is a small, uninhabited island of the coast of Fajaro. It's a short boat ride from the port - probably about 15 minutes. The water is a gorgeous turquoise blue with perfect white sand. There is an area near-by popular for snorkeling and you might even see a sting ray or two. The boats anchor out from the shore, so you will have to get in the water to get to the beach. After all... you're on a boat in the Ocean, that shouldn't be a big deal. There is an old pier that offers a picturesque back drop for a photo op.
An old city with cobbled streets and colorful buildings against the back drop of the Caribbean. It's the perfect place to find a café or sample some delicious Puerto Rican Cuisine. There are many old buildings to see - though when traveling with kids their not likely to last viewing them all. Or maybe it's just the adults that are not interested in reading every historical placard. If you have to pick just one fort - head to
Castilla San Felipe Del Morro. A World Heritage Site that offers the beauty of architecture and breathtaking views of the Caribbean. It's the Caribbean after all, but at the fort you really feel the sun. Carry water and
sunscreen with you as you've likely parked several blocks from your car.
Caficultura is a wonderful brunch spot not far from the fort that had delicious food. Allow enough time here as the service can be a little slow, but the food doesn't disappoint.
Shopping is abundant in Old San Juan - many stores we typically refer to as sh!t shops. You know the ones: imported junk from China disguised as local souvenirs. Avoid those and find the ones that support local artists and are labeled 'made in PR' goods. There are some good local coffee roasters and artworks that are fun finds.
Again, the roads in Old San Juan are narrow, like really narrow. Finding a parking spot can be challenging. There is a parking garage near the cruise ship port that is one of the best options. Parking is still tight in the structure, but a far better option that getting your side mirror swiped off with street parking.
This only scratches the surface of things to do or eat on PR - it's just a taste. PR is whatever you make it - a solid beach vacation, adventure or both.
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