Puerto Rico with Kids: A 5-Day Itinerary for Off the Beaten Path Adventures

Whether you’re looking for a beach retreat or an adventure-filled trip, Puerto Rico offers a variety of kid-friendly places and activities that turn family vacations into unforgettable experiences. There are so many amazing things to do in Puerto Rico with kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens—lush gardens and rainforests, beautiful beaches, zip lining, horseback riding, guided tours, and so much more.

To make planning your trip less overwhelming, we’ve created an unforgettable five-day Puerto Rico itinerary that will entertain your whole family. It’s filled with the best things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico (the capital city), as well as El Yungue National Forest, Rincon, bioluminescent bays, and more.

Visit our Caribbean Family Travel Guide for more tropical vacation ideas, including Mexico and Aruba.

Piñones

Kick off your Caribbean adventure with a visit to the vibrant Piñones neighborhood in Loíza, just a short 15-minute drive from San Juan and about five minutes from the airport. This charming stretch of oceanfront kiosks and restaurants offers the perfect introduction to Puerto Rican flavors. You can enjoy a sit-down meal at spots like Cafe Tresbe, Ana’s Café Criollo y a la Parrilla, or El Nuevo Acuario, savoring fresh local seafood dishes like whole-fried red snapper, shrimp-stuffed mofongo, or garlic mahi mahi.

Beautiful Beaches

Once you’re fueled up, slip into your swimsuit and visit one of the area’s gorgeous beaches.

• Balneario del Carolina — This swimming beach has a parking lot and gazebos.
• Playa Aviones — This beach is surrounded by volcanic rock that creates a large tide pool.
• La Posita — This is a serene beach surrounded by a natural rock formation that creates a peaceful, shallow tide pool. Spend your afternoon floating in the crystal-clear water, lounging on the sand, and snacking on delicious fritters.

Museo del Niño de Carolina (Carolina Children’s Museum)

Kids of all ages will be delighted by the interactive exhibits, go-karts, playground, mini zoo, boat rides, and even a real (grounded) airplane at this fun children’s museum.

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Explore Castillo San Felipe del Morro, a colonial fort built by the Spanish in America.

Day 2: Things To Do in Puerto Rico with Kids: Old San Juan

Parque de las Palomas (Pigeon Park)

Nestled beside the famous Capilla del Cristo (Christ Chapel), this park is known for its friendly flock of pigeons. Vendors offer corn to feed them, but be careful—if you extend your hand, the pigeons may just nibble right from it! The park also offers beautiful views of the Bay of San Juan. A few blocks away is Anita’s Gelato, which a local 8-year-old told me is his favorite thing to do in San Juan. Right next door, you’ll also find La Fortaleza, the governor’s mansion, and the start of Calle Fortaleza, Old San Juan’s bustling shopping street.

Plaza del Quinto Centenario (Totem Plaza)

Stroll up Calle Cristo to the Plaza del Quinto Centenario, where your kids can run through the fountain like locals. If the fountain’s off, head to the expansive lawn in front of the Castillo San Felipe del Morro to try your hand at kite flying. Vendors around the fort sell disposable kites, keeping the tradition alive. Don’t forget to visit the fort itself—your entrance fee also grants you access to the nearby Castillo San Cristóbal.

La Rogativa, Gate of San Juan, and Paseo de la Princesa

Make your way to the La Rogativa statue for stunning views of the old city walls and the San Juan Harbor. Wander down to the Gate of San Juan, the last remaining colonial-era entryway, and turn left onto Paseo de la Princesa. On weekends, this pedestrian street is home to a lively artisan market. Be sure to take the kids to the playground located in the middle of the stroll.

Where to Eat in Old San Juan

• Chocobar Cortes — This cocoa-focused cafe offers a unique dining experience with chocolate-infused dishes for breakfast and brunch.
• Barrachina Restaurant — Barrachina is famous for its claim as the inventor of the piña colada (although there are dueling claims for that honor). Kids can have the virgin version while adults enjoy the original, and everyone can nosh on traditional Puerto Rican food or American staples like burgers.
• Señor Paleta — Just around the corner from Barrachina, Señor Paleta serves up refreshing popsicles called paletas. It offers fresh fruit flavors or fun seasonal options like Choco Brownie and Strawberry Cheesecake.

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Hike a family-friendly trail in El Yunque.

Day 3: Things To Do in Puerto Rico with Kids: El Yunque

About 45 minutes from San Juan, El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the United States—and it’s free to visit! Arrive early to get the most out of your day.

There are a number of experiences and guided tours you can book on AirBnB or find on the USDA website. My family, which included a 4-year-old, hired a tour guide for a very reasonable price. The guide took us on a very kid-friendly hike and engaged my children by pointing out ferns that curl up when you tickle them, stick bugs, and other natural elements we wouldn’t notice on our own. There wasn’t one complaint or whine the whole day.

If self-guided is more your speed, start at the Yocahu Tower right inside the Forest Entrance Gate. Park at the bottom, walk to the top, and pretend to be Rapunzel.

The most kid-friendly hike is the Mt. Britton trail. It’s 0.8 miles each way, mostly uphill to another tower overlooking the rainforest. The paths are narrow and not muddy, but also not designed for strollers. Our guide had a hiking backpack for me to borrow for my 4-year-old. I don’t think this is standard-guide equipment, so plan accordingly!

While 0.8 miles might seem like too much for your little one, mine didn’t want to stay in the backpack and walked most of the time. The rainforest provides lots to look at—flowers, snails, frogs, lizards, and so much more to spot! My 11-year-old was more than capable of the nearly two-mile hike. Downhill is obviously easier than up, but slippery. Leave the Crocs and flip-flops at home and stick to sneakers.

We wanted to do a waterfall, but Juan Diego Falls was closed during our visit. It is the most kid-friendly waterfall and will prove to be an unforgettable experience for the family. It’s only a five-minute hike from the parking area, but it is rocky and uphill. The falls can be powerful and the water is frigid, but be brave and take a dip anyway!

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Visit the breathtaking Gozalandia Waterfalls in San Sebastian.

Day 4: Things To Do in Puerto Rico with Kids: Rincon and San Sebastian

Take a drive across the island to Rincon, the western-most point of the island. Driving across Puerto Rico takes about two to three hours, but it’s well worth it!

Gozalandia Waterfalls

The Gozalandia Waterfalls in San Sebastian are about 90 minutes from San Juan. It is a fabulous family outing that my kids ask for every time we go to Puerto Rico. Note that the walk down to the swimming hole and waterfall is steep and can be slippery. Take a bathing suit, sneakers, towels, and don’t forget the camera! Locals and tourists alike leave their things on the rocks and take a dip in the cool water.

The falls offer opportunities to show your bravery from various heights. There are several ledges to climb to and jump from. Even my 6-year-old has climbed the rope that’s available to assist with the climb and jumped from one of the lower ledges (with me waiting for her below). After you’ve enjoyed the falls, you can grab a snack at the restaurant.

Where to Eat in and Near Rincon

• Rancho Carbon Express — For an amazing local lunch on the way back to Rincon from the Gozalandia Waterfalls, head to this roadside stand. You can’t miss it—there’s always a long line of locals. Eat at one of the picnic tables or take it to go. The chicken and sides are a treat!
• Tamboo Hotel and Restaurant — Enjoy a breezy beach-side lunch at this laid-back Rincon restaurant, then head to the beach to play in the waves and collect seashells. The path to the restaurant is the same path to the beach!
• The Beach House — This Rincon restaurant features live music nightly and a kid-friendly menu that includes burgers, tacos, ands nachos. Get there early for spectacular sunset views and to nab a space in the parking lot.

Watch the Sunset

Rincon is known for its sunsets, and Punta Higüera Lighthouse Park is a great place to watch them. Grab a tropical drink from one of the park’s kiosks, and keep your eyes open for whales if you are there during the winter months.

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RIncon has some great beaches to play on! 

Day 5: Things To Do in Puerto Rico with Kids: Hit the Beach in Rincon

Head to the marina and take a guided snorkeling and paddleboarding trip with Rincon Paddle Boards. Owners Chikako and Damino will tailor your trip to the ages of your group. My family still talks about the time we went snorkeling and paddleboarding and saw a large sea turtle! Watch the surfers at any of the many beaches—Rincon is known as a world-class surfing location. For a wonderful calm beach to just hang and collect shells, head to Sandy Beach.

If you can break away from the kids and take a moment to yourself, check out Barefoot Yoga. This is one of the most restorative yoga classes I’ve ever taken. It’s an open-air spot, fully shaded, but just off the beach. Let the sound of the ocean relax you and wash the stress away. Reservations not required. Private classes are available with a reservation.

If you have a horse-obsessed child, take a trail ride. In the winter, Pintos “R” Us leads two-hour trail rides along the beaches and past the lighthouse, recommended for kids 10 and up. Little ones can take a pony ride and even have a pony play date, which includes a ride, brushing, bathing, and feeding.

Extra Credit: Bioluminescent Bays

Puerto Rico is home to three of the world’s five bioluminescent bays, bodies of water where microscopic organisms called dinoflagellates grow in quantities large enough to produce a “glow-in-the-dark” effect when you touch or move them. It’s magical and very special!

Mosquito Bay on Vieques

Mosquito Bay was recognized in 2006 by Guinness World Records as the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world. The bay’s brightness is due to the large concentration of dinoflagellates—a quantity that was inexplicably doubled after Hurricane María in 2017—ranging from an average of 1,000,000 to 2,100,000 per gallon of water. It’s always best to go to the bioluminescent bays during the full moon, but Mosquito Bay will never disappoint!

Going to Mosquito Bay takes planning and is best for older kids. To get there, you’ll first need to take a short flight or ferry to Vieques, about six miles southeast of the Puerto Rico mainland. Flights take about 25 minutes and leave from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport or Isla Grande airport in San Juan. These are very small planes! Ferries take about 45 minutes and leave from Ceiba in east Puerto Rico, about 90 minutes from San Juan. If you can spring for it, I recommend the flights. They’re fast and an experience!

Located south of Vieques, near the main town of Esperanza, Mosquito Bay is accessible only by kayak and best experienced through guided tours. These tours typically depart from Esperanza’s town center via bus or van. The kayaks—some with glass bottoms for optimal viewing—are led by guides who navigate the bay while explaining the science behind the bioluminescence. No prior kayaking experience is required for most tours. Check out Black Beard Sports or Jak Water Sports and book in advance.

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Enjoy a gorgeous Puerto Rican sunset.

La Parguera Bay

Of the three bioluminescent bays, La Parguera is the only one where swimming is allowed! When my family went, we took a boat out into the middle of the bay. There was no light. When the boat stopped we all (including my 4-year-old) bravely went into the water for a swim. When we moved our arms, the bioflagellates lit up and made us feel like fairies! It was scary and magical! You will not be able to photograph it—just be in the moment with your kids. It’s a memory that will stay with them forever.

Make sure to book your tour ahead of time. Hook’d on Adventure runs a sunset and swim tour for two hours or just a swim tour for an hour. Paradise Scuba runs a snorkeling tour of the bay. Children over 5 can snorkel.

Laguna Grande

Laguna Grande is in Fajardo, about an hour from San Juan. It’s one of the most visited bioluminescent bays in the world, and the brightest one on the main island. A long, narrow canal leads to the body of water, making it technically a lagoon. Like the other bioluminescent bays, plan ahead. Take a kayak or boat tour with a local guide. Kayaking Puerto Rico runs a kayaking tour for two people per boat, as does Pure Adventure for ages 6 and up.

Unless noted, photos by the author