Puerto Rico

This spring, we were excited to take a 7-day trip to Puerto Rico, our first time visiting the island. Our kids are now 4 years old and 1 and a half years old, and Puerto Rico proved to be a great place to visit with little kids. I also want to return when the kids are older because there are a lot of adventure-type activities we couldn’t yet do since our kids are small, like snorkeling, kayaking, and zip-lining. I’ll share our 7-day Puerto Rico itinerary with kids, including kid-friendly restaurants in Puerto Rico, good beaches for kids, and more.

Where We Stayed

I spent a lot of time researching different areas of the island and ultimately could have planned five different trips. From Cabo Rojo to Crash Boat Beach to Ponce, there are so many options for wonderful beaches and natural wonders around Puerto Rico. Ultimately, I decided to make Luquillo our home base for the week. Luquillo is a beach town on the northeast coast of Puerto Rico, and it’s only a 15-minute drive to El Yunque, the only rainforest in the United States. It’s about an hour drive from Luquillo to Old San Juan and 45 minutes to the airport. Luquillo is also close to Fajardo, where you can catch a ferry to Vieques or Culebra. The easy access to many different points of interest made Luquillo a good choice for our family.

We rented an Airbnb condo in Luquillo that had private access to the beach. The beach in front of the condo had super-shallow water, perfect for kids to wade and play. You can take a 20-minute walk around the cove to the public beach, which has a deeper swimming area, lifeguards, and a snack bar. All the beaches in Luquillo were ideal for children, with very calm and shallow waters.

What We Did

Hit the Beach: We spent about two and a half days on the beaches in Luquillo. Our condo came equipped with lots of sand toys, boogie boards, beach umbrellas, and even water shoes in many sizes. We spent one full day at the public beach, where we could also grab snacks like ice cream from the many vendors.

El Yunque: We took two trips to El Yunque, the only rainforest in the United States. There are lots of different hikes to take in El Yunque with varying difficulty levels, but we opted for the easiest ones to do with little kids. For our first visit, we went to Juan Diego Falls, which is a super quick hike to a waterfall and pool where you can go swimming! We also climbed to the top of Yokahu Tower for panoramic views of the rainforest.

On our second visit, we hiked to Mt. Britton Tower. The hike is relatively short at only 0.8 miles, but it is very steep, so it can feel longer. There is a paved staircase the whole way, so it’s not difficult, just tiring. The hike takes you through the sierra palm forest and into the cloud forest and pays off with Mt. Britton Tower, where you can climb just a few more stairs for a beautiful view.

Important note: As of this writing, El Yunque requires a timed ticket for entry. While some tickets are available same day, we heard that many people are turned away because they do not pre-buy their tickets. The tickets become available here one month in advance. Also check to see which trails are open before you visit. Some trails sustained damage in the hurricane and are still under restoration.

Day Trip to Old San Juan: I originally considered staying for a portion of our trip in Old San Juan, but for our family, I think a day trip was sufficient. If traveling as a couple or with friends, it would be fun to stay in San Juan for the nightlife, but for families you can hit most of the highlights in a day. We explored the colorful streets of the old city and visited El Morro, a 16th century fortress overlooking the sea.

Where We Ate

We had some great meals in Puerto Rico. These were our favorites restaurants in Puerto Rico with kids.

La Estacion: We loved this BBQ restaurant in Fajardo with a lush outdoor deck seating. They have a big daily specials menu in addition to their core menu of BBQ with a Caribbean twist. I had a great take on ropa vieja made with brisket, my husband had house-cured pastrami, and we shared the Caribbean chicken wings. The laid-back outdoor seating is great for kids, too.

La Fonda Gourmet: This small but vibrant restaurant in Luquillo was a breath of fresh air and fresh food. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. We started with the pastillos de corned beef, which are similar to empanadas and were so flaky and light. I had the octopus tacos, which were fresh and delicious. And we ended the meal with a deliciously smooth flan.

Sama: This new restaurant in Luquillo was my favorite meal of the entire trip. Located on a covered open air deck overlooking the ocean, the vibes are upscale but welcoming. They were very sweet to our kids and the manager was incredibly attentive. And the food: amazing. We started with a yellowfin tuna crudo that was spicy and delicious. I had a crisp, refreshing Caesar salad (I was craving some crunchy greens) and the pan-seared grouper, which was so light yet satisfying. A must-visit in Luquillo.

A note on the Luquillo kiosks: Luquillo is famous for its kiosks, a group of low-key beachfront stalls and restaurants serving classic Puerto Rican food. We did have dinner there two nights, but I didn’t adore either of the restaurants we ate at, so I won’t specifically recommend them. I do think the kiosks are well worth a visit. The beachfront atmosphere is great, and the service at both restaurants was wonderful. With over 50 stalls to try, there are sure to be some hits while others are misses.