One Week In Puerto Rico With Kids: Best Itinerary For Unlimited Family Fun

Are you looking for information, insights and tips on how to spend one week in Puerto Rico with kids? At This Mom Is Going Places we do thorough research prior to visiting each destination. After each family trip we share our best tips and our itinerary in hopes to make it at bit easier for you to plan your family vacation.

In this post, we will share with you an itinerary for seven days in Puerto Rico with kids, focusing on the north and west side of the island. We will add attractions in the East and South parts of Puerto Rico once we complete future trips to the “Enchanted Island”.

Although I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, I now live in Florida, USA with my family. This is the first time we visit the island since we relocated back in 2016 when my daughters were only 6 months and 2 years old respectively. In order for my children to discover where they were born, we took them on a trip for Spring Break 2022 to Puerto Rico. It was amazing to see the island through their eyes.

We want you to discover everything we experienced! So, without further a due, here’s our itinerary to spend one week in Puerto Rico with kids.

Itinerary for One Week In Puerto Rico With Kids

Day 1: Old San Juan

Old San Juan is the second oldest city in the Western Hemisphere. It is also the oldest city in the U.S. and its territories. Listed as the Old San Juan Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, it is also a National Historic Landmark District. Many historical buildings and structures in the city have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1983, including the Fortaleza, city walls, and the castles of El Morro and San Cristóbal.

Things to do in Old San Juan

Visiting Old San Juan is like traveling back in time. Fortresses and castles dating back five centuries, romantic and bohemian ambiance, exquisite cuisine, and festive atmosphere make it a popular location. We particularly love the architecture, the cobblestone streets and the amount of things to do with kids such as flying kites in El Morro, feeding the pigeons at the Pigeons Park and walking through the Paseo de la Princesa.

As for dining we loved El Jibarito restaurant at Calle Sol. They specialize in Puerto Rican food and it was amazing.

Check our blog post How to See the Best of Old San Juan With Kids in One Day to learn more!

Day 2: El Yunque National Rainforest & Luquillo Kiosks

About El Yunque National Rainforest

El Yunque is the only national rainforest in the US National Parks system.  It’s an awesome place for hiking. The trails vary on difficulty and some of them reward your hike with waterfalls.  Right now reservations are required for most of the trails. Here you can take a look at the description of each trail. Reservations are made through this website.

Angelito Hiking Trail at El Yunque

My favorite is La Mina but it’s currently closed. If you are looking for waterfalls then you might want to try the Juan Diego trail. We opted for the Angelito trail for two reasons:

• it’s an easy hike so it was doable for my kids and my mom
• you don’t need reservations for this trail because you don’t enter through the portal

To get to the Angelito trail you need to put this address on your GPS: Road 988 km 3.6. Parking is roadside wherever you find a spot. As you enter this short trail you will immediately go though a cute bridge and then you will descend through a low-mountain forest to the Río Mameyes, an officially designated “Wild and Scenic River” by the federal government. Near Las Damas Pool and other swimming spots, the roar of rushing water draws you onward.

Las Damas natural pool was just amazing. We got into the cold water and it was so refreshing. The views are incredible and the connection you feel with nature is difficult to describe. This was an amazing family getaway for sure.

More Things to Do Nearby El Yunque

One thing we wanted to do but didn’t have the time was to visit Las Pailas (just put it like that in your GPS). It’s another part of the rainforest where there’s a natural slide made out of rocks. While we can’t talk by own experience, I have heard a lot of good things about it, so I thought I’d mention it in case you want to give it a try.

Luquillo Kiosks: Teruño

We ended our magical day heading to the Luquillo kiosks for dinner at Terruño. Food is delicious and best of all, it has beach view. Stay tuned for an upcoming blog post about my favorite restaurants in the island in which I’ll provide more details on this and other places to eat in Puerto Rico.

Mom #ProTips:

• Bring water shoes to El Yunque if you want to get in the river. Rocks are slippery.
• Bring snacks and drinks but please make sure to also bring your own trash bags and take it back with you. It’s the least you can do to help preserve such a beautiful place.
• Make reservations ahead of time to dine at Terruño and get there with enough time to find parking which can be difficult sometimes, depending on the day (kiosks get crowded on weekends).

Day 3: Northern Coast

Drive towards the west side of the island and take the coastal route to enjoy the beach views. Make the most out of your day by visiting these three places:

1st Stop: Lunch at Arrecife 681, Arecibo

Make a first stop to have lunch at Arrecife 681. A friend recommended this restaurant and I have to say that it didn’t disappoint. It is a non-pretentious spot right by the beach with a breathtaking view. They serve Puerto Rican food and tropical drinks.

My husband enjoyed a red snapper filet with mofongo (a traditional smashed plantain dish). I had the mero bites with Puerto Rican tostones and it was amazing! The girls had mero bites and chips with a side of fries. My picky eaters ate it all! For drinks we had acerola juice. I hadn’t have one for years! So good!

A nice feature about Arrecife 681 is a wooden made Puerto Rico flag which doesn’t have the blue triangle. This was intentionally left out so that the blue of the sky filled that part. Brilliant! They also have a bench were you can seat and just enjoy the view.

2nd Stop: Guajataca Tunnel

If you’re into historic places this is for you. Tunnels were an integral part of the national railway system that connected the island during the first half of the 20th century. The railroad tunnel called Guajataca Tunnel was declared a historical monument in 2000.

This makes for an excellent one-day getaway that can be enjoyed at any time of year. First you will see amazing murals perfect for pictures. Then let the kids have fun in the swing and enter the tunnel for an easy hike. Experiencing the beach on the other side after walking through the tunnel is the most spectacular part of the trip. You will find caves and hidden areas that kids will enjoy exploring. My daughters had a lot of fun climbing the rocks. It’s really worth checking out.

On weekends there are food stalls, music concerts and artisan markets in the Guajataca Tunnel. Entrance and parking are free.

3rd Stop: Cara del Indio in Isabela, Puerto Rico

Isabela welcomes visitors with this impressive rock carving alongside the highway. Cara del Indio is a monument honoring Cacique Mabodomaca, who ruled in the territories now known as Isabela and Quebradillas in Puerto Rico. During the Battle of Guajataca, Cacique Mabodamaca and his Indians fought bravely against the Spanish. Sculpted in 1987, it was created by Juan Ramón Rodríguez Román. It’s always fun to stop by and take pictures. Visiting Cara del Indio is definitely among the signature things to do in Isabela.

Where to Stay in Isabela? Villas del Mar Hau

Finish your day by checking in at your hotel. We were hosted by Parador Villas del Mar Hau and we couldn’t have asked for a better place! The rooms were clean and comfortable and we enjoyed the best beachfront views. It was perfectly located near all the attractions that we wanted to visit during our visit to the West Coast.

Check our Instagram reels to watch our room tour and hotel tour. Additionally, make sure to check out our full review on Villas del Mar Hau.

Day 4: Enjoy the Hotel and Playa Montones, Isabela

Staying at such a beautiful hotel deserved a full day to enjoy the amenities. Villas del Mar Hau is located right by Playa Montones, one of my favorites. On one side of the beach you can do kite surfing and on the other side there is a natural pool that is great for swimming and is safe for small children.

You should also spend some time walking and taking advantage of their multiple spots for photo opps. We especially recommend the big chairs – there’s two- and the blue door. Other cool amenities are the pool, a basketball and tennis court and a restaurant called Olas y Arena.

At Olas y Arena we enjoyed an amazing view while tasting one of their signature dishes: Montones. That’s Spanish for “bunches” and that’s really what you get, bunches of delicious flavors. I would also recommend order their frozen drinks. We tried the mango frappe and piña coladas and both were perfectly refreshing after a beach day.

Day 6: Cabo Rojo

Cabo Rojo is one of my absolute favorite beach towns in Puerto Rico. When I lived on the island, this used to be one of my go-to places when I did local tourism. Beaches are beautiful, food is delicious and the vibe is just amazing. That’s why I was so excited to introduce Cabo Rojo to my daughters.

Have You Ever Seen Pink Water? – Las Salinas Salt Flats

Even though I’ve been to Cabo Rojo multiple times, this was the first time visiting Las Salinas. I had heard a lot about it and had seen pictures so it was a very interesting experience to see it by ourselves.

It was when I came across a sign in the road on our way to Los Morrillos lighthouse that I learned the Salinas are right there. We parked aside of the road and went in to explore. This is a commercial salt-harvesting operation site.

The water in this area seems to be very salty and this is a plant that processes salt. They flood the pits and let the wind and sun evaporate the water. This forms salt crystals that they scrape and scoop out once there is enough salt built up in the pits. I intentionally didn’t edit my pictures so that you can have a real idea of the pink color in the water. It’s a light shade of pink but it is certainly noticeable.

This is a nice stop before going to the lighthouse. It doesn’t take long. We spent probably about 10-15 minutes.

Los Morrillos Lighthouse

Cabo Rojo’s lighthouse is located at Los Morrillos Peninsula and it marks the southwest tip of the island. It was the second lighthouse built by Spain in Puerto Rico and it is one of 27 sites included in the National Register of Historic Places.

The road from the Salt Flats towards the lighthouse premises is bumpy. We were driving a Raptor pickup truck and felt every single bump so take that into consideration. The GPS will take you to the parking lot. From there you will see the trail to walk towards the lighthouse. The hike is short, easy and worth it.

Los Morrillos lighthouse in Cabo Rojo has a beautiful Spanish-colonial style architecture. It wasn’t open when we visited but the 360° views of the ocean were absolutely breathtaking! Words cannot describe how beautiful it is. Definitely a must-see experience!

Mom #ProTips

• Although the hike is short and easy, the area has no shades. Therefore, I recommend you wearing light clothes and bringing enough water. Good walking shoes is also a good idea.
• While enjoying the view and taking pictures please, don’t get too close to the edge of the cliffs. We found a little stone that served as memorial for one person who fell off. You don’t want to be the next.
• Make the most out of your visit by stopping by Playuela, also known as Playa Sucia, which is right in that same area as well as the natural rock bridge formation.

Boquerón Village

A main attraction in the southwestern region of the island is the village of Boquerón, located on Boquerón Bay. Enjoy wandering around the charming village’s main street and waterfront boulevard. It is a beautiful small town with colorful street art as well as small restaurants and vendors right by the lovely turquoise water.

Taste freshly cooked street food from stalls that are shaded by colorful umbrellas or enter a tropical rustic restaurant. We enjoyed lunch at Cabo Beach House. Food was delicious and location was unbeatable. If you want a really good sea food definitely check it out.

While in Poblado de Boquerón, make sure to snap some pictures at the swing, the Puerto Rico flag bench and the Muelle de la Libertad (Liberty Pier). Then head to Boquerón Beach.

Boquerón Beach

It is not uncommon for the beach at Balneario de Boquerón to be awarded with a Blue Flag, a coveted award granted to beaches around the world that meet very strict standards, particularly when it comes to water quality and safety.

There are shallow spots along the beach with clear water that are great for kids to play in. We loved the white sand and pristine calm water. Many palm trees offer shelter from the sun. Stay until sunset! Boquerón beach is so good for a family escape, you’ll have a great time. Fully recommended!! A must-see in Cabo Rojo.

It is a good beach for water sports like snorkeling or kayaking.

Day 5: Gozalandia Waterfall, San Sebastián

What is Gozalandia?

Gozalandia is a hidden piece of heaven with impressive waterfalls located in San Sebastián, Puerto Rico. You don’t need a guided tour to enjoy it. Just get there and choose among two options.

Gozalandia Lower Falls

You will see the first path right away. Take the stairs and go down to the first area. This is where the waterfall looks most beautiful in my opinion but it’s also the most crowded. You are able to climb the rocks and jump but please, be very careful as you should only do this in the deeper areas.

Gozalandia Upper Falls

You will see the second path towards the right when you get to the entrance. This one requires a moderate hike uphill but it’s so worthy! The waterfall looks amazing as well and there’s even a rope that some locals have fixed so that you can swing and fall into the water. That was my husband’s favorite part. I enjoyed getting into the natural pool with the girls. The whole atmosphere is perfect to disconnect from the world.

Gozalandia is definitely one of the cheapest and most worthwhile attractions you’ll find in Puerto Rico.

Mom #ProTips:

• Bring water shoes. You’ll have to go through some slippery rocks to get to the natural pool.
• Bring rash guards as well. The water is very cold.
• Additionally, bring cash. You will need to pay $10 for parking.
• There’s a restaurant in the premises. In my opinion it’s overpriced. You can bring your own food or dine at near restaurants.
• Know that this is a small place, so you can easily combine Gozalandia with a visit to other nearby attractions such as Crash Boat beach in Aguadilla or the Camuy River Caves in Camuy.

Day 7: Gran Parque del Norte Hatillo

This is the last day and it’s time to head back East towards the airport. One thing you can do on your way back is stopping at the Gran Parque del Norte in Hatillo.

It is a big park where kids can enjoy running around and having fun at the playgrounds. Other things you can enjoy at El Gran Parque del Norte are beach volleyball or basketball courts, the lookout, a wooded swing, the boardwalk, gazebos and seats by the beach. There are showers and restrooms where you can change clothes. Bring snacks and drinks and take a really nice break here. Make sure to look around for some cute instagramable spots!

On weekends there’s additional things to do like rides, food trucks and music as well as a little train for the kids. Entrance and parking are free.

Is Puerto Rico a good place to go with kids? Absolutely! Puerto Rico is one of the best travel destinations in the world because of the amount and variety of experiences it offers in just one place. We hope this post makes it easier for you to plan one week vacation in Puerto Rico with kids and other family members. If you have any questions, by all means feel free to drop a comment and I will make sure to provide answers.

If this has inspired you to travel in the future just pin this for later reference and share it with your friends and family, they might want to join you.

Last but not least, remember to check out our other Puerto Rico posts: How to See the Best of Old San Juan With Kids in One Day and Best Hotel for Families in Puerto Rico.

Thanks for reading!