Puerto Rico Attractions

Nicknamed "El Yunque," the 28,000-acre forest, about a 45 minute drive from San Juan, is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest system. At the El Portal Rain Forest Center, a good place to start your explorations, learn about the importance of conserving rainforests, and watch a high-definition film about El Yunque. Among the 24 miles of hiking trails, the 0.7-mile Big Trail, good for families with young kids, comes with a view of La Mini Falls. With older children, try the 0.8-mile, moderately uphill hike on the Mt. Britton trail. Enjoy the payoff of sweeping forest views from the observation tower. Take teens to tackle the 5-mile El Yunque Peak Trail to the 3,496-foot summit.

Nicknamed "El Morro," this fort, situated on a 140-foot-high promontory facing the sea on the old city's northwestern tip, features walls that rise 60 feet high and are 25 feet thick. The Spanish built the garrison to protect their land from sea attacks. They stockpiled the hordes of gold they took from Mexico before loading the booty on galleons headed across the Atlantic. El Morro, started in 1539 and completed in 1787, offers panoramic views. Locals and tourists alike picnic on the sweeping lawns, and the winds provide great places to fly kites. (Purchase one in town.) In late March, the park service hosts a kite-flying festival.

Located just five minutes outside San Juan, EcoQuest Adventures provides guided adventures through the Puerto Rican landscape. Hiking, rappelling, zip-lining and kayaking through the bioluminescent waters are just part of the fun that older kids will love. Safety equipment is provided and the guides are expertly trained.

A nearly mile-long stretch of white sand edged by sea grape trees, Flamenco Beach is popular with locals and tourists. The stunning beach, part of a public park, has been named one of the best in the Caribbean. Bring or rent chairs and umbrellas from the concessionaires. Vendors sell food, or you can bring your own. The park offers camping sites close to the beach, but book far in advance for those.

The best way to explore this impressive, 27-acre fort -- the largest built by the Spanish in the New World -- is on a park ranger-guided tour. Typically on Friday and Saturday mornings, rangers lead you through the maze of tunnels, constructed to move soldiers and canons. Situated on the historic city's east, the fort -- started in 1634 and completed in the 1790's -- features a dungeon, troops' quarters, canons and the Devil's Sentry Box, from which guards mysteriously disappeared. Be sure to walk the ramparts for great views. The Spanish built the fort to protect the city from land attacks. Check the park schedule for tours.

Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve, a 316-acre property not far from El Yunque, reigns as one of Puerto Rico's important nature reserves for its eco-habitats and for its preserved lighthouse. Walk along a mangrove-lined boardwalk, stroll sandy beaches, and hike trails through the coastal dry forest. On a moonlit tour of Laguna Grande, witness how dinoflagellates "light up" the water. The climb to the top of El Faro, a restored 19th century lighthouse, first lit by the Spanish in May 1882, offers a sweeping view and insight into how a light functions. You must reserve ahead for admission and for tours, which are offered by the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico.

After a rainforest hike, cool off by swimming in the calm waters of Luquillo Beach, about 15 minutes from El Yunque and 31 miles east of San Juan. A mile-long crescent of white sand dotted with palm trees, Luquillo draws crowds, especially on weekends when the locals visit. Facilities include lockers to store valuables and dry clothes, bathrooms and showers. Vendors sell tacos and other snacks.

Kayaking in Mosquito Bay, nicknamed "Bio Bay," on a nearly moonless night is one of our favorite adventures in Puerto Rico. With each stroke of my paddle, an electric blue ribbon of light flashes in the bay's waters, created by the millions of dinoflagellates -- single-celled organisms that give off the neon color when disturbed. To see even more of the magical show, we jump in the warm water and splash.

Explore sinkholes and underground caverns at the 268-acre Rio Camuy (kahm-WEE) Cave Park, about 75 minutes west of San Juan. Since tours are limited, it's best to arrive before 9:00 a.m. so that you won't have to wait long or be disappointed by frequent afternoon rains that may cause the caves to close. A tram ride takes you into the 170-foot-high Cueva Clara (Clara Cave) and to a platform from which you can view the 400-foot-deep Tres Pueblos sinkhole.

For more of a challenge, sign on with Aventuras Tierro Adentro, an adventure tour company, to explore the park's Angels Cave. You can forget about the tram. For this tour, you and your teens (ages 15 and older) hurtle across a zip line (a cable) and then rappel 250 feet into the mouth of the sinkhole.

At Icacos Cay, an islet off Fajardo on the northeast coast, snorkel above schools of rainbow-colored fish and reefs of elkhorn, brain and staghorn coral. Offshore from Fajardo, divers head to Superhero and to Palomino Wall, abundant with coral and caverns.