When we started planning our Puerto Rico trip, we quickly realised that we didn’t want to stay in one place for the entire trip.
Puerto Rico may be an island, but there is a lot to see. We wanted colourful streets and good food, rainforest adventures, beautiful beaches and, of course, some time to simply enjoy being on a Caribbean island.
So instead of choosing one hotel and making everything a day trip, we decided to mix it up.
And looking back, it was one of the best decisions we made.
We stayed in an apartment in San Juan, spent a few nights at El Conquistador in Fajardo, had a completely different experience at Casa Cubuy in the El Yunque rainforest, and finished our trip in a beachfront hotel in Rincón.
Four very different places.
Four very different experiences.
And together, they gave us a much better feel for Puerto Rico.
If you’re wondering where to stay in Puerto Rico with kids, here’s how we approached it — and what we would do again.
Staying in San Juan with Kids
We started our trip in San Juan, and instead of booking a traditional hotel, we chose an apartment through Airbnb.
For us, this was a really good choice.
After travelling to Puerto Rico, having a little more space and the feeling of having our own place was lovely. We could come and go as we pleased, have breakfast without having to rush downstairs to a buffet and, most importantly, we had a bit more room for all of us.
But the biggest advantage was the location.
San Juan is where you want to be if you love history, colourful streets, restaurants and a bit of city life.
We spent time exploring Old San Juan, wandering through the colourful streets and taking in the impressive forts. It was a completely different experience from the rainforest and beaches that came later in our trip.
If you haven’t read it yet, our [Puerto Rico with Kids: San Juan, Fajardo, El Yunque & More] guide is a good place to start if you’re planning your itinerary.
Would we stay in San Juan again?
Absolutely.
Especially at the beginning of a trip.
It was a great introduction to Puerto Rico and meant we could explore the city without constantly jumping in the car.
For families, I’d look for an apartment or hotel in or around Old San Juan, Condado or Isla Verde, depending on whether you prioritise history, restaurants or beach time.
El Conquistador, Fajardo: When the Hotel Becomes Part of the Holiday
From San Juan we headed east towards Fajardo.
And this was where our accommodation became part of the experience itself.
We stayed at El Conquistador Resort, and it was a completely different world from our apartment in San Juan.
This is not a small boutique hotel where you simply use the room as a place to sleep.
It’s huge.
There are pools, restaurants, activities and plenty to keep the kids entertained. The resort also has access to Palomino Island, which was one of the things that attracted us to staying here. Read our bog: Palomino Beach Puerto Rico: Our Family Beach Day
For a family, that can be incredibly convenient.
After a few days of sightseeing, sometimes it’s nice to have a day where nobody needs to say:
“Come on, we have to leave. We’re going somewhere.”
Instead, you can just go downstairs, find a pool, grab something to eat and let the kids have fun.
And then, of course, there is Fajardo itself.
This area is a great base for exploring El Yunque, the east coast and the surrounding islands, and it is also where we went kayaking in search of Puerto Rico’s famous bioluminescence.
That experience didn’t quite go according to plan.
We eventually reached the lake, but it was still too light to properly see the glowing water. At one point we even had to hide underneath a tarp because there was simply too much light!
And when it finally got dark enough, we barely saw the bioluminescence.
No magical Instagram photos for us.
But that’s real travel.
Not every experience works out perfectly, and sometimes those are the stories you remember most.
We’ve written about the whole experience in [Bioluminescent Bay Puerto Rico with Kids].
If you want to try it yourself, you can book a bioluminescent kayaking tour in Puerto Rico, https://getyourguide.tpk.lu/OrKGbkZY before your trip.
Would we stay at El Conquistador again?
For a family holiday, yes.
Especially if you want a resort where the kids can have plenty to do while you still have easy access to the adventures around Fajardo.
It is definitely a different experience from staying in a small local hotel or apartment — but sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
Casa Cubuy: One Night in the Rainforest
Then came one of the most unusual stays of our Puerto Rico trip.
We left the coast behind and headed into El Yunque National Forest.
Our destination was Casa Cubuy.
This wasn’t about luxury or a big swimming pool.
It was about location.
We were surrounded by rainforest, away from the busy parts of the island, and it felt like we’d stepped into a completely different Puerto Rico.
At night, the sounds of the jungle replaced the noise of the city and the resort.
We saw frogs, went looking for glow bugs and experienced a side of Puerto Rico that you simply don’t get when you’re staying at a beach resort.
I’m not going to tell the whole story here, because Casa Cubuy deserves its own article.
You can read the full experience in [Casa Cubuy Puerto Rico: Our Night in the Jungle].
And if you’re travelling with kids who love animals, nature or a little adventure, I would definitely consider adding something like this to your itinerary.
Just know that it is a very different type of accommodation.
And that’s exactly why we loved it.
Rincón: Ending the Trip with Sand Between Our Toes
After all the exploring, driving and adventures, we headed to the west coast.
Our final stop was Rincón.
And this time, we deliberately chose a hotel right on the beach.
Because sometimes you need to stop.
No rainforest hike.
No sightseeing schedule.
No getting everyone into the car.
Just a beach.
Rincón was the perfect place to finish our Puerto Rico adventure. The atmosphere is much more relaxed, and the west coast is known for its beaches, surfing and beautiful sunsets.
After everything we’d done earlier in the trip, it felt good to slow down.
The girls could swim and play on the beach while we could finally relax a little.
And that is something I would definitely recommend when planning Puerto Rico with kids:
Don’t make every single day an adventure day.
Children — and parents! — need downtime too.
If you’re driving around the island and seeing lots of different places, finishing with a few nights somewhere comfortable and close to the beach can make the whole trip feel much more relaxed.
So, Where Should You Stay in Puerto Rico with Kids?
After experiencing four very different types of accommodation ourselves, I don’t think there is one answer.
It really depends on the type of holiday you want.
🏙️ San Juan
Choose San Juan if you want:
- Old San Juan and its history
- Restaurants and shops
- Colourful streets
- A city atmosphere
- Easy access when you first arrive
Our choice: an apartment through Airbnb.
🌴 Fajardo
Choose Fajardo if you want:
- El Yunque nearby
- Bioluminescent kayaking
- Boat trips
- Beaches
- A family resort
- Private Island
Our choice: El Conquistador, https://booking.tpk.lu/fXErmS1n
🌿 El Yunque
Choose the rainforest if you want:
- Nature
- A completely different experience
- Peace and quiet
- A little adventure
- Something the kids will remember
Our choice: Casa Cubuy for one night, https://tripadvisor.tpk.lu/4LACxYBL
🏖️ Rincón
Choose Rincón if you want:
- Beautiful beaches
- Surfing
- Sunsets
- A relaxed atmosphere
- A few days of doing very little
Our choice: a beachfront hotel.
Why We Would Mix Accommodation Again
If we had booked one resort for the entire trip, we would have had a lovely holiday.
But we wouldn’t have experienced Puerto Rico in quite the same way.
Our apartment in San Juan gave us city life.
El Conquistador gave us resort life and family fun.
Casa Cubuy gave us the rainforest.
And Rincón gave us the beach and a chance to slow down.
That combination worked really well for our family.
And I think that’s the biggest tip I would give when planning a Puerto Rico trip with kids:
Don’t just choose the hotel with the best pool. Choose accommodation that fits the part of Puerto Rico you’re exploring.
If you’re spending a few days in San Juan, stay somewhere that lets you experience the city.
If you’re exploring El Yunque and Fajardo, choose a base that makes those adventures easy.
And after all that exploring, give yourself permission to finish with a few lazy beach days.
Because travelling with kids isn’t about seeing absolutely everything.
It’s about finding the right balance between “Wow, look at that!” and “Let’s stay here for another hour.”
And Puerto Rico is pretty good at giving you both.