Anonymous wrote:Copamarina is nice but small. And far from San Juan. But if you want to be on that side of the island and just be at a small resort, then great. The resort gets you to Gillian’s Island which is fun to play on and snorkel.

Has the water gotten any better at Copa? We were there about 7 years ago and you swinging in the ocean was not pleasant. The sand was murky and thick and when you walked on it, it sucked your feet in. Only place in PR we ever experienced it and we were there for a friend's wedding so didn't want to ask about it. But it was disappointing.

Restaurant recs in old San Juan?

El Conquistador’s water park is great for people of all ages. The hotel itself has wonderful views, and it’s a lot of fun. The ferry to Palomino island, the private island for the hotel, is easy and great. About a 15 minute trip and the island has a lovely beach, food, drinks, games, etc. well worth it. Don’t forget to make a reservation at La Estación restaurant right outside the hotel with outstanding Puerto Rican and Newyorican BBQ. It’s one of the best restaurants on the island. Also in the area is Pasión por El Fogón restaurant and very, very rustic El Pescador restaurant with the freshest catches of the day. Enjoy!

Anonymous wrote:Another grateful DP here. Thanks so much for all of the suggestions!

We'll be traveling with two active teens and considering staying at El Conquistador. I think they'll enjoy the waterpark. Is taking the ferry to the private beach a big deal?

Also, I know we'd like to go to El Yunque and maybe even visit San Juan. Is that doable? Or too far away?

Not too far. Last winter we took our elementary school aged kids to PR, stayed 3 nights in Luquillo (with day trip to Culebra via ferry), 2 nights on the west coast near Rincon, and 2 nights in OSJ. That was a bit too much moving around in a week, but perfectly doable. If you're staying put in El Conquistador you can see the rainforest pretty easily, and it's not far from SJ.

Another grateful DP here. Thanks so much for all of the suggestions!

We'll be traveling with two active teens and considering staying at El Conquistador. I think they'll enjoy the waterpark. Is taking the ferry to the private beach a big deal?

Also, I know we'd like to go to El Yunque and maybe even visit San Juan. Is that doable? Or too far away?

OP here, THANK YOU to all who took the time to write, you really helped this newbie out!

We have been to PR several times and have followed this itinerary since the late 90's. We stay in old town San Juan at El Convento at the beginning or end of the trip and explore El Morro, check out the restaurant and bar scene and then go to Vieques.
We drive to Ceiba (you can stop at El Yunque on the way if you have your own car) and fly -- it is about an 8 minute flight to Vieques.
We then go to Vieques for the rest of the trip--google Playa Caracas, la Chiva, etc. and you can see why. Vieques has beautiful beaches and no crowds. We usu stay in an Air BNB. There are no large resorts on the island, only small hotels and guesthouses. The biobay on Vieques is one of the best in the world. The island is rustic, but has good restaurants and a laid-back, fun vibe.
Make sure you book a rental car when you get your rental house.
There is also a ferry between Fajardo and Isabella Segunda, but we prefer the flight. You can also fly from the Isla Grande airport in San Juan--it is about 30 minutes.

Copamarina is nice but small. And far from San Juan. But if you want to be on that side of the island and just be at a small resort, then great. The resort gets you to Gillian’s Island which is fun to play on and snorkel.

Np here, and thanks to all of the seasoned travelers posting here! We are staying at the copamarina resort in march with another family and a bunch of kids - ages 0, 4, 9, 12, 13, 14 and 18. Because of the littlest kids we are somewhat limited, but any advice is appreciated!

Toro Negro Forest…sorry for the typo

If you want more moderate accommodations, do the Wyndham Hotel in Rio Mar, Puerto Rico or the El Conquistador Hotel in Fajardo. IT has its own private island with a nice white sand beach and a water park too.

For bio bay, the best one on the planet is in Vieques. but you need more time to do it. It’s an overnight stay. Consider touring Old San Juan and flying kites at ELL Morro before or after you tour the fort. Eat your way through Puerto Rico too as it is a foodie paradise. GO kayaking in Condado, the bay there ha several friendly manatees that pop up. Teens also like the Toto Negro forest zipline which is the second longest in the world….just some ideas….

If you want high end, head straight to the Ritz Carlton Dorado Beach. It’s awesome on so many levels and great for teens. The beach club is the best, the beaches are divine, the food, the gardens, and the spa. It’s got it all. Or try Bahia Beach Resort which is now conversing to a Four Seaons. It’s nice, but the Ritz in Dorado is better,

Anonymous wrote:El Yunque is awesome but make sure you have reservations in advance. I didn't know this was needed and almost missed getting tickets. Also follow the parking guidelines carefully. I saw several people get $150 parking tickets.

You don’t need reservations for El Yunque anymore as of August 2023. The only put them in because of the pandemic. Now you can go and just cruse, hike, swim, whatever. It’s a great place.

Book a food tour in Old San Juan. It’s a good blend of trying different dishes and learning tidbits about the city.

We did Puerto Rico without a car. We used Uber to get to and from OSJ and we used tour services to get to El Yunque and Fajardo. We did snorkeling, bio bay (we went in 2017 when it was not as described in this thread), and surf lessons by our resort in Condado.

OP here, THANK YOU! I need to book by this weekend and felt a bit stressed… I’m the travel planner for my family, otherwise it would never get done, but I don’t know the first thing about PR and want to learn!