The Christmas season has arrived, and here are some activities children can enjoy in Puerto Rico.
With the holiday season on the Island, public holidays begin and vacations get underway, so here are entertainment options for children to enjoy their free time.
Places to enjoy with children
El Parque de las Ciencias in Bayamón offers various activities for children, including Planeta Aeroespacial, Planeta de la Imaginación and Planeta del Tiempo.
Last year they presented their spectacular light show "Navidad alrededor del mundo en Puerto Rico," which was a great success. Stay tuned for when they announce this year's dates for this one-of-a-kind holiday experience.
The entertainment venue has locations at Outlets de Canóvanas and in Caguas. It features bowling, arcade games, K1 Speed where you can race go-karts, and Fun Box, an obstacle course with ropes that takes you up to 20 feet in the air. For prices and reservations, you can visit here.
The garden in Caguas offers trails and educational tours to explore, as well as spaces for seasonal activities. You can take guided tours and go on school excursions. For information on events, hours and admission, you can visit the official website.
The entertainment venue has two locations, one at Plaza del Sol in Bayamón and another at Plaza las Américas in San Juan, where children and adults alike can enjoy arcade games as well as the on-site restaurant. For information on private events and prices, you can visit here.
In Condado, you can take a family nighttime kayak tour of the lagoon, with glow-in-the-dark body paint provided. For prices and online reservations, you can visit here.
The attraction, located at Distrito T-Mobile, offers several zipline formats that minors can participate in. It also has an arcade area, a rope maze and a private restaurant. For hours and pricing information, you can visit here.
This park promises fun and learning for the whole family. It has a 4D cinema and a regular cinema, a dinosaur mini-golf course and water jets. Adults and children alike can also enjoy the Museo del Mundo Animal, which features exhibits, a game room and snack bars.
Activities to do during the holidays
Visit the Gran Mercado Navideño de San Juan
Where: Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera, San Juan 00901
When: Saturday, Dec. 20, through Sunday, Dec. 25
Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera is already a fine spot for an outdoor day in San Juan, with its walking paths, swings and access to El Escambrón beach, but during the holiday period it will host the city's Gran Mercado Navideño.
This market, inspired by similar European Christmas markets, will feature live music, a visit from Santa Claus, dozens of food kiosks with traditional desserts and holiday food, and live salsa classes, among other activities.
Ride the teleférico at La Marquesa
Where: Parque Forestal La Marquesa, PR-834, Guaynabo 00971
When: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday
Reopened last February after restoration following Hurricane María, Parque Forestal La Marquesa is a beautiful sanctuary in the mountains of Guaynabo that includes, among other attractions, recreational trails, observation towers, a butterfly garden and an impressive cable car that crosses the hills of the Cordillera mountain range to connect with the largest aviary in the Caribbean.
Play pirates at the Arecibo lighthouse
Where: Arecibo Lighthouse and Historical Park, Carretera PR-655, Arecibo 00612
When: Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
The elegant Faro de los Morrillos is surrounded by the Arecibo Lighthouse and Historical Park, a family entertainment and historical learning facility that explores Puerto Rico's colonial legacy.
The park features exhibits documenting the Spanish conquest and the island's Taíno and African heritage, along with attractions such as a pirate's den and a small zoo for younger visitors.
Learning about science at C3Tec
Where: 59 Ave. José Gautier Benítez, Caguas 00725
When: Open between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday
El Centro Criollo de Ciencia y Tecnología del Caribe is an institution focused on promoting education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Now in its 12th year, this center located in the historic downtown of Caguas holds regular talks and exhibits covering topics from biotechnology and aerodynamics to Puerto Rican arts and culture.
In addition to housing a permanent exhibition focused on Puerto Rican nature and sustainability, C3Tec maintains a calendar of activities, including its Navidad Retro (Dec. 13), which will focus, among other activities, on making sustainable holiday decorations.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
