El Yunque National Park is very children-friendly, as there are few large animal species in the forest and no poisonous snakes. Parents should keep an eye out for poisonous plants, however. A list of these is available at the Caribbean National Forest web page, www.fs.fed.us/r8/caribbean, and there is information at the El Portal Center on how to identify them.

The many fascinating species in the forest are sure to keep children entertained. The Puerto Rican Parrot, of which there are only a few dozen left in the wild, is bright green with patches of blue and red, a real treat for bird-watching enthusiasts. Other colorful and exotic creatures include the emerald anole, a lizard that can change its color from green to black, the small Indian mongoose and the big-clawed river shrimp.

The hiking trails in El Yunque are all fairly short (usually not more than 1-2 kilometers), so children should not have too much trouble. There are also plenty of diversions and places to rest along the way. Most of the waterfalls, especially those at higher altitudes, are clean and safe to wade or swim in. The temperatures on Puerto Rico are also mild enough to make swimming possible year-round, so bring your bathing suits.

Don't pay the tour guides to take this trip.  Rent a small car and take the drive, it's free to get into the rainforest and is only a 45 minute drive from San Juan.