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Puerto Rico

Snorkeling & Wildlife: Puerto Rico With Your Grandchild

Program No. 21500RJ
Explore the coral reefs and ecosystems of Puerto Rico with your grandchild as you snorkel through the underwater world, hike a nature reserve and zip line through a rainforest!
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Start
GrandparentWater SportsOutdoor AdventuresSmall GroupAges 9 – 14
Length
7 days
Rating (4.55)
Activity Level
Starts at
3,699 / ADULT
2,449 / CHILD
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
7 days
6 nights
What's Included
17 meals ( 6B, 5L, 6D )
2 expert-led lectures
10 expert-led field trips
2 hands-on experiences
An experienced Group Leader
6 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 5:00 p.m. After you have your room assignment, ask the front desk for the location of the Road Scholar meeting room so you can register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing your nametag, up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, and other important information. If your arrival is delayed, please ask for your packet when you check in. Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from the Group Leader as well as local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren at all times. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. Everyone taking part in water field trips must be able to swim. Because our days will be full, we are not scheduling many evening activities. We will also have some “down” time to absorb what each day offers. This is a great time for families to spend time together sharing what these experiences mean to you. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At a restaurant in walking distance of the hotel. Meals will feature local cuisine in a variety of settings; kids will from their own special menus.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, stroll along the boardwalk, or just relax, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 24 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time each way. Hiking about 2 miles throughout the day; hilly terrain, many steps up/down, humid conditions. Wear broken-in walking shoes/hiking boots with good ankle support. Be prepared for rain. Anyone who has had recent knee/hip surgery should carefully consider the physical demands involved.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel, board our motorcoach, and ride to Bosque Nacional El Yunque — El Yunque National Forest — about 30 miles away and go zip-lining! A zip-line is a pulley suspended on a steel cable at an incline. We’ll have instruction on strapping into a harness and letting gravity carry us. Our zip-lining adventure will involve moving through a series of eight platforms anchored on rocks and trees. This state-of-the-art, carbon fiber zip-line system is more flexible and durable than traditional steel cord systems and unique in the Caribbean. Each of us will have one harness for the chest and one for the waist for stability and safety.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We'll hop back on our motorcoach for the ride to the El Yunque National Park where we’ll be joined by an expert local naturalist and explore the El Portal Visitors Center. Our naturalist will provide an introduction to the rainforest and we’ll watch a short video. After our introduction to the park, we’ll go hiking on one of the beautiful trails. El Yunque — also known as the Caribbean National Forest — is the only the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. national forest system. It was originally set aside as a reserve by the King of Spain in 1876 and became part of the U.S. forest system in 1903. Today it covers 28,000 acres with more than 240 species of trees and plants including 88 rare tree species, 50 native orchid species, and 150 types of ferns as well as abundant wildlife. More than 240 inches of rain fall here each year. That’s more than 100 billion gallons! One of the rarest species of wildlife here is the highly endangered Puerto Rican Parrot. There are very few of them left and their primary habitat is in the mountains, but be on the lookout for a bright green parrot about a foot long with red above its beak and blue wing feathers. You might get lucky!
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 25 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 1 mile; uneven terrain, paved.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board our motorcoach to visit The Center for Research and Restoration of Marine Organisms (CIROM in Spanish) facility, a non-profit organization that develops innovative research on ecological restoration of coral reefs, potable water, and climate change science.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
On our way to the hotel, we will stop at Hacienda Carabali. Here we will have some time to enjoy go-kart fun for the whole family! It is an exciting drive on a 1,000-foot track complete with thrilling twists and turns.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
We will take the motorcoach to discover the nightlife of the Cabezas de San Juan Natural Reserve! Walk with one of our environmental interpreters along the path of the dry forest where we could see some of the nocturnal animals that inhabit it. We will visit the beach of Seven sSeas where we will be able to appreciate coastal organisms and witness the beautiful beach in the light of the moon. We’ll return to the hotel after our field trip.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach to marina; driving about 7 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Getting on/off a catamaran; riding under 1 hour to Culebras, under 1 hour to second snorkeling site. Walking less than 1/2 mile; steep, uneven terrain. Due to water conditions and other unforeseen circumstances, we reserve the right to reroute to another destination.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After taking the motorcoach to the Marina in Fajardo, we’ll board a catamaran and sail out to small, tranquil Culebra Island for a full-day field trip. Most of the island is a nature reserve. Culebra is situated between the main island of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, one of the Caribbean’s most pristine eco-destinations with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. We’ll snorkel under expert guidance in breathtakingly beautiful and warm turquoise waters. With luck, we may see turtles, colorful fish, and other marine life.
Lunch:
Aboard the catamaran.
Afternoon:
Next, our captain will select a beach with the best conditions where we will be able to continue swimming, snorkeling, and beach combing as we like in the company of our expert Group Leader. There are white and dark sand beaches, shallow and deep coral reefs, cays, and many rocky points. We will then make our way back to the hotel.
Dinner:
At a restaurant featuring local cuisine.
Evening:
After a long day, we will have a short meeting to discuss our experience in Culebra and get ready for tomorrow’s activities. The remainder of the evening is at leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Due to water conditions and other unforeseen circumstances, we reserve the right to reroute to another destination.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After taking the motorcoach to the Marina in Fajardo, we’ll board our private vessel to La Cordillera Cays Nature Reserve, where we’ll be able to appreciate the pristine and protected chain of islands that make this reserve so special. We’ll spend an hour and a half snorkeling in the beautiful waters, at a location chosen on the day according to the conditions.
Lunch:
On the vessel.
Afternoon:
At the conclusion of our field trip, we’ll return to the hotel for some downtime before dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
After dinner, we will board our motorcoach to El Yunque. We will enjoy an interpretive experience where we might see and hear nocturnal wildlife from established trails with a local expert. This rainforest is home to many endemic and native species of the islands of Puerto Rico, including some coquíes, such as the mountain coquí (Eleutherodactylus portoricensis) and the melodious coquí (Eleutherodactylus wightmanae). We will then return to the hotel. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 30 miles, under 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 2 miles; boardwalk and uneven terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll check out of the hotel and board the motorcoach to begin our transfer back to San Juan.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Walking through the old city and visit El Morro Fort then get back aboard the motor coach and drive for Kayak in the Condado Lagoon .Drive back to our hotel for some free time before our farewell dinner
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
Back at the hotel, we’ll have an informal wrap-up session to chat about our learning adventure on this magical island. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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Please Note: This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.
Jun 14, 2026 - Jun 20, 2026
Jul 12, 2026 - Jul 18, 2026
Jul 19, 2026 - Jul 25, 2026
Jun 14 - Jun 20, 2026 Itinerary Differences: Please note that the 2026 program itinerary differs from the 2025 program. The 2026 program will be based in San Juan and Luquillo while the 2025 program will be based in San Juan and Guanica.