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Puerto Rico

Walk, Kayak & Snorkel Puerto Rico’s Reefs, Rainforests & Reserves

Program No. 15638RJ
From dry forests to rainforests, from preserves to over 270 miles of beaches, explore the diverse habitats of Puerto Rico through hikes, a kayak excursion and snorkeling adventures.
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Walking/HikingWater SportsMulti-SportOutdoor AdventuresSmall Group
Length
8 days
Rating (4.69)
Activity Level
Starts at
3,299

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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
8 days
7 nights
What's Included
19 meals ( 7B, 6L, 6D )
1 expert-led lecture
12 expert-led field trips
2 hands-on experiences
An experienced Group Leader
7 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:
HOTEL CHECK-IN: Hotel check-in will be available beginning at 3:00 PM. PROGRAM REGISTRATION & ORIENTATION: We will gather at 5:00 pm in the meeting room room at the hotel for introductions and an orientation to the program. We will provide an informative overview of the program including a review of the updated daily schedule, responsibilities, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Please be aware that program activities and scheduled times could change due to weather and other local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant a short walk from the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, 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 minibus. Hiking about 1 mile, approximately 1 hour; uneven terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll board our mini-bus and transfer to Old San Juan where a local expert will provide an overview of Puerto Rico’s history from the Spanish colonial period to the present. Columbus made landfall here on his second voyage in 1493, claiming it for Spain — which might have come as a surprise to the inhabitants, indigenous Taíno Indians. The first Spanish settlers arrived on the island in 1508. Moving on with our local expert, we’ll learn about the history and explore Fort San Cristóbal, also known as Castillo San Cristóbal, the largest colonial Spanish fortress in the Western Hemisphere. Construction began in 1634 and it was not completed until 1790. European powers fought for hundreds of years to control the island due to its strategic location. San Cristóbal guarded the land entrance to Old San Juan. It is a magnificent and impressive structure covering 27 acres, now part of the San Juan National Historic Site.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Our next field trip will be to Saturce for a Guided art walk through the murals at La Calle Cerra (Cerra Street). Santurce has world-class street art Explore the murals in Calle Cerra, striking large-scale work by local and international artists like D’Face ( London), Fintan Magee (Australia) Bik Ismo (Puerto Rico), David Zayas (Puerto Rico), Ana Marietta (Puerto Rico) Evaristo Angurria (Dom. Rep), Danae Brissonet (Canada) among others.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a minibus; driving 34 miles to Fajardo, approximately 1 hour riding time. Kayaking for approximately 2 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Checking out of the hotel, we will meet in the lobby and board the minibus for Fajardo.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Our first stop after lunch will be Las Cabezas de San Juan. See one of the most impressive landscapes of Puerto Rico on an expert-led exploration of the Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve. We’ll learn about the dry forest, seagrass beds and different types of beaches. We will walk along a boardwalk between mangroves until we reach Laguna Grande de Fajardo (Bioluminescent Lagoon). After the visit, we will check in at our Luquillo hotel.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
We will take the minibus to Las Croabas Kay where we will pick up our kayak to paddle the Bioluminescent Bay to see the marine light show produced by dinoflagellates when they sense a disturbance and shimmer in the water. We’ll then return to the hotel.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a minibus. Snorkeling in water 3-10 feet deep. Hiking about 2 miles, approximately 1 hour over rubbly terrain. Bring walking shoes with good ankle support and swimwear and a towel for the beach following our water adventure. Getting on/off a boat; ride lasts for approximately 2 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
By minibus, we will explore a colorful reef and walk on a deserted beach during a snorkeling field trip. Boarding the boat at Fajardo, we will prepare to immerse ourselves in nature on this adventure that is perfect for beginners.
Lunch:
At a local café.
Afternoon:
On our way via minibus, we will stop by the beach and help us reduce accumulated waste in these natural areas. Your time can make a difference! Thousands of pounds of waste make their way each year to our beaches and bodies of water.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a minibus. Walking about 2 miles on uneven terrain. Due to water conditions and other unforeseen circumstances, we reserve the right to reroute to another destination.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
From the hotel, we’ll transfer to the Marina in Fajardo, we’ll board a catamaran and sail out to small, tranquil Culebra Island for a full-day field trip. Culebra, situated between the main island of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, is one of the Caribbean’s most pristine eco-destinations with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. We’ll snorkel in breathtakingly beautiful and warm turquoise waters. With luck, we may see turtles, colorful fish, and other marine life.
Lunch:
On the boat.
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 and Group Leader. There are white and dark sand beaches, shallow and deep coral reefs, cays, and many rocky points. Most of the island is a nature reserve. We’ll return to the hotel late afternoon.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant a short walk from the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Hiking about 2 miles, approximately 1.5 hours over uneven terrain with high humidity. Getting on/off a minibus; driving about 7 miles, approximately 1/2 hour total riding time. Stairs at observatory; no elevator. Extent and duration of walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board the minibus and head to El Yunque Rain Forest where we will meet our local naturalist and expert to receive a brief orientation about the forest followed by a visit to La Coca Fall. Following our orientation, we will set out to hike the trails along Angelitos Trail. This short trail (about 1/2 mile) is an in-and-out and takes about 20 minutes to walk one way. As you will notice, this trail is lower in the forest than the other trails, so you will see different types of vegetation. At the end of the trail is a fantastic natural pool area where you will have the opportunity to swim depending on the weather. At the end of our hikes, we will visit the Yunque Observatory Tower before returning to the hotel.
Lunch:
At a local sandwich restaurant.
Afternoon:
We’ll stop at a local beach for some relaxation time before continuing our way to the hotel.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a minibus; driving about 21 miles to Dorado, under 1 hour riding time. Hiking about 1 mile, approximately 1 hour on uneven terrain. Requires enough physical condition to carry out hikes along fairly inaccessible areas.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Following check-out, we’ll transfer to the Pterocarpus Forest in Manati, where will explore and hike the interior of a swamp, with water probably up to our knees! An environmental interpreter will talk about the natural history of this forest and about the adaptations of its flora, such as the support roots of the Pterocarpus officinalis tree, to which it owes its common name in Spanish, palo de pollo (chicken wood). The field trip also focuses on the diverse fauna that inhabits the forest and its relationship with this unique ecosystem.
Lunch:
At a local café. We’ll then return to San Juan.
Afternoon:
Explore the Walled City from another perspective! On this walking field trip of Old San Juan, we will learn from a local expert what the island of San Juan and its surroundings were like before the arrival of the Europeans. In addition, we will learn basic aspects of nature, including its vegetation, its wildlife, and how it was crucial for the development of the city. We will then check in at our final hotel.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. 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. 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 join 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.
Jan 18, 2026 - Jan 25, 2026
Oct 19, 2025 - Oct 26, 2025
Nov 02, 2025 - Nov 09, 2025
Dec 14, 2025 - Dec 21, 2025
Jan 18, 2026 - Jan 25, 2026
Feb 08, 2026 - Feb 15, 2026
Feb 22, 2026 - Mar 01, 2026
Mar 08, 2026 - Mar 15, 2026
Nov 15, 2026 - Nov 22, 2026
Dec 06, 2026 - Dec 13, 2026
Jan 18 - Jan 25, 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.