Discover the Benefits of Becoming a Puerto Rico Travel Expert

Now that many families have settled into a new school year and know what the vacation calendar looks like, this is a good time to start planning for a winter or spring getaway. For U.S. families, nothing beats the ease of traveling in Puerto Rico, which holds the allure of a faraway island paradise with a distinct culture but is technically a domestic travel destination. No passports are required; there's no need for international phone plans; connectivity is reliable; English is widely spoken, and it's easy to get around. Moreover, there are tons of activities to keep travelers of all ages busy. This slideshow will present just a few.

Old San Juan will take your family back in time, whether they are strolling the cobblestone streets or exploring Castillo San Felipe del Morro, the most famous of the Spanish forts in the area. This remarkable site lets visitors walk inside the fortress and along its walls to the iconic lookout offering impressive views of the San Juan Harbor and Atlantic Ocean. After learning about San Juan's history, children can run around the expansive green lawn, popular for flying kites, and maybe enjoy a snow cone.

A little over a half-hour southeast of San Juan is El Yunque - the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. Families can take guided hikes to learn about the park's flora and fauna and find out why mosquitos are practically nonexistent here. Fresh air, lush trails, impressive mountain views and waterfalls are just some of the highlights.

More rainforest adventure, this time ratcheted up a few notches, can be found at Carabali Rainforest Adventure Park, where families with kids of all ages will find something to do. Activities include horseback riding, ATV tours (children can ride as passengers), go-kart racing and a hayride through the rainforest.

More beautiful vistas are in store at Toro Verde Nature Adventure Park, especially for families with older children who dare to soar over lush mountainous landscapes at 95 mph on the 1.5-mile zip line known as "The Monster," one of the longest in the world. The park is located in the town of Orocovis, which is roughly at the center of the island of Puerto Rico. A series of tours comprising suspension bridges, a bike circuit and ziplines of varying lengths are available, as is the Toro Verde Restaurant, which features local cuisine with a gourmet twist, along with remarkable views.

For space-obsessed kids and their parents, visiting the Arecibo Observatory is a must. Home to the world's second-largest radio telescope dish, which spans nearly 20 acres, the observatory has a newly refurbished and extended visitor center with modernized space exhibitions and an auditorium. It's a perfect day trip from San Juan, given that it's only about an hour's drive away.

If your clients go to see the famous Carnaval in the beautiful southern town of Ponce, they can also learn how the indigenous people of Puerto Rico may have once celebrated events if they visit nearby Tibes Ceremonial Park. This archaeological area, considered the most important in the Antilles, features numerous batayes, or ceremonial courts, which were surrounded by stones with carved symbols, or petroglyphs. It is believed that these courts were used by Taino villagers for either playing ball games, observing the stars or holding special events - or maybe a combination of all three. What makes this archaeological park especially fun for kids is the reconstructed Taino village, where they can learn about life on the island many centuries ago.

A trip to the quiet, lush island of Vieques off Puerto Rico's eastern coast will put your clients in proximity to one of the most famous bioluminescent bodies of water - Mosquito Bay. At night visitors can take a boat trip or kayak through the bay to watch dinoflagellates light up the water all around them. A truly wondrous experience that children will be sure to remember! A 25-minute flight from San Juan, this island is also home to the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge, where families can bike along backroads to spots for viewing sea turtles, brown pelicans and manatees.

North of Vieques is the island of Culebra, perhaps best known for its consistently top-ranking Flamenco Beach, which stretches for a mile around a horseshoe-shaped bay. The calm, clear turquoise water and soft white sand meet the criteria of postcard perfection, which in turn makes this an ideal swimming area for almost anyone, but especially families. Despite its popularity, Flamenco Beach retains its pristine allure and continues to attract snorkelers and divers.

Parents will find that pulling their kids away from the great outdoors for some indoor learning activities is no problem if the setting offers imaginative and interactive pursuits. This is precisely what the bilingual Children's Museum in Carolina does. Just 15 minutes outside of San Juan, it features over 100 interactive exhibits ranging from a TV station to mock-up cockpits for planes and space shuttles to dress-up play and arts-and-crafts. The museum provides families with a nice change of pace and is a place for kids to just be themselves.

Of course, many of the activities presented in this slide show would entice clients of all kinds to visit Puerto Rico, and the destination makes a concerted effort to connect with people eager to pursue a myriad of goals and interests - whether it's to plan a wedding or go golfing with friends, explore food and culture or discover life under the sea. In conjunction with Travel Agent Academy, the destination has created the Puerto Rico Travel Expert Program to share in-depth information of all that it has to offer, including details on a wide range of accommodations. Visit discoverpuertoricoagents.com to access a full training program and receive the benefits of becoming a Puerto Rico Travel Expert!