Puerto Rico gets real rain. Hurricane season runs June through November, and even in the dry season (December–April), afternoon tropical showers can appear with little warning and last for hours. If your outdoor plans just got rained out, here's exactly what to do with kids in San Juan when the weather turns.
The good news: San Juan's indoor options skew toward high-energy entertainment, which is exactly what kids need when they're stuck inside. There are only 7 confirmed indoor venues in our San Juan data, but they range from $40 to $160 and collectively cover every age group and energy level.
Best Indoor Museums and Cultural Spots
Museo del Niño de Carolina is the top museum pick. It has 4.6 stars across 3,689 reviews and is Puerto Rico's most-visited children's museum. Hands-on science, cultural, and artistic exhibits in both Spanish and English. Budget $40–$80 for a family of 4. Plan 2–3 hours. Fully air-conditioned and completely immune to whatever the weather is doing outside.
Important: Museo del Niño is closed Monday and Tuesday. If your rainy day falls on those days, this option is off the table — move to one of the entertainment venues below.
Weekday visits (Wednesday–Friday) are significantly less crowded than weekends. If a rainy day opens up a weekday slot in your itinerary, this is the best time to use it.
Entertainment Venues
Viking Arena - Carolina is the best single rainy-day venue in San Juan. 4.7 stars across 367 reviews. It's large, diverse, and self-contained: rock climbing walls (unusual for Puerto Rico), indoor playground, amusement park activities, and a full restaurant all in one place. Budget $100–$160 for a family of 4 including food. 2–3 hours. You don't need to plan around food because it's on-site.
For families who land at Viking Arena on a rainy day, the combo activity packages are the move — buying activities individually costs more than a package deal.
Play & Sip has a 4.8-star rating and is a play café concept: kids play in a safe indoor space while parents get coffee or snacks. Best for toddlers and early elementary ages. Budget $40–$70 for a family of 4. 1.5–2.5 hours. The café element means parents are actually comfortable — not just surviving — while kids play.
JUST 4 FUN PLAZA CAROLINA at Plaza Carolina mall is inside a large air-conditioned shopping center, which means the rainy day inconvenience is entirely irrelevant. 4.5 stars across 993 reviews. Indoor amusement park with arcade games, kiddie rides, and interactive entertainment. Budget $60–$100 for a family of 4. 2–3 hours. The mall location adds a food court and bathrooms right outside the venue.
Drop 4 Fun in Guaynabo's Galería de Suchville mall: 4.6 stars, $50–$80 for a family of 4. 1.5–2.5 hours. Also inside a mall for the same rainy-day advantages. Extended hours on Friday and Saturday until midnight — genuinely useful if the rain starts in the afternoon and you want to wait it out.
Closed on Sunday — confirm this before making plans.
Altitude Trampoline Park in Bayamón is Puerto Rico's most-reviewed trampoline park: 4.5 stars across 2,835 reviews. Wall-to-wall trampolines, foam pits, dodgeball, aerial activities. $80–$130 for a family of 4. 1.5–2.5 hours of high-energy indoor activity. Book sessions online in advance — rainy days drive everyone to trampoline parks simultaneously.
Just 4 Fun Canóvanas at Outlet 66 in Canóvanas: 4.4 stars, 201 reviews, $50–$80 for a family of 4. Indoor playground. Northeastern metro San Juan, about 30 minutes from the city center. Less crowded than the Plaza Carolina location on a rainy day when everyone defaults to the nearest mall.
Free or Low-Cost Indoor Options
San Juan's indoor free options are limited — most free attractions (parks, the beach area, El Morro grounds) are outdoor. For genuinely low-cost indoor time, here's what works:
Shopping malls: Plaza Carolina and Galería de Suchville are legitimate rainy-day destinations even without buying anything. Air-conditioned, food courts, and the kids can walk the mall. Combine with Just 4 Fun or Drop 4 Fun respectively.
Hotel lobbies and amenities: Many Condado and Isla Verde hotels have indoor pools that are genuinely excellent rainy-day options — especially if your hotel has one. This costs nothing if it's included in your stay and absorbs 2–3 hours easily.
Grocery store exploration: Sounds mundane but Puerto Rican grocery stores (Econo, Selectos, Supermax) are culturally interesting for kids — tropical fruits, Spanish labeling, local snacks. Buy piragua supplies, hot sauces, and local chips while you wait out the rain.
Quick Picks by Age Group
Toddlers (ages 0–4): - Play & Sip — $40–$70, designed for this age, parents stay comfortable too (4.8 stars) - Drop 4 Fun — $50–$80, children's amusement center, mall setting (4.6 stars) - Just 4 Fun Plaza Carolina — $60–$100, kiddie rides and games (4.5 stars)
Big kids (ages 6–12): - Viking Arena — $100–$160, rock climbing + amusement activities + food (4.7 stars) - Altitude Trampoline Park — $80–$130, Puerto Rico's top trampoline park (4.5 stars) - Museo del Niño de Carolina — $40–$80, best hands-on museum (4.6 stars, closed Mon/Tue)
Teens: - Viking Arena — $100–$160, rock climbing walls are the draw - Altitude Trampoline Park — $80–$130, dodgeball and aerial features - Just 4 Fun Plaza Carolina — $60–$100, arcade-heavy with games for all ages
Bottom line: San Juan's rainy-day roster is tight at 7 indoor venues, but the quality is strong. Viking Arena at $100–$160 and Altitude at $80–$130 are the top picks for families who need to genuinely burn 2–3 hours of kid energy. Play & Sip at $40–$70 is the right move for toddler-heavy families. Book in advance when you can — rainy days mean every family in the metro is making the same calls at the same time.