Heads up: among the hyperlinks on this website are affiliate hyperlinks. If you click on and make a reserving or buy, I’ll make a fee (at no further price to you). I companion with corporations I personally use and the $$ goes in direction of creating extra superior, free journey content material.
If you’re planning a visit to Puerto Rico, be sure you embrace a visit to El Yunque National Forest, which is the one tropical rainforest within the U.S. National Forest System. It’s residence to all kinds of plant and animal species, in addition to waterfalls, mountain climbing trails and pure swimming pools. The views from the rainforest are beautiful, and there are quite a few lookout factors the place you may cease and take images.
Visiting El Yunque rainforest by yourself takes just a little little bit of planning, because you’ll have to e-book a timed reservation and likewise rent a automotive to get there. If you’d favor to depart the planning to another person, you might additionally e-book a tour on-line by means of GetYourGuide or Viator.
In this information you’ll discover all the things it is advisable find out about visiting El Yunque National Rainforest, together with tips on how to get there and issues to do within the space.
Where is El Yunque?
El Yunque National Forest is situated within the Sierra de Luquillo mountains, round 45 km southeast of San Juan. It’s near Luquillo and Fajardo, so you might mix your El Yunque go to with a bioluminescent bay kayaking tour and a go to to Luquillo Beach.
Why is El Yunque Famous?
El Yunque is known for being the one tropical rainforest within the U.S. National Forest System. It’s one of many smallest forests, protecting an space of simply 29,000 acres, but it’s probably the most biologically numerous.
Around 750 completely different plant species, 250 sorts of bushes, 11 sorts of bats and 79 sorts of birds inhabit this magical place. The rainforest can be an essential supply of freshwater, supplying round 50 million gallons a day to the individuals of Puerto Rico.
The island’s first inhabitants, the Taínos, seen El Yunque as a sacred place, and it has change into an essential a part of Puerto Rico’s nationwide heritage. The Tainos individuals believed that their chief god Yocahu lived within the mountains of the rainforest and guarded them from the god Juracán (also referred to as Huricán), who was chargeable for hurricanes.
Many individuals consider the identify El Yunque comes from the Taíno phrase Yuque or Yuké, which implies “White Earth”, because of the white clouds that cowl the mountains. Today, El Yunque receives round 900,000 guests per yr and is one in all Puerto Rico’s hottest points of interest.
How to Get to El Yunque from San Juan
By Car
If you’re touring by automotive, the quickest strategy to get there from San Juan is by taking PR-66 (toll street) till it ends after which driving on PR-3 for round 6.3km. You’ll then take PR-191 for about 3.1km until you ultimately attain the rainforest.
Just kind in El Portal de El Yunque Visitor Center in Google Maps. The deal with is PR-191, Río Grande, 00745, Puerto Rico.
There are quite a few automotive rental corporations with workplaces at San Juan airport and Isla Verde. I normally use Rentalcars.com, Discover Cars and Priceline to match costs.
When you choose up your automotive rental the corporate will ask you if you wish to embrace tolls. Tolls can’t be paid in money, so that you’ll must pay a day by day fee with the automotive rental firm. If you refuse the toll add-on, be sure you keep away from the toll roads in any other case you’ll must pay a penalty charge per toll violation.
Sometimes PR-191 might be closed on account of opposed climate circumstances, so all the time examine for closures on-line on the park’s official web site earlier than you go.
Tours
If you don’t need to cope with the effort of renting a automotive, you may e-book a tour on-line utilizing GetYourGuide or Viator. Tours will normally choose you up out of your lodge in San Juan. Check out the next excursions:
El Yunque Tickets
If you propose on driving to El Yunque your self you’ll have to e-book a timed reservation by means of the next web site: https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/300017. There are normally two time slots; one at 8am and one at 11am to 2pm.
The charge is $2 per automotive, and the ticket is non-refundable. Tickets are launched 30-days prematurely of the entry date at 10am Eastern Standard time.
An extra variety of tickets are launched 24 hours prematurely, beginning at 8am of every day. If you’re planning a final minute go to, be sure you set your alarm for 8am the day earlier than you need to go to, as they’ll promote out.
Visitor capability is about 300 autos per day, so the roads at El Yunque can get fairly busy. Ideally it’s finest to choose the morning slot (8am to 11am) as you’ll expertise much less site visitors. We arrived early and had no bother parking in any respect the lookout spots. But after we had been driving again in direction of the Visitor’s Center, we handed numerous vehicles touring within the different path.
El Yunque Opening Hours
The forest is out there day by day (apart from Christmas) from 7:30am to 5pm. El Portal Visitor Center is open from 9am to 5pm.
Things to Do in El Yunque National Forest
Driving El Yunque in your individual automobile offers you the liberty to cease wherever you want. There are numerous remark factors, hikes and waterfalls alongside the way in which. You’ll enter on the Visitors Center, then drive up the mountain passing numerous points of interest alongside the way in which. Here are among the finest issues to do in El Yunque National Forest:
El Portal Visitor Center
When you enter the park, the primary attraction you’ll come throughout is the gorgeous El Portal Visitor Center, which is the biggest customer heart within the National Forest System. There’s an accessible interpretive path encircling the property, together with reveals, interpretive applications, restrooms, a present store, and a café. You’ll even be offered with alternatives to identify the endangered Puerto Rican Parrot. Entry prices $8.
Hikes
One of the most well-liked actions in El Yunque is mountain climbing. The rainforest boasts quite a few mountain climbing trails and pure swimming pools the place you may take a dip and funky off. And if you wish to plunge into the water from a rope swing, take a look at El Angelito path, which has a swing on the finish of its 4km (2.5 mile) hike.
Caimitillo Trail
Caimitillo Trail is likely one of the best trails in El Yunque, involving a brief 0.4 to 0.6 mile stroll. Starting round 100 ft south of Sierra Palm Visitor Center, this path is ideal in case you simply fancy a fast stroll by means of nature. Along the path you’ll stumble throughout picnic spots, barbecue pits, streams, large ferns and delightful wildflowers.
Angelito Trail
This 0.5 mile path is a straightforward hike that takes round 20-minute to finish a method. It’s excellent for households and kids, and results in a refreshing pure pool on the Mameyes River. It additionally presents spectacular, panoramic views of El Yunque, so have your telephone or your digital camera prepared.
Mount Britton and El Yunque Peak
Mount Britton is a 0.8 mile out-and-back path that results in the Mount Britton lookout tower (extra on that later). To attain the tower you’ll must hike for round 45-minutes, climbing up paved pathways by means of the Sierra Palm. At the highest you’ll be surrounded by clouds!
The path might be slippery and steep in locations, so be sure you put on acceptable footwear. There are three coated relaxation stations on the way in which up, and the path connects to El Yunque path, which results in the mountain peak.
Los Picachos
Los Picachos is a brief 0.2 mile path that results in the cloud forest and a panoramic view of Puerto Rico’s east coast. Sounds simple, however don’t let that idiot you! To attain the path you must hike round two miles up El Yunque path, which is a little more difficult.
La Coca Trail
Near La Coca waterfall you’ll discover the doorway to La Coca Trail – a difficult 1.8 mile path that takes you thru the decrease a part of the tabonuco forest, ending on the Mamayes River. The path is fairly steep, with an elevation change of 656 ft, so be ready to sweat and be sure you pack loads of water.
La Coca path can get muddy and includes just a few stream and river crossings, so be sure you pack your mountain climbing boots if you wish to try it.
El Toro Wilderness Trail
El Toro is a difficult 4.9-mile path that results in the very best level of the rainforest. It includes a steep pathway that requires climbing over rocks and fallen bushes. On the hike you’ll see quite a lot of completely different bushes, together with tabonuco bushes, fern bushes and sierra palms. Definitely put on your mountain climbing sneakers for this one.
Observation Points
If you need to seize some unbelievable images, drive as much as the Yokahú Observation Tower, which has an elevation of 1,575 ft. The panoramic views of the ocean and the luxurious, inexperienced mountains make it positively definitely worth the journey.
Within the forest there’s additionally one other remark tower known as Torre Britton, which is known as after well-known botanist Nathaniel Britton. The tower was constructed within the Nineteen Thirties by the Conservation Corps and has an elevation of two,493 ft. You’ll must hike for about 35-minutes to succeed in it, however the scenic views of the forest, the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea are completely price it. The orange colour of the tower contrasting with the blue sky and inexperienced mountains make it a surprising spot for images, so have your digital camera prepared.
Wildlife Spotting
Puerto Rico is known for its tiny frogs, known as coqui, which inhabit the island’s forests. They get their identify from the “co-kee” sound that the males make after they’re making an attempt to draw females. In complete there are 17 endemic species of coqui in Puerto Rico – 13 of which might be present in El Yunque.
In addition to coqui, the rainforest can be residence to many sorts of bushes, vegetation, birds, bats, and lizards.
Quick History of El Yunque
- 1509 – The Spanish discovers gold within the Fajardo and Blanco rivers and gold mining begins within the space.
- 1530 – Gold mining stops when miners and settlers are attacked by rebelling Taínos.
- 1730s – Coffee is cultivated on the slopes of El Yunque.
- 1800s – Lowland forests are exploited for timber and minimize down.
- 1853 – Spanish authorities sends foresters to survey the land.
- 1876 – The rainforest is asserted a protected space by King Alfonso XII of Spain.
- 1898 – After the Spanish-American conflict, Puerto Rico falls into the arms of the United States.
- 1903 – Luquillo Forest Reserve is established by Theodore Roosevelt.
- 1906 – The rainforest turns into a National Forest.
- 1935 – Luquillo Forest Reserve is renamed Caribbean National Forest.
- Second World War – The US Army installs a radar website in Pico El Yunque to detect German plane and submarines.
- 1989 – The Forest is closely broken by Hurricane Hugo.
- 1999 – More harm to the rainforest is brought on by Hurricane Georges.
- 2000-2002 – 35 captive parrots are launched into the wild as a part of efforts to avoid wasting the critically endangered Puerto Rican Parrot.
- 2007 – President George W. Bush indicators an Executive Order to rename the forest El Yunque National Forest.
- 2017 – El Yunque is closely broken by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
- 2021 – El Portal Visitor Center reopens after being reconstructed following Hurricane Maria.
Tips for Visiting El Yunque National Forest
- Arrive early if you wish to keep away from the crowds.
- Park solely in designated areas – don’t block gates or roads.
- Take all of your trash with you. Don’t depart something behind within the rainforest.
- Bring sufficient water and snacks to your go to.
- Be ready for rain. El Yunque experiences a median rainfall of 120 inches per yr and flash flooding happens commonly. Bring plastic ponchos and umbrellas so that you don’t get moist.
What Should I Wear to El Yunque?
If you propose on mountain climbing among the wetter, tougher trails, be sure you carry mountain climbing boots. Otherwise it’s attainable to get away with comfortable sneakers. Bring swimwear in case you need to swim within the waterfalls and swimming pools, plus a change of garments in case you get moist.
The climate is tropical, so you ought to be wonderful sporting issues like shorts and T-shirts, however positively carry a light-weight rain jacket or a plastic poncho in case it rains. Don’t overlook to pack sunscreen and sun shades too.
Where to Eat Near El Yunque
There aren’t any eating places inside El Yunque, so be sure you pack some snacks and produce them within the automotive. If you’re feeling peckish after a day of mountain climbing within the forest, you’ll discover a number of spots only a quick drive away. El Yunque Treehouse is situated round 3 km from the park entrance and serves all kinds of Puerto Rican dishes.
If you go to the park within the morning, you might additionally cease by Luquillo Beach within the afternoon and take in the solar. Stop by Kioskos de Luquillo – a group of small meals stands serving contemporary, native meals, pina coladas and cocktails.
Is El Yunque Worth It?
Yes, El Yunque is completely price it. If you might have just a few days in Puerto Rico, don’t simply stick with San Juan and Condado. Hire a automotive or e-book a tour so you may see what El Yunque is all about.
My buddy and I spent half a day in El Yunque exploring the lookout factors and waterfalls, earlier than driving over to Luquillo Beach. We then drove over to Fajardo simply earlier than sundown to start our Bioluminescent Bay tour. It was a jam-packed day, however very rewarding!
For additional inspiration, take a look at my 3 day Puerto Rico itinerary, which incorporates Old San Juan, El Yunque and among the finest seashores on the northeast coast!