Do you like waterfalls, beautiful views,and days full of adventure, then this place is for you!
The Basics
What is El Yunque?
El Yunque is a National Rainforest in Puerto Rico. It is " the sole tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest System" (Our Forests, 2022). It is full of lush greenery and wildlife, along with amazing views and waterfalls.
Where is El Yunque?
El Yunque is located in Puerto Rico. More specifically, it is located in the northeastern section of Puerto Rico.
(image taken from Google)
This forest is " located in the rugged Sierra de Luquillo, 40 km southeast of San Juan "(Rivera, El Yunque National Forest). It is about an hour and ten minute drive from San Juan to El Yunque National Rainforest.
What can I do at El Yunque?
El Yunque is a place full of activities! You have your choice of a variety of hiking trails, all which take you to impecable views. Visit the visitor's center for a map to see which trails are right for you and your travel group. You also have a wide variety of waterfalls that you can explore and play in!
In addition to this, you also have experiences like ATV tours through the jungle, Ziplining, Horsebacking riding and more! To see the list of their activities you could usually go to their website. For some reason, it has been down for quite some time but I will link it below for if/when they get it back up and running again!
El Yunque Website Here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/elyunque
Our Experience
With all of those amazing options of what to do, it can be so hard to pick which activity to go with! When we traveled here, we were with a group of 8 people so we had to accommodate everyone's wishes! But I am going to dish all of the details to hopefully help you make your decision on some of these activities.
Waterfalls
Like I said before, El Yunque is home to a variety of incredible waterfalls. Some of them are deep or big enough to go in and play around , whereas others are more for viewing and climbing.
This waterfall, will be the first you see as you enter the park.
While you can't swim in this one, there is a little path that allows you to get up close and personal so you can feel the magic!
There are some you can wade in as well! Some are small...
And some, are bigger...
But all of them are magical and worth visiting!
One thing to keep in mind, not all of these waterfalls are the same difficulty level in regards to accessing them. It is best to visit the Visitor center, get a map and ask around. Some are easy to get to, some require a bit of a hike! Some are not rocky, some are. Make sure you select the ones that make the most sense for you and your group at the time.
Hikes
There are a variety of hikes available for your enjoyment when visiting El Yunque National Rainforest. Ranging in time of completion and level of difficulty.
Said to be one of the most beautiful is the hike to El Yunque Peak ; but be prepared, that round trip is about four hours long! When we went we opted for the Mount Britton Trail.
It was a shorter, rewarding hike, that still offered impeccable views! The hike took place on a paved path and at the end of you reach this beautiful tower which, when you climb to the top, shows you a panoramic view of the rainforest.
If you think this view from inside the tower is nice, check out these views from the top in the slideshow below!
When at the top of the tower, you get access to a panoramic view of this beautiful rainforest. You stand higher than the clouds and it really is breathtaking.
(video made with Capcut)
Again, this is another area where you would want to visit the Visitor Center and get a map. That will help you determine which hikes are most appropriate and doable for you and your group.
ATV Tours
Another exciting activity that we did while in this incredible place was an ATV tour! When selecting the ATV tours there was an option for a shorter, or a longer option (I believe, if memory serves me correctly, the options were 1 hour or 2 hour long rides). We opted for the longer ride, and let me tell you it is absolutely worth it.
As someone who had never been on an ATV before I was more than a little concerned about this adventure. But, I have to say it was super enjoyable and one of my favorite experiences of the trip.
The road which you ATV on is relatively smooth; it is not some intense over the top trek through the jungle experience. There is a lot of open road so you can feel rest assured that you will not be crashing into a tree. There will also be a guide at the front of the group leading you, and one in the back making sure that no one gets lost. You will make two stops on your ATV journey. The first will be at a scenic overlook.
After stopping for a few minutes to get group shots and relish the fact that you are in the most amazing place, it is time to hop on your ATVs again and head to your next destination. Your next destination will be your final stop, and it is at scenic river!
You will dismount your ATV and have about half an hour to forty five minutes to enjoy this beautiful place. Take a splash in the river, enjoy food and drink provided and even use a bathroom! Yes a real bathroom and changing rooms are available in the jungle woah! After you enjoy the serenity of the space it is time to jump back on and drive full speed ahead back to where you started. Such a cool, and badass way, to spend the day!
Tips, Tricks & The Things You Need To Know
As a traveler, you live and you learn! Well having lived this incredible experience I am going to tell you all the things I learned while there so you can be prepare and have the best trip possible to this incredible rainforest! Let's get into it!
1. You have to buy tickets to get in!
- This place is amazing, so much so that everyone wants to go! In order to enjoy this amazing place you can't just show up! You have to purchase tickets for the date you want to enjoy. You can buy your tickets here: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/14487
2. Get there early!
- Like I said, this is a popular place, so do not expect to be the only person there! If you are a person who likes to enjoy things without the crowds I recommend getting there as close to park opening as you can. Park hours are 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM.
Try getting there at open and staying until around lunch! You will see the difference in the amount of people!
3. Go to the waterfalls first!
-Yes they will be a bit chillier to swim in in the morning, vs when the afternoon sun is heating them up, but you will also be more likely to have them all to yourself! Some of the magic of these places gets lost when you are surrounding by hoards of people so I would definitely hit these majestic falls first. Then depending on the time of your tour (whether you booked ATV, Ziplining, or Horseback riding) you can schedule your hiking around those activities.
Remember! Some hikes are quick and some are long! Our Mount Britton Trail was one of the shorter trails and I believe it took us about 2 hours round trip- so just keep that in mind when planning the order of your activities! You don't want to miss your tour, but you also don't want to be hiking in the dark!
4. Wear water shoes - or at least bring them!
- I know I know, not the biggest fashion statement of the year but trust me when I say these babies will come in handy on your venture here! Especially if you plan on exploring some waterfalls! It get slippery out there and you never know what kind of rocks are lurking underneath the surface. Do yourself a favor and at least bring them for the waterfall portion of your trip.
When we went, I wore sneakers for the ATV tour and for the hiking portion, and I had the water shoes in my backpack. I did a quick switch when it was time for waterfalls. The bonus of switching is that my feet were covered in all situations, but they didn't have to stay wet the entire time!
5. It's a rainforest...bring bug spray!
- With that beautiful tropical weather and plants, comes those beautiful tropical bugs. If you don't want to be a bug buffet, bring along some bug spray for your trip! It makes a world of difference.
6. Bring water and snacks!
- There are not a whole lot of food and drink options while you're out there hiking and swimming the day away. If you are someone who needs to eat frequently I suggest bringing some easy snacks in your bag, like granola bars. You are also going to want to bring some water. It is hot, and you're going to be active...no one wants to get dehydrated.
Recap & More Information
To sum it all up simply...you have to go here! Best place ever! It has so many amazing things to do and explore and it actually fulfills 3 of my top 11 things you have to do when in Puerto Rico. If you are interested in seeing that list of all of the must see and do things while in Puerto Rico you can see that list here: Top Things to do While Visiting Puerto Rico.
Another fun tip! If you end up loving the waterfalls here, and want to see more of Puerto Rico's waterfalls, here is another one worth checking out: Cascada Gozalandia A Great Place to Spend a Day.
That's it for today folks! I hope you found value here today and I hope I inspired you to visit this incredible place!
Until next time,
Steph
References:
Our forests. National Forest Foundation. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://www.nationalforests.org/our-forests/find-a-forest/elyunque-national-forest
Rivera , M. (2022). El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico. Welcome to Puerto Rico! Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://welcome.topuertorico.org/reference/yunque.shtml
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