Did you know there is a tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System? El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the United States. It is a lush, beautiful, biologically diverse forest in Puerto Rico. The forest is also considered one of the smallest forests in the U.S. National Forest System. El Yunque is located in the Luquillo Mountains and is absolutely breathtaking. A must-visit location for anyone visiting the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico.
A day trip to El Yunque is one of the best things to do in Puerto Rico. You can hike various trails, visit waterfalls, and learn about the flora and fauna found in El Yunque. Additionally, you will find several viewpoints where you can take amazing pictures. Visiting El Yunque National Forest is a must for all nature lovers, hikers, and those wanting to experience a tropical rainforest. Keep reading this incredible guide to learn more about visiting Puerto Rico’s El Yunque National Forest.
A Day at El Yunque National Forest
El Yunque National Forest is about an hour’s drive from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Visiting the El Yunque Rainforest is one of the best day trips you can plan when visiting Puerto Rico. It is a perfect place to admire the beautiful landscape and diverse tropical plants in Puerto Rico. Whether you go to El Yunque without a tour or choose to do a guided tour of El Yunque, there are many things to do and see while you are there.
Spending the day in the El Yunque Rainforest will allow you to hike a couple of trails or more, visit waterfalls, or get a birds-eye view of the forest from Yokahú Tower or Britton Tower. You can also spend time exploring the El Portal del El Yunque Visitor Center. This truly is one of the best things to do in Puerto Rico. This is your guide to explore everything this beautiful U.S. rainforest has to offer its visitors.
Drive Scenic PR-191 North Through La Mina Recreational Area
The road to the main recreational area of El Yunque National Forest is the PR 191 North. When driving on the PR 191 North, you will enter what is known as La Mina Recreation Area. Scenic PR 191 will take you to many of the popular trails, historic sites, and observation points in El Yunque Forest. As you drive PR 191, you will pass several trailheads and a waterfall. On your drive, you will see the beauty of this amazing rainforest.
When starting your drive on PR 191, you can stop by the visitor’s center for the most up-to-date information about visiting El Yunque. If you are prone to motion sickness, be aware that PR 191 is a winding road with many curves. I do not get motion sickness easily, but the further up in the forest we got, I did get a little motion sickness. Thankfully, there are several observation points and parking lots you can stop at to admire the beauty of the forest and get some fresh air.
Climbing the Towers of El Yunque National Forest
In El Yunque you will find two observation towers that you can climb for amazing forest and island views. The first of the towers you will encounter is the Yokahu Tower. Mt. Britton Tower is the second tower you can climb. Both towers were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s.
Climb Yokahú Tower for Panoramic Views
Yokahú Tower is a popular observation point many people stop at for panoramic views. The tower is the tallest one in El Yunque at 69 feet tall and provides amazing views of El Yunque Peak all the way to the coastline. On a clear day, you may even see all the way to the U.S. Virgin Islands from the top of the tower. You will also be able to look out the windows of the tower as you go up and take beautiful forest pictures. The view from the top was amazing and easily one of my favorite observation points.
The staircase to the top of Yokahú Tower is a spiral staircase, and there are about 98 steps to climb to reach the top. The staircase up the tower has space for two-way traffic, with one side used to go up and the other side to go down the stairs. If it is raining, the stairs will likely be wet, especially near the top, as the top-most stairs are exposed to the elements. There is a parking lot at the Yokahú Tower observation point, and the tower is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Island Views from Mt. Britton Tower
Mt. Britton Tower is at an elevation of over 3,000 feet. While not as tall as Yokahú Tower, you will still have amazing forest views from the top of the tower. In addition to forest views, you can see out to the ocean and the eastern coastal plain of Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, at the time of our visit, Mt. Britton was closed for construction, but it has since reopened. While driving up PR 191 towards Mt. Britton Tower, you will get a glimpse of the tower among the forest.
To get to the tower, you will park by the trailhead for Mt. Britton Trail. The road at the trailhead is where it becomes one-way and circles around to go back down PR 191. You will park here and then hike Mt. Britton Trail to get to Mt. Britton Tower. The trail is paved and will end at a service road. The service road will lead to another paved trail to get to the tower. Since El Yunque is a tropical rainforest, it does rain from time to time which can make the paved trail through the forest slippery.
Going Hiking in El Yunque National Forest
One of the most popular things to do in El Yunque National Forest is to go hiking. There are a variety of trails for people of all fitness levels. There are even hikes to a natural pool and El Yunque waterfalls. Consider doing one of these hikes during your visit. Additionally, for the latest updates on road or trail closures, visit the El Yunque National Forest Facebook page.
When hiking El Yunque, it is very important to stay on the marked trails. The El Yunque Rainforest in Puerto Rico is very dense when you go off the trails. It is very easy to get lost in the dense forest if you decide to go off the beaten path to explore El Yunque on your own. For safety reasons, please stay on the marked trails.
Hike El Yunque Trail to El Yunque Peak
El Yunque Peak is one of the highest peaks in the forest. There are a couple of ways to access the trailhead to El Yunque Peak. You can access the El Yunque Peak Trail through the Caimitillo Trail or from the Mt. Britton Spur trail. The trail goes from the Palo Colorado forest vegetation to the cloud forest part of the rainforest. As you walk along the trail, it can be muddy in some parts. In addition to some mud, the trail is a mix of gravel, asphalt, and native stones.
Hiking to the peak of El Yunque is considered a challenging hike. The trail is about 2.6 miles and can take about 2 hours one way. There are times, due to weather, that the trail to the peak is closed. You can verify the status of the trail to the peak during your visit by checking with park rangers and checking posted forest maps. If the portion of the trail to the peak is closed, you can walk the service road by Mt. Britton Tower up to the peak.
Hike Juan Diego Trail to Swim in Juan Diego Falls
Juan Diego is a very short and easy trail that is about 0.125 miles long. The trail ends at the Juan Diego Falls, which is one of the beautiful waterfalls in El Yunque. A great thing about Juan Diego Falls is that the base of the waterfall is one of the natural pools in El Yunque. This is a natural pool that people are allowed to swim in, which is great on a hot day. If you plan to enjoy Juan Diego Falls, it would be a great idea to bring a swimsuit and a change of clothes.
Hike Caimitillo Trail
The Caimitillo Trail is a short, easy trail you can hike. The Caimitillo trail is about 0.4 miles long, beginning near the Caimitillo picnic area. Along this hike, you will see giant tree ferns, miniature climbing bamboo, Sierra palms, and many other types of tropical plants. The Caimitillo Trails ends at the junction of the El Yunque Trail.
Hike La Coca Trail
La Coca Trail is a very challenging and difficult hike near La Coca Falls. The trail can be very muddy and steep, with several spots where you will need to cross streams. Unlike some of the other trails in the forest, La Coca trail does not have a paved path, with the exception of the steps at the beginning of the trail. Even though the trail is not paved, you will see many trail markers. Make sure you follow the trail markers, as this is a trail people are likely to get lost on.
The trail is about 1.8 miles and takes about one and a half hours one way to Rio de la Mina. If you plan to do this hike, take plenty of water and snacks with you and wear proper shoes. This is not an easy trail to hike and can be very slippery. When you are making your way back to the trailhead you will be going uphill the same way you came. Be aware that there is the potential for flash flooding in the streams if it is raining or has been raining recently.
Admire La Coca Waterfall
On the way up PR 191, you will drive past a waterfall. This waterfall is La Coca Falls. La Coca Falls is an 85-foot waterfall on a rock formation. You can take pictures from a sidewalk next to the road by the waterfall. Some people choose to climb the rocks to the side of the observation area to get closer to the falls. There is a warning posted on the rocks leading up to the waterfall about unstable rocks and hazards like flash flooding and rock slides.
There is no defined trail up to the falls. Therefore, if you choose to get closer to the La Coca Falls, you do so at your own risk. Also, you want to be careful when crossing the road to the observation spot. The observation spot is a sidewalk next to the road, so cars will be driving right behind as you face La Coca Falls.
Explore the El Portal Trail
El Portal Trail is located at the El Portal del El Yunque Visitor Center. The trail has two parts to it. There’s the Discovery Trail, which is a paved, accessible nature trail. The second part is the Science and Conservation Trail, which is a gravel trail. The Science and Conservation Trail is a loop trail that branches off the Discovery Trail. The Discovery Trail goes under the walkway to the visitor center to the Pavilion Level of the visitor center.
The entrance to the start of the El Portal Trails is to the side of the walkway to the El Portal Visitors Center. The trails are short, easy trails. While walking these trails, you will see many tropical plants, coffee trees, breadfruit trees, and papaya trees.
Visit Baño Grande Historic Site
The Baño Grande Historic Site was built by the Civilian Conservation Crops in the 1930s. Baño Grande is an 18-foot-deep man-made pool made of stone on a creek fed by the La Mina River. After Baño Grande was built, it was a swimming pool in the rainforest from 1936 to 1968. Since its closure as a swimming pool, it has become a scenic observation point in Puerto Rico’s rainforest. Today, visitors are able to walk the nature trail around the perimeter of the pool. If it is raining, the cobblestone path can be slippery.
Explore the Angelito Trail and Swimming Area
Angelito Trail is a short and easy trail to Río Mameyes, where you can relax and swim in the river. The trail is about 0.2 miles one way, and unlike other popular trails in El Yunque, this trail is off Road 988. Road 988 branches off PR 191 after you pass El Portal Visitor Center. There will be a sign past the visitor center for Road 988 that mentions this trail. The trailhead is about 2.2 miles from the Road 988 and PR 191 intersection.
Spending time relaxing at Río Mameyes after a day of hiking is great. You can have a picnic by the river or just go swimming. Entering the water is rocky, so you might want some water shoes if you have sensitive feet. As this is a river in a rainforest, you do want to be aware of the weather. If it is raining, there is the possibility of flash flooding.
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Closed Hiking Trails at El Yunque Rainforest
There are a few trails that are closed in El Yunque. The most popular one is La Mina Trail to La Mina Falls. The other trails that are closed are Baño de Oro and Big Tree trails. There is the possibility of these trails reopening in the future. However, La Mina and Big Tree Trails have been closed since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. You can visit the official website and Facebook page for El Yunque for trail updates. For the most up-to-date information, I recommend checking the Facebook page and checking with forest rangers during your visit.
Visit El Portal Visitor Center
While visiting El Yunque National Forest, make sure to stop by the El Portal de El Yunque Visitor Center. El Portal is the main visitor center for El Yunque. The visitor center has a gift shop, coffee bar, cafe, theater, and educational exhibits. If you like to collect cancellation stamps from various National Parks and National Forests, you can find the stamps at the information desk.
The educational exhibits at El Portal cover endangered wildlife in the rainforest, soil, different parts of the forest, and the history of El Yunque. Additionally, you will see the Puerto Rican Parrot, which is considered an endangered species, and learn about the recovery efforts that have prevented it from going extinct.
Picnic Areas at El Yunque National Forest
At El Yunque, you will find a few places where you can relax and have a picnic. Many of the picnic areas are found along scenic PR 191 as you make your way up towards Mt. Britton Trail. Here are a couple of the main ones.
Picnic at the Palo Colorado Recreation Area
The Palo Colorado Recreation Area is a picnic area near the Baño Grande observation point, Caimitillo Trail, La Mina Trail, El Yunque Trail, and Baño de Oro Trail. This recreation area has parking, restrooms, an information center, and a gift store. Stopping at the Palo Colorado Recreation Area is a great idea after hiking to Mount Britton Tower or hiking one of the longest trails, the El Yunque Peak Trail.
Picnic at the Palma de Sierra Picnic Area
The Sierra Palm Picnic Area has several tables and covered shelters just a short walk from the parking lot. You will find a bathroom area and a small parking lot. Right by the parking lot, you will find the El Yunque Rainforest Cafe. The Cafe offers a variety of food and drinks for purchase. The hours and food offerings for the cafe may vary.
Visiting El Yunque National Forest on a Guided Tour
While you can visit the only rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System on your own, you can also do a guided tour. Choosing a guided tour is a great option for those who do not have a rental car. Excursions to El Yunque vary from half-day or full day tours and tours in combination with other locations like Luquillo Beach. If you are staying in Old San Juan, you can find El Yunque tours from San Juan that include transportation. Additionally, there are tours that offer pick-up from the Old San Juan Cruise Port for cruise passengers.
When we went to El Yunque, we booked a day tour that also stopped by Luquillo Beach and Los Kioskos de Luquillo. We went with a small group and stopped at more places in the forest than the tour would typically stop at. When deciding on a tour, if you go this route, make sure to read the tour descriptions, as all tours are different. There are tours like the one we went on, hiking tours in the forest, horseback riding tours, tours that include a bioluminescent kayaking experience, and some with a stop to slide down natural waterslides.
Frequently Asked Questions About El Yunque National Forest
Here are some frequently asked questions about visiting Puerto Rico’s El Yunque Rainforest. We hope these answers help you plan your visit to this amazing, lush forest, which is part of the U.S. National Forest System.
There are several ways to get to El Yunque; driving to El Yunque in a rental car is an easy way to get to the forest, or you can book a tour that takes you to the rainforest. Most people go from San Juan to El Yunque via PR-3 to Rio Grande to get to the main road into the rainforest, which is North PR 191.
As of August 23, 2023, reservations are no longer required to visit El Yunque Forest. Entrance is now on a first-come, first-served basis. The forest service monitors the number of visitors and limits the number of cars if there is too much traffic. During our visit in June 2024, we did not have any issues, and there were minimal visitors. A notice will be posted on the El Yunque National Forest website if reservations are required again at a later date. However, as of now, no reservations are needed to visit the forest.
The cost to enter El Yunque Forest is free; however, if you want to visit the El Portal Visitor Center, the cost is $8.00 for adults and children under 15 are free. If you have an interagency pass, such as the America the Beautiful National Park Annual Pass, the entrance fee is $4.00. The annual pass usually covers the entrance fee; however, the El Portal Visitor Center is considered an expanded amenity. Therefore, those with an annual pass receive a 50% discount for admission. Cash and credit cards are accepted.
The gate to El Yunque National Forest closes at 5:00 pm. If you are in the forest after the gate closes, you will be fined by law enforcement. If you plan to hike, keep this in mind so that you exit the entrance corridor to the forest by 5:00 pm.
The best time to visit El Yunque is during the dry season, which is from December through April. However, El Yunque is a rainforest and therefore, it is not uncommon for there to be moments of rain when visiting the rainforest. If it rains in El Yunque during the dry season, the rain will be brief.
May through November is the wet season in Puerto Rico, and you are likely to have more rain during your visit. The wet season also corresponds with hurricane season in the Caribbean.
If you did not rent a car, El Yunque guided tours are a good way to experience the forest. There are various tours, ranging from half-day to full-day. Your hotel may be able to help you set up a tour, or you can find a tour on Viator or Get Your Guide. Additionally, you can check the official website for a list of approved tour companies and guides.
Is El Yunque National Forest worth visiting?
Yes, El Yunque National Forest is absolutely worth visiting. Since this is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S., a day trip to El Yunque is a unique experience. The views from El Yunque to the ocean are amazing!
Enjoy Your Visit to El Yunque National Forest
We hope you enjoy your day exploring this amazing, unique rainforest in the U.S. Forest System. Visiting El Yunque National Forest is one of the best things to do in Puerto Rico! It is the perfect place to visit for nature lovers and hikers, and there are stunning views of Puerto Rico’s coastline and the ocean. Spending the day in El Yunque is a great way to experience the beauty of Puerto Rico.
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