Puerto Rico has some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. Out of all the waterfalls I have ever seen, my favorite happens to be in Puerto Rico. The island receives a ton of rainfall every year which makes the waterfall beautiful and fresh. The waterfalls in Puerto Rico are some of the top things to do on the island. Most of the waterfalls in Puerto Rico are deep in the forest which makes it an adventure to go and seek them out. This article gives you all the information that you need about how to have an amazing trip by visiting some of the waterfalls in Puerto Rico.
How to get to the waterfalls
All the waterfalls in Puerto Rico are outside the city and deep in the forests. To get to the waterfalls you will need to rent a car, take a tour or hire a guide. There are some tours that take you to El Yunque and include these waterfalls as part of the tour. The other waterfalls across the island do not have tours that go there so you will need to rent a car or get a local guide to drive you.
Caution: The hiking trails to the waterfalls can be slippery
Since the hikes to these waterfalls can sometimes be slippery, especially during the rainy season, there is danger of falling. I advised wearing sturdy shoes that keep you from slipping and wearing water shoes in the water which are really comfortable, grip the bottom and keep the sharp rocks from cutting your feet.
What to bring with you
Since it is a tropical island most of these waterfalls tend to have a lot of mosquitoes so I recommend bringing a mosquito spray. I also recommend wearing water shoes when you go to these waterfalls so that the sharp rocks on the sides do not cut your feet. A towel is a must and also sunscreen because the sun shines hard during the afternoon.
If you are planning to be away from your hotel for a long period of time I also recommend bringing some water and food. Some of these waterfalls are in remote areas and you might not find food immediately once you get hungry. Lastly, you should definitely bring a GoPro so that you can record some cool memories jumping into these waterfalls.
- Mosquito spray
- Water shoes
- Towel and bikini
- Sunscreen
- Food and water
- GoPro
List of the waterfalls in Puerto Rico
- Juan Diego Falls
- La Mina Falls
- La Coca Falls
- La Canoa Falls
- Cascada Rio Espiritu Santo
- Cascada Gozalandia
- Salto Collazo
- Salto Curet
- Las Delicias
- Las Tinajas
- La Niebla
- Cascada La Planta Electrica
- Charco El Ataud
- Charco Prieto
- Chorro de Dona Juana
Find the list of the best waterfalls in Puerto Rico. From the tall waterfalls of Cascada Gozalandia to the beautiful pools in El Yunque you will find a huge choice of waterfalls you can go to.
1. Juan Diego Falls, El Yunque
- How to get there – PR 191, km 0.
- Facilities – Natural picnic area.
- Google map link – HERE.
- Timings – Open 24 hours.
- Suitable for kids – Yes.
- Hike difficulty – Easy.
- Swimming allowed – Yes.
The beautiful Juan Diego Falls are made up of three cascading levels of water. It is one of the most famous waterfalls in El Yunque National Forest. From the main road you hike up to a beautiful pool with a tumbling waterfall. The waterfalls start at the beginning of the trail and then the falls get bigger and bigger as you go higher up the trail. Most people prefer to stop at the picnic area and come back from there but if you continue on higher up there is an even bigger waterfall that is much less crowded.
2. La Mina Falls, El Yunque
- How to get there – PR 191, km 12.2. Parking is available in two adjacent paved parking lots, as well as at designated areas along the road.
- Facilities – None.
- Google map link – HERE.
- Timings – Open 24 hours.
- Suitable for kids – No.
- Hike difficulty – Difficult. 0.7 miles.
- Swimming allowed – Yes.
Hike through a strenuous 45 minute hike in the El Yunque rainforest and you will be rewarded with the gorgeous view of the 35 ft La Mina Falls. The winding La Mina trail takes you into the heart of the rainforest. It is a fun trail with some picturesque bridges and lots of coquis singing in the smaller waterfalls along the way. This is also a very popular spot and lots of people come here when they are visiting El Yunque. The pool is a great place to swim and relax.
3. La Coca Falls, El Yunque
- How to get there – PR 191, km 8.1.
- Facilities – Gift shop with restrooms. Parking.
- Google map link – HERE.
- Timings –
- Suitable for kids – No.
- Hike difficulty – Easy. 0.03 miles.
- Swimming allowed – No.
La Coca Falls in El Yunque fall from an impressive height of 85 feet into a small pool at the base of the mountain. The very very short trail winds through the forest and you can hear the roar of the waterfall before you see them. This is a great photography spot. Because of the power of the falls, swimming is prohibited in this area. The trail is for those with a sense of adventure that want to take up a challenge but not for those that are looking forward to relaxing and dipping in a pretty waterfall.
4. La Canoa Falls and Charco El Hippie, Naguabo
- How to get there – PR 191 at km 28, cross the bridge and take the first right on the road. Take another right at the second smaller bridge. Parking lot at the end of this road.
- Facilities – None.
- Google map link – HERE.
- Timings – Open 24 hours.
- Suitable for kids – No.
- Hike difficulty – Difficult.
- Swimming allowed – Yes. 0.13 miles to the lowest pool. Cliff jumping point at the waterfall.
The Naguabo region of El Yunque is a lesser visited part of the rainforest. This preserves the old Puerto Rican spirit of the forest. The La Canoa river winds through this part of the rainforest. The La Canoa river falls majestically into the waterhole known as El Hippie. There is a picnic area by the waterhole.
The waterfall is one of my favorites because it is very open and spread out over 100 meters of horizontal land. You can sit right under the water or you can swing by the rope and jump into the pool. For the kiddies there is also a swing by the pool. The area also has ancient Taino petroglyphs and caves as well!
5. Cascada Rio Espiritu Santo, El Yunque
- How to get there – Follow PR86, km 18.9. The third bridge crosses over the river.
- Facilities – None.
- Google map link – HERE.
- Timings – Open 24 hours.
- Suitable for kids – Yes.
- Hike difficulty – Easy.
- Swimming allowed – No.
One of the less popular waterfalls, Espirito Santo is a great place to stop for a quick photography session and take a break amidst nature. It is situated in the El Yunque National Forest but since it is outside of the official marked area not a lot of people end up going. The Rio Espirito Santo is the only navigable river in Puerto Rico.
The river starts high in the El Yunque rainforest and twists and turns in the mountains before finally reaching the Atlantic Ocean. Mario Espirito Santo waterfall is part of this river system. you should definitely do one of the boat trips up and down the River to have a unique natural experience that most people do not get to enjoy when they come to Puerto Rico.
6. Cascada Gozalandia, San Sebastian
- How to get there – Go on PR 446 and turn right on a large bridge. Drive up the road about half a mile and you will come to the parking lot.
- Facilities – Restaurant, restrooms, parking.
- Google map link – HERE.
- Timings – 9am to 6am
- Suitable for kids – Yes.
- Hike difficulty – Easy.
- Swimming allowed – Yes.
The Gozalandia Falls are made up of two falls up and down a hiking trail. If you go up the hiking path from the parking lot you will come across a gorgeous 8ft waterfall that ends in a deep pool with a submerged cave. The top falls have a rope swing that you can use to jump into the pool.
The lower falls are another magnificent waterfall, with a cliff jumping point where you can jump into the deep pool in the middle from a height of 50 ft. The lower pool is a great place for families and kids to hang out. It is much more open and shallow than the top part of the falls and has a lot of tiny freshwater fish that kids love to play with. The restaurant next to the parking lot also has some really good Puerto Rican food that you can eat after an adventurous day swimming in Gozalandia Falls.
7. Salto Collazo, San Sebastian
- How to get there – PR 111, km 26.8. Intersection of PR 448 and PR 111.
- Facilities – None.
- Google map link – HERE.
- Timings – Open 24 hours.
- Suitable for kids – Yes.
- Hike difficulty – Easy.
- Swimming allowed – No, too dirty.
Salto Collazo waterfalls in San Sebastian are small waterfalls that look really pretty after it has rained. The waterfalls are 30 ft high and drop into a pretty pool at the bottom where you can swim. They’re very easy to get to and great for families with children. The only bad part about this waterfall is that there’s a lot of trash that has been left by previous visitors. Please remember to clean up after yourself and pick up any trash that you see.
If you look over the other side of the bridge you will see another really tall waterfall that falls down 100ft. Unfortunately there is no way to get to these waterfalls since there is not a path that leads to them but you can try making your own way through the forest.
8. Salto Curet, Maricao
- How to get there – Turn right on PR 425 after the bridge at Carratera 105, km 28.
- Facilities – None.
- Google map link – HERE.
- Timings – Open 24 hours.
- Suitable for kids – No.
- Hike difficulty – Moderate.
- Swimming allowed – Yes.
Very popular amongst the people of Maricao is the Salto Curet Waterfalls. A gentle 20-minute hike upstream from the road is a beautiful magical looking waterfall that ends in a deep pool. The river has crystal clear water which you will love splashing through. The waterfall is 100 ft tall from top to bottom and divided in two parts. The waterfall is very secluded since it is a little hard to get and the locals call it one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Puerto Rico.The road to the waterfall winds through the mountains overlooking some amazing scenery on this tropical island.
9. Las Delicias, Ciales
- How to get there – Drive towards Ciales on PR 149 to km 34.6. Turn onto Road 533 and go till km 2.5.
- Facilities – None.
- Google map link – HERE.
- Timings – Open 24 hours.
- Suitable for kids – Yes.
- Hike difficulty – Easy.
- Swimming allowed – Yes.
One of the most magical and enchanting waterfalls on the island is Las Delicias. A multi cascading waterfall in the middle of the dense jungle with a small pool at the bottom that looks straight out of a fairy tale movie. The moss and fern covered rocks make it all the more mysterious. The waterfall is located inside the Tres Picachos State Forest. Climb a little way up and you will get to an equally gorgeous second waterfall. Las Delicias is a treasure that keeps on giving.
10. Las Tinajas/Charco Frío, Ceiba
- How to get there – Go on road 971 half a mile and take a left on an unnamed road before th bridge.
- Facilities – None.
- Google map link – HERE.
- Timings – Open 24 hours.
- Suitable for kids – No.
- Hike difficulty – Difficult.
- Swimming allowed – Yes.
A huge shallow river lazily lapping in the mountainside drops down into the beautiful Las Tinajas waterfalls. The Charco Frio river playfully bends into two water slides at Las Tinajas. This waterfall is not for the faint-hearted. If you want to slide down some water slides you will first have to trek for 25 minutes to reach the pool and then keep going upstream until you find a second pool where you can swim and slide down the waterfalls. The swing rope at the pool completes the perfect picture of this being Tarzan’s home. This is a waterfall and adventure combined in one.
11. La Niebla, San Cristóbal
- How to get there – Take RT 162 and then turn onto RT 725. Turn left on the 4th street here and park.
- Facilities – None.
- Google map link – HERE.
- Timings – Open 24 hours.
- Suitable for kids – No.
- Hike difficulty – Very difficult.
- Swimming allowed – Yes.
On the lower side of the San Cristobal Canyon are the La Niebla waterfalls. These waterfalls are on one of the more challenging hikes in San Cristobal. The hike is 1.7 miles long and the waterfalls are in the middle of the hike. The waterfalls are much more impressive in the rainy season or after it has rained. The canyon hike up to the waterfalls is very difficult and slippery and not for the faint of the heart. The hike takes about 2 hours to complete.
12. Cascada La Planta Electrica, Arecibo
- How to get there – Take Route 10 south. Turn left after you see a sign for Río Hondo. Follow road and park at the end before the bridge.
- Facilities – None.
- Google map link – HERE.
- Timings – Not sure since it might be part of the government land.
- Suitable for kids – No.
- Hike difficulty – Easy.
- Swimming allowed – Yes but its very dirty.
These hand made waterfalls are a great stop if you are visiting Arecibo. They were originally part of the hydro-electric dam but are no longer used. They are now a fun waterfall location for the locals. You will see teenagers and locals in the area on weekends, jumping and swimming in the waters.
13. Charco El Ataud, Adjuntas
- How to get there – Complicated directions, best to follow Google maps.
- Facilities – None.
- Google map link – HERE.
- Timings – Open 24 hours.
- Suitable for kids – No.
- Hike difficulty – Moderate.
- Swimming allowed – Yes.
Made up of three adventurous layers of water is Charco El Ataud waterfalls in Adjuntas. The first layer is a shallow and easily accessible pool. The second and third pools are further downstream and you have to do a bit of climbing to reach them. The pools are very shallow and very pretty. You can chill here all day without being disturbed by anyone.
14. Charco Prieto/Poza Negra, Bayamón
- How to get there – Complicated directions, best to follow Google maps.
- Facilities – None.
- Google map link – HERE.
- Timings – Open 24 hours.
- Suitable for kids – No.
- Hike difficulty – Moderate but trail is non existent in some places.
- Swimming allowed – Yes.
One of the lesser explored waterfalls because of the almost non existent trail is Charco Prieto. The trail is not obvious and you mostly need to keep following the river upriver. The 30 minute trek ends up at the large Charco Prieto waterfalls. The waterfalls are really high and fall down a straight long rock.
15. Chorro de Dona Juana, Orocovis
- How to get there – Complicated directions, best to follow Google maps.
- Facilities – None.
- Google map link – HERE.
- Timings – Open 24 hours.
- Suitable for kids – Yes.
- Hike difficulty – Easy.
- Swimming allowed – Yes.
A cozy waterfall in the Toro Negro State Forest, Chorro de Dona Juana is a beautiful three level waterfall with a small pool at the bottom where you can swim. This is a great place to relax and cool off after a hike in the surrounding rainforest. There is no hiking involved to reach this waterfall so it is easy to just park and walk right up to it. This is a great option for those that cannot hike and those with small children that prefer to stay close to the road. These are one of the most famous waterfalls in Puerto Rico.
FAQs
What is the famous waterfall in Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico has a lot of famous waterfalls. Cascada Gozalandia, La Mina and La Coca Falls are three of the most visited waterfalls in Puerto Rico.
What part of Puerto Rico has waterfalls?
There are waterfalls in all parts of Puerto Rico. A lot of them are situated in three regions of the island – El Yunque rainforest, San Sebastian and the west of the island.
How many waterfalls are in Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico has innumerable waterfalls. In this article I have listed the top 15 waterfalls. This is not a complete list and there are other waterfalls that are not on the tourist map. Some of the waterfalls of course have still not been discovered since they’re deep in the rainforest.
What waterfalls are in El Yunque?
El Yunque has Juan Diego, La Mina, La Coca and Rio Espiritu waterfalls. There are other waterfalls that are close to but not inside the forest.
Conclusion
Going waterfall hunting in Puerto Rico is one of the most fun activities to do. Visiting waterfalls in Puerto Rico is an amazing, adventure filled activity that everyone can enjoy. You can choose from many types of waterfall suited for all people including kids. I’ve seen many families having picnics and playing by waterfalls every weekend. Waterfalls in Puerto Rico should definitely be on your list of things to do.
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