El Yunque is a gorgeous rainforest in the north east of the island of Puerto Rico. It is located in the Sierra de Luquillo mountains. Formerly known as the Caribbean National forest, it’s one of the most beautiful places in Puerto Rico. Spread over 28 thousand acres of lush green land, it has the highest peak in the continental United States. The highest point in El Yunque rainforest is the El Toro peak standing at 3494 feet.
The rainforest receives an incredible amount of rain, over 20 feet a year in some places which accounts for its wonderful flora and fauna. The rainforest was believed to be the throne of the Chief God Yucahu. Some of the petroglyphs of Taino people can still be found in the rainforest. The rainforest was never settled by humans most likely because Taino believed it to be sacred.
Planning a trip to San Juan soon? Checkout my guide to 25 Awesome Things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
How to Get to El Yunque Rainforest
Traveling to El Yunque from San Juan takes approximately 45 minutes depending on which location you are going to. The hikes to the east of El Yunque rainforest take an additional 15 minutes to drive to. The easiest way to make sure you have the correct driving locations is to follow the Google Maps directions to El Portal Visitor Center, PR-191 Roio Grande, PR 00745.
Driving Directions
To get to El Yunque from San Juan take the PR-26 E going out of San Juan. This automatically becomes PR-66 in 15kms. Follow PR-66 for another 19kms. Then turn right onto PR-3 S once PR-66 ends. In 6.3 take the turn to the right at the light onto PR-955 (Calle Principal). Take the first left onto PR-191 and continue on this road until you reach the visitor center.
Renting a Car
If you will be renting a car for your travel to El Yunque then read this guide by a local to make sure you get the cheapest deal for yourself –
What’s the temperature at El Yunque Rainforest?
El Yunque has a very pleasant tropical climate year round. Since it’s a tropical rainforest you can expect rain year round without any wet or dry seasons though Puerto Rico itself has hurricane season in late summer. The average temperature in the summer is 80 °F (26 °C) high and 68 °F (20 °C) low and in the winter 72 °F (22 °C) high and 58 °F (15 °C) low,
Hikes and Waterfalls
Trails inside park that need reservations
- La Coca
- Los Picachos
- Mount Britton and El Yunque Peak
- Caimitillo Trail
- La Mina
- Big Tree
Trails that don’t need reservations
Best way to do these trails with waterfalls – Go to Puente Roto then on the Angelito Trail and finish at Las Paylas.
- Puente Roto – huge fresh water pool very close to the road under a stone bridge.
- Angelito Trail – The end of the trail has the prettiest natural pool in Puerto Rico, Charco Los Angelitos.
- Las Paylas – dramatic water slides and a huge swing to jump into pool.
Other Trails
- El Toro
- Waterfalls and rivers on Road 186 in Rio Grande
- El Hippie
- Charco Frio
- Rio Sabana Recreation area
Waterfalls at El Yunque
- Juan Diego Falls
- La Mina
- La Coca
- Las Paylas
- Las Tinajas
Details
Opening Hours – 8am to 5pm
Google Map directions – El Portal Visitor Center
Phone – 787-888-1880
Website – www.recreation.gov
IMPORTANT: Make Reservations in Advance
El Yunque is a very popular activity for both tourists and locals. To maintain a low amount of people going in and out of the forest, the government now requires every vehicle entering the La Mina Recreation Area to have a reservation. Only one reservation is required per vehicle – not per person. The reservation per vehicle costs $2.
Reservations are given for a 3 hour window and you can enter anytime within the 3 hour timeframe. The slots are 8am – 11am and 11am – 2pm. Tickets are made available 30 days in advance of the entry date at 10am ET. An additional number of tickets are also made available 24 hours in advance so you can also try your luck a day before the trip.
For reservations please visit – Official Government Reservation Portal
Please check the official government website for weather, closures and protocols before making reservations.
Same Day Trip Without Reservations
It is possible to do trips on the same day without having reservation in those areas of the park where the reservation isn’t needed. The north-east side of the park has many amazing hikes and waterfalls that do not require a reservation. The hikes and waterfalls that are in this area are as below.
- Angelito Trail
- El Toro
- Puente roto
- Waterfalls and rivers on Road 186 in Rio Grande
- El Hippie
- Las Pailas
- Charco Frio
- Rio Sabana Recreation area
El Portal Visitor Center
The El Portal Visitor Center is located at the entrance to the park on PR-191. It is a fun way to start your visit to El Yunque. The interpretive trail around the property takes you on a fun introduction to the forest. If you are lucky you will see the endangered Puerto Rican Parrot on the property periphery as well. The center includes a gift shop, a cafe and restrooms.
Wildlife and Fauna at El Yunque Rainforest
Rainforests have some of the most diverse and interesting flora and fauna you can find on the planet and El Yunque rainforest is no exception. The USDA Forest Service has an exhaustive list of all flora and fauna found in the forest. The Coqui, Puerto Rican Emerald and the 9 different types of bats found here are my favorite species to spot.
Lookout Points
El Yunque has two observation towers that guests can use to see the views of the surrounding forest. The first one is the Yokahu Tower and the second one is the Mount Britton Tower.
Outdoor Adventures at El Yunque
For the adrenaline junkies there are no less than 3 different poisons you can choose on your trip – ziplining, horseback riding and camping under the stars in the forest.
Ziplining
If you want to add some adrenaline to your adventure you can zipline over lush canopies. Check out Yunque Ziplining for all the information.
Horseback riding and ATVs
For those that prefer staying on the ground, go horseback or ATV riding. Carabali Rainforest Adventure Park provides horseback riding and some very fun ATV adventures.
Camping
And for the campers seeking to spend the night under the stars you can head over to one of the 4 camping spots for the night. Check out the official USDA site for camping information.
Dining at El Yunque Rainforest
Luquillo Kiosks
The Kiosks at Luquillo are famous for their fried food next to the beach along with fresh coconut water. People from San Juan travel here especially to taste the local food at these kiosks.
Nearby restaurants
If you prefer places to sit down and eat then the below are good restaurants right outside the park gates on the way back to San Juan.
- El Yunque Treehouse
- Carabali Bar and Grill
- Don Pepe
Tip for Visiting El Yunque Rainforest
- Get reservations for your vehicle for an easy entry into the rainforest.
- Wear sandals/hiking boots since the hiking trails can get a bit rough on the feet.
- Pack snacks to fuel you through the hikes and the day. There are no restaurants inside the national forest.
- Pack bikinis and towels for when you go swimming in the waterfalls and swimming holes.
- Get water because the sun gets very hot and you sweat a lot on the hikes.
FAQs
How difficult are the hikes in El Yunque?
There are multiple hikes in El Yunque for different difficulty levels and some are longer than others but there are no difficult hikes in the rainforest. Every hike can easily be done by a 7 year old.
Can we swim in the waterfalls at El Yunque?
Yes. El Yunque has multiple waterfalls and natural pools where you can swim. Some of the best ones are –
- Juan Diego
- La Mina
- La Coca
- Las Pailas
- Las Tinajas
How much does the ticket cost?
The ticket for one vehicle costs 2 dollars. You need to make online reservations in advance per vehicle.There are no tickets per person. For reservations please visit – Official Government Reservation Portal.
Can we go to El Yunque without reservations?
Yes. It’s possible to visit El Yunque if you dont get a reservation. The north-east side of the park does not require any reservations and there are multiple hikes and waterfalls on that side of the park you can visit at any time. The attractions you can visit without reservations are as below –
- Angelito Trail
- El Toro
- Puente roto
- Waterfalls and rivers on Road 186 in Rio Grande
- El Hippie
- Las Pailas
- Charco Frio
- Rio Sabana Recreation area
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