El Yunque Rain Forest
El Yunque Rain Forest (Rio Grande, PR) — Get a chance to see a real tropical rain forest at El Yunque. The 28,000-acre park is about 24 miles (a one-hour drive) from San Juan and the only such forest in the United States. El Yunque is home to more than 240 species of plants, birds and animals, 26 of which are found nowhere else on earth. Visitors can enjoy these wonders on foot, on horseback or by enjoying a meal at one of the park’s picnic areas. There is a modest admission charge, and discounts are offered to those 60 years and older and to children under 16 years old.
Pack your raingear and hike the crown jewel of Puerto Rico’s national parks—carpeting the slopes of the rugged Luquillo Mountain Range. From the El Portal Visitor Center, the Sendero El Yunque climbs 1,365 feet through an eerie cloud forest. This 2.6-mile trail puts you atop the summit at 3,496 feet. When it’s clear the 360-degree views are spectacular. Add a twist to your return hike by diverting along Forest Road 10 to the Mt. Britton observation tower, resembling a castle turret. A spiral staircase leads to a viewing platform. One of the potential thrills with visiting El Yunque is coming across pre-Columbian Taino Indian carvings (called petroglyphs) on large rocks located at El Hippie and La Caona Falls.