How to spend a day in El Yunque, Puerto Rico

15.10.2024 - 15:03 / lonelyplanet.com / El Yunque

Oct 14, 2024 • 6 min read

As the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System, El Yunque is an unmissable stop for anyone visiting Puerto Rico. Its nearly 29,000 acres of lush landscape are a nature lover’s dream, home to 200 types of trees, 70 kinds of birds, multiple bat and lizard species and 13 coquí species – the island’s beloved noisy little frog.

It’s also a sacred place for Puerto Ricans, with many believing its name derives from the indigenous Taíno word yuké, which means "white earth," referring to the white clouds that cover its mountain tops.

According to several historians, Puerto Rico’s native Taínos believed their god Yocahu lived at the top of these mountains, protecting the lower parts of the island from the hurricanes that occur in the region.

Get to know this history and experience much more – natural pools and waterfalls, hiking routes and ziplining through nature – during a day at El Yunque.

The park is open 7:30am to 5pm and is free to enter, but arrive early. Entry is on a first-come, first-served basis to reduce overcrowding, so there may be a wait if the park is full. If you’re planning on taking a guided tour, you’ll have to book ahead.

Don’t forget your waterproof layers, as rain showers, though often short, are common and can be intense! Swimwear and a change of clothes are also recommended. 

Due to storms in the region, it’s not uncommon for some of the trails to be closed so be sure to check out the El Yunque US Forest website for the latest information on weather, park closures and safety protocols.

The best way to get to El Yunque is by car and it’s about a 45-minute drive from San Juan. Arrive at the main park entrance on PR-191 and you’ll be at the El Portal Visitor Centre, which is a good place to get your bearings.

Here, you’ll also find the Portal Rainforest Café open from 10am for breakfast. For those of you eager to start earlier, though, it’s advisable to grab some fruit or a local favorite like empanadas before you enter the park to make sure you don’t go hungry.

Once refreshed, head to the nearby Angelito Trail to ease yourself into the day. This is a short 20-minute route in the lower montane forest that finishes as the Río Mameyes, a designated Wild and Scenic river.

The more experienced hikers will want to make their way to La Coca Trail nearby instead. This is a much more challenging route, with steep slopes and various streams as well as a river crossing that ends in the same spot as the Angelito Trail. Be sure to stay on the designated path though, as this is where most people tend to get lost.

Before lunch, head to Juan Diego Creek and walk its five-minute trail from the car park to the first of its natural pools where you can take a dip. From there a