Hiking El Yunque: How to Visit Puerto Rico’s Tropical Forest
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If you’re spending time in Puerto Rico, you can’t miss El Yunque National Forest.
It’s the sole tropical forest in the U.S. National Forest System, with miles of trails, waterfalls, wildlife, and beautiful views.
I recently spent a week in Puerto Rico for my 30th birthday, and when it came to the actual day, I knew El Yunque was where I wanted to be.
My husband and I spent a few hours exploring a number of the best viewpoints and trails within El Yunque, and it was indeed magical enough that it helped me get over the trauma of turning a new decade.
I felt a bit nervous beforehand not knowing what to expect, as far as navigating ourselves around the park, or if we’d have any issues getting in. (Spoiler alert, it was super easy to go on your own without a tour, and there was no problem getting in, but more on that later).
This guide breaks down everything I wish I knew beforehand, and all the info you need to have an amazing time hiking El Yunque National Forest.
How to Get to El Yunque National Forest
El Yunque is located along the east coast of Puerto Rico. It’s easiest to visit from San Juan, so I’d recommend organizing your itinerary this way.
From San Juan, you’ll take PR-191. It only took us around half an hour to get to the forest, but depending on traffic/where in San Juan you are, it can take up to an hour.
Neither public transportation or Uber operates within the park, so the options are to drive yourself or go with a tour group.
If you go to the Visitor’s Center entrance, it will cost $8. This entrance leads to a number of trails but no waterfalls, so we skipped this, and ended up never paying any sort of parking or entrance fee.
The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For a while, there was a reservation system in place, but that’s no longer, and it’s now first come, first served.
We arrived at around 10 a.m. on a Thursday, and we had no issue getting in. But if you’re planning to visit on a weekend or a holiday, you’ll probably want to get there closer to opening time, just to be on the safe side.
Can you drive through El Yunque?
Yes, you 100% can!
I was actually super impressed with how organized El Yunque was. There are clear signs and maps throughout, with all of the stops very obvious as you’re driving around.
You basically just follow one road the whole time. Just keep in mind that the road was pretty narrow but was still two-way most of the time, so be sure to drive carefully.
The parking situation varied throughout — at some points, like by Yokahu Tower and the concessions area, there was a slightly larger lot, and at other points, there were just a few spots and everyone else had to parallel park across the street.
When we were there, on a weekday, we didn’t struggle with finding spots anywhere, but I can definitely imagine having a tougher time if the park was more crowded. So just something to keep in mind!
A few of the parking areas, such as by Juan Diego, a trail that leads to two waterfalls, also had signs saying you could only park for 30 minutes.
Just check out this PR driving and car rental guide before you go!
Best hiking trails in El Yunque National Forest
Juan Diego
This trail was so much fun! It leads you to two different waterfalls, one smaller one then a larger one.
You reach the first one pretty quickly, but the second one does require some more effort, mainly because of how muddy it is, making the trail slippery.
At some points, I had to use my hands a bit to grab on to tree branches or rocks for support, and carrying my camera was making it even more difficult/treacherous-feeling.
With that all said, it only takes a few more minutes to reach the second waterfall. It’s so gorgeous! I almost never go in the water (if you have curly hair, you get it), but I made an exception here, and it was so worth it!
There’s a small natural pool here, with shallow water, so you can’t really swim, but you can definitely hang out in the water.
Mount Britton
This hike takes about 45 minutes each way, and leads to another tower offering a viewpoint of the park.
You follow a narrow path the entire time, and there are a number of resting points throughout if you need to catch your breath or hide from the rain. I’m by no means and expert hiker, and apart from the rain issue, I found it pretty moderate.
It started raining when my husband and I were here, so the view was really cloudy by the time we got to the tower. But it was still cool!
El Yunque Peak
Because the weather was so cloudy and rainy when I visited, we skipped this, but this trail leads to a viewpoint of the highest point in the park, which sounds pretty cool.
You can get here by continuing on after you reach Mount Britton.
This route was closed when I visited, but alternatively, you can take the Caimitillo/El Yunque Trails as well to reach the peak, if you’re up for a longer hike. It’s about 2.4 miles from the trailhead to the peak.
Alternatively, you can reach the peak through the Los Picachos trail, which supposedly involves some steep stairs.
La Coca Trail
This is known as one of El Yunque’s more challenging trails. I didn’t end up doing this one, but it’s supposedly steep, muddy, and involves a handful of stream crossings. It comes out to just under two miles. Its entrance will be before the Yokahu Tower.
Angelito Trail
This is one of El Yunque’s easier trails. It just takes 20 minutes or so and leads to the Río Mameye, a river.
La Mina Trail (temporarily closed)
This is a well-known one that was closed when we visited recently, and has apparently been closed for a few years now due to hurricane damage. It’s not clear when it could reopen, but for future reference, the trail apparently leads 30 minutes downhill toward a 35-foot waterfall.
Other Things to Do in El Yunque
Apart from hikes, there are a number of spots you’ll want to check out while here.
Coca Falls
If coming from the main entrance, this is the first stop you’ll reach. The waterfall is right behind a fence, so it’s worth stopping for a quick photo.
There are a few parking spots across the street.
Yokahu Tower
If following the main route, you’ll reach this spot next. There’s a slightly more spacious parking lot, and then there are just 96 steps you’ll climb to reach the top.
It’s a really pretty panoramic view of the park, which includes the Tabonuco Forest, Palo Colorado Forest, Sierra Palm Forest, and the cloud forest. We could even see the Virgin Islands since it was still clear at this point in the day, but this will depend on the weather at the time.
Baño Grande and Baño de Oro
Baño Grande, or “big bath,” was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression as a swimming hole.
The Baño de Oro (which translates to “gold bath”) is a smaller former swimming hole that’s close by.
Both operated from the 1930s into the ‘60s.
You can’t swim in either now, but they’re both historic sites that are popular to stop at to check out.
What to Pack for El Yunque
- Light rain jacket – It does in fact rain in the rainforest! I was so glad I had this with me. It has a hood and is light enough that it doesn’t feel like you’re wearing an extra layer, while still offering protection.
- Sneakers – I don’t think serious hiking boots are necessary in El Yunque, but definitely some sturdy shoes (that you don’t mind getting covered in mud) are a must. I think grippy water shoes could work too, and would be great especially for Juan Diego.
- Water bottle – A hiking requirement, especially for spending hours in a hot, humid environment like El Yunque.
- Sunscreen – self-explanatory, but necessary! (I like using this one for my face.)
- Insect repellent – This is a must in Puerto Rico. The mosquitoes are vicious!
- Bathing suit – If you’d like to enjoy the natural pools and waterfalls in Juan Diego.
- Light clothing – When it comes to what to wear hiking in El Yunque, it is hot and humid. I considered wearing leggings, and I’m really glad I decided against it. I went with shorts and a tank top that I could easily layer over my bathing suit.
- A towel – Specifically, one you won’t mind getting muddy.
- A waterproof bag – Especially if you’ll have electronics like a phone or a camera with you, this will help keep your things safe around the waterfalls.
- I would also bring a plastic bag or something like that to separate anything that gets muddy, before putting it back in your main bag!
Best El Yunque Tours
Since I went the self-guided route, I can’t personally attest to any of these.
But if after reading this you’re still feeling like you’re leaning towards a tour, or you just don’t want to deal with renting a car while in Puerto Rico, then here are some of the highest-rated options for tours that include transportation.
Go cliff-jumping, rope swinging, rock sliding, and explore the park while learning about El Yunque from a guide during this 7-hour tour. Finish up your day with lunch at a family-owned restaurant (the meal isn’t included). Learn more here.
If 7 hours sounds like a bit much to you, this is a great choice. Spend four or five hours within the park visiting natural pools and waterfalls — and there’s still a chance to go cliff-diving and rope-swinging here too. Book it here.
Food in El Yunque
When researching for our trip, we were seeing mixed information about if there’s any food or not within El Yunque, so also in an effort to save money, we ended up just packing a lunch.
There are some picnic tables where you can eat if you go with this route, and they were in a sheltered area. It was a little dark and dirty though, which wasn’t great.
However, it turns out there is a restaurant option within the park, El Yunque Rainforest Cafe, if that’s easier for you. I took a quick peek at it and it looked like it had what you’d expect — burgers, empanadas, quesadillas, tacos, other fried appetizers, etc. Prices looked mostly reasonable though, apart from the tacos, which ranged from $18 to $20 for some reason. Burgers were all under $15, though.
As you’re entering the park, you’ll see a couple other options, like a kabob place, too.
Wildlife in El Yunque
We can’t talk this much about a tropical forest without at least mentioning some of the wildlife that call El Yunque home.
All of the animals that first arrived in Puerto Rico got there by swimming or flying, so as a result, there are no large mammals here.
However, if you’re interested in birds, the forest is home to 97 different species, like the Puerto Rican parrot.
You may also see some reptiles like lizards or anoles. Notably, the forest is also home to a number of coqui species, a small frog that’s native to Puerto Rico. You’ll see references to coquis throughout the island, and are in some ways, a symbol of Puerto Rico.
History of El Yunque
El Yunque played a huge role in the lives and mythology of the Tainos, the Indigenous people of the island.
The peak of El Yunque was said to be the home of the deity Yúcahu, who represents agriculture, peace, tranquility, fertility, and goodness.
I didn’t happen to see any (possibly because I didn’t know about them ahead of time, unfortunately), but there are apparently some petroglyphs around the streams and rivers of El Yunque, which would be so cool to see.
After colonization, the Spanish designated the forest as a “crown reserve,” meaning that it was one of the first natural reserves in the western world.
Following the Spanish American War, when Puerto Rico was claimed by the U.S. it officially became a national forest.
Is El Yunque worth visiting?
If you enjoy being in nature and are physically able to handle the environment, then there’s no reason why you won’t love it.
One of the biggest mistakes most visitors to Puerto Rico make is not exploring beyond San Juan — and El Yunque is one place that too many tourists miss out on!
Personally, I love how there’s a variety of sights to see and trails that accommodate for a variety of levels, from some longer, more challenging trails to some beautiful sights you can see without hardly any hiking.
I just spent a few hours there, but I think you could easily spend the entire day, or even a second day, if you really want to take your time and experience everything.
It was really one of the highlights of my trip, and considering how budget-friendly it is, I think it’s really unmissable.
If you’re looking for something else to do near the park, I’d highly suggest checking out Luquillo Beach, which is just 10 or 15 minutes away once you make it out of the park. There’s also a bunch of kiosks serving food here, too, along with free parking.
Regardless of how much time you spend, I’d highly recommend fitting it a stop to El Yunque during your time in Puerto Rico. It’s become one of my favorite travel memories, and with this guide, you’ll be more than prepared to have an amazing time too.
Happy travels,
Tess
P.S. Looking for other beautiful nature escapes in Puerto Rico? Read about my stay at El Oasis in Aguada, a secluded hotel hidden away in a mountain near some of the island’s best beaches.
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