Photographer overlooking El Yunque Tropical Rainforest, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Eco-Travel
Puerto Rico Eco-Travel will get your blood flowing and your lungs enjoying every breathtaking vista. Some people never make it past El Yunque Tropical Rain Forest, but should.
El Yunque Tropical Rain Forest
The Caribbean National Forest, better known as El Yunque, is the only tropical rainforest managed by the U.S. Forest Service and is well-known for its dozens of trails, observation towers, and waterfalls. Named after the benevolent Indian spirit Yuquiyu, the forest is home to some 240 different species of trees, 50 species of orchids, 150 kinds of ferns, and 68 bird species, plus miles of marked hiking trails that allow you to explore some of the forest’s crags and La Coca waterfalls. Cliff dive or hang out at a natural pool.
ADDRESS: From San Juan take Road 26 towards Carolina until you reach Road 3. Take Road 3 towards Fajardo for about 20 minutes until you get to the Rio Grande. Take Road 191 to El Yunque
WEBSITE: https://www.fs.usda.gov/elyunque
Piñones Forest
One of Puerto Rico’s natural treasures is a mangrove-lover’s paradise and it’s just 20 minutes from San Juan. On your way, you’ll pass a long stretch of public beach, a small marina, and a clutter of seafood shacks and coconut stands at Boca de Cangrejos. You will probably see surfers riding the waves at Aviones, a beach named for the stream of aircraft heading in and out of nearby Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. Piñones means pines, and you will see plenty of these, too. You will quickly reach the Piñones Natural Reserve with its boardwalk through the forest, wild stretches of beach with fine views of the San Juan skyline, a maze of mangroves, a small bioluminescent bay, dramatic sand dunes, and exotic wildlife. If you continue east you will reach Valcia Talega Beach and its strange landscape of twisted rocks dotted with palm trees, the perfect place to end your Piñones adventure.
From San Juan take Road 26 towards Carolina, then take Road 187 which will lead directly to Piñones Natural Reserve.
