It would almost be sacreligious to visit Puerto Rico without going to the Caribbean National Rainforest. If you’re not going on a chartered bus, be sure to get very detailed directions—the entrance roads are easy to miss.
When you go, be sure to dress sensibly; bring sturdy shoes and a raincoat. Even if guided tours aren’t your thing, you should go on a short one for the wealth of information you will get—about the climate of the rainforest; the plant diversity (the forest is home to over 240 species, 26 found nowhere else on Earth); the legends and beliefs of the Tainos, the original Puerto Ricans; the endangered Puerto Rican parrot, and more.
There are about 24 miles of recreational trails. Ask a Park employee at the Interpretive Service Center to recommend some trails to you, given your time limit and fitness level. Here are a few suggestions:
- Bano de Oro and Caimitillo are short and sweet.
- La Mina ends at a waterfall—the perfect place for a picnic.
- Mount Britton is a fairly rigorous hike that leads you to a tower atop a peek. It’s a great view.
As you walk, listen carefully to the sounds of the rainforest. With a little luck, you should be able to hear the call of Puerto Rico’s most vocal—but tiny—amphibian: co-qui, co-qui!
If you love to hike and want to avoid the crowds, El Yunque is definitely the trail to take. It’s a 2-4 hour roundtrip hike (depending on your ability) that takes you from the lush tropical canopy to the stunted, mossy trees of the Cloud Forest. You will climb to a height of nearly 3,500 feet where, depressingly, you will find a service road. Be sure to take the trail behind the radio tower. It will lead you to El Yunque rock, which offers one of the most magnificent views of the island.