13/12/2024
🚶🏻♀️➡️🚶🏾➡️👩🏼🦽➡️VISIT EL YUNQUE NATIONAL RAINFOREST ⛰️⛰️
El Yunque National Forest is one of Puerto Rico’s crown jewels with nearly 29,000 acres of lush, mountainous terrain scattered with waterfalls, rushing rivers, towering trees and bamboo groves, all opening up to spectacular ocean views.
The only rainforest in the US National Forest System, El Yunque (named after the Taíno god, Yúcahu) has 25 miles of trails to suit all hiking abilities. Some are short and paved, others long, steep and overgrown. Almost all gain some elevation; one of the toughest is to El Toro, around 3500ft above sea level.
El Yunque has two entrances: the northern side, 25 miles east of San Juan, receives the majority of visitors, while the southern side close to Naguabo retains a wild pristine feel.
Bring a raincoat and binoculars, too; of the 26 species found here and nowhere else on Earth, you’ll want to keep a sharp eye out for the Puerto Rican parrot, one of the world's 10 most endangered birds.
How to get to El Yunque? 📍
https://www.airbnb.com/l/Z5PSoJei
Since there’s no public transportation to El Yunque, you will need to get here with a private vehicle or on a guided tour with us…
Driving from San Juan, there will be signs directing you from Hwy 3 to Hwy 191. Turn south at Palmer and follow the signs to El Yunque National Forest.
Take note that some maps still show that you can traverse the forest on Hwy 191, or access El Yunque from the south via this route. However, Hwy 191 has been closed south of Km 13 for years and there are no plans to reopen it.
Some road maps also suggest that El Yunque can be approached via a network of roads along the forest's western border.
Don’t try it: these roads are unmaintained tracks that often dead-end in serious jungle. Be sure to check the latest conditions of El Yunque's roads before heading out.
There's a northern entrance near Luquillo and a southern entrance near Naguabo, both off Hwy 191.
The northern side is more visited and has lots of well-marked trails and parking areas; the southern side is wilder and less developed, making for beautiful off-the-beaten-track experiences.
Make sure to secure a reservation before heading out.
https://www.airbnb.com/l/Z5PSoJei