Quick Details
Pick-Up Time: 7:30 a.m. – 8 a.m.
Duration: 4.5 hours
Capacity: 14 people
*Please note; although the Park is completely open, some trails are still closed, including the Mina Fall Trail, Instead we can do Mt. Britton Trail or call for options.*
Looking to disconnect from the city life? We have the perfect place for nature lovers! El Yunque Rainforest is composed of mountains that face the trade winds, which bring moisture from the ocean, resulting in precipitation over a diverse ecosystem. The U.S. National Forest Service administers the forest, as it is the only rainforest in U.S. territory. It is one of the most diverse and studied in the world. Its highest peak stands at 1,080 meters above sea level.
Did you know that El Yunque is one of the oldest forest reserves in the Western Hemisphere dating back to 1876? The history of the El Yunque National Forest is extremely rich. The Taino Indians (aboriginals from Puerto Rico), who inhabited the island and called it “Borikén,” and believed that the cloud-capped peaks in the Luquillo Mountains, which they called “Yuké,” its name is of native origin, were a sacred place occupied by the good spirit “Yokahú” to whom they prayed for protection from the bad spirit “Juracán” (hurricane). From the Taino word “Yuké,” the Spanish colonizers derived “El Yunque” to refer to these mountains.
The petroglyphs (stone writings) that have been discovered on river rocks within the forest provide mute evidence of the Taino who prevailed on the island for over a thousand years. In 2011, El Yunque was nominated as one of the Natural Wonders of the World, finishing in 28th place out of 261 candidates chosen between 222 countries.
Experience the magic of this tropical paradise, where you can find over 150 species of ferns, 70 species of native orchids, and 240 species of trees (88 of them endemic to Puerto Rico and 23 endemic to El Yunque). You can also find orchids, exotic birds and other wildlife, including our national symbol, the Coquí tree frog. At the El Yunque, we see a 15-minute video of its history at the visiting Center, followed by a hiking trail that leads to the Mina waterfalls, (one hour hiking plus 15 minutes in the waterfall – taking a dip in the waterfall is optional), then the Yucahú Observation Tower (a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of the rainforest and the Atlantic Ocean) and lastly, another waterfall named La Coca Waterfall. Total time in the forest: Three to three and a half hours.
