If you’re heading to Puerto Rico, one of the suggestions you’ll get from everyone is to visit El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the United States. Before you go, though, find out everything you need to know in this guide for tourists.
For more help booking your trip, check out all of our posts about Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico is home to El Yunque, the United States’ only tropical rainforest. If you’re traveling to Puerto Rico, everyone is going to tell you to go to the rainforest. And, since it’s probably your only opportunity to see an actual tropical rainforest, you should definitely go.
But, once you start looking into it, you realize planning a trip to the rainforest is actually really overwhelming. There are so many options for hikes, so many tour companies to choose from … just way too much.
That’s how I felt planning our trip.
So, now that we’ve gone, I figured I would help you plan your rainforest trip so it’s a less overwhelming experience for you.
If you would rather go on a guided tour, there are a ton of options for tours that you can check out via this link.
We do have some info about guided tours later on in the post.
El Yunque National Forest: A Guide For Tourists
Affiliate links are included in this post and Drugstore Divas may make a small commission if you use them.
El Yunque is part of the United States National Forest System and is the only tropical rainforest in the system (although there are three other rainforests in the United States: Tongass National Forest and Chugach National Forest in Alaska and Hoh Rainforest in Washington.
It’s more than 28,000 acres, which is just an impossible number for me to comprehend. Just know it’s large, and when you drive in the area on the streets leading towards the trails, you’ll be overwhelmed by the beauty of it and the fact that you’re just driving through a rainforest on a random Tuesday.
El Yunque has an incredible history, dating back to the Tainos, which I’ll never do justice trying to recap. If you want to read about this history, I suggest checking out this link. If you want to know about visiting, keep reading out post.
Within El Yunque is a visitor’s center. It’s a gorgeous building right in the rainforest itself.
It does cost $8 per person to enter the area where the visitor’s center is. You don’t have to go to the visitor’s center in order to access the majority of the trails in El Yunque, but we suggest you go.
Plus, the $8 entrance fee goes towards preserving the rainforest, so it’s worth a small donation in order to keep this beautiful resource for generations. But, the visitor’s center is also filled with a wealth of knowledge.
When you enter the visitor’s center, there’s a small scale model of El Yunque and the surrounding area. It really gives you a perspective on how large the forest actually is.
There’s also a cage with three Puerto Rican Parrots. These green parrots were near extinction before conservators worked to breed them and release them back into captivity, many of them into the rainforest itself.
It’s a possibility, although a very rare possibility, that you’ll see them when you’re exploring the forest. But you’ll definitely see them at the visitor’s center.
There’s also a movie at the visitor’s center, which alternates playing in English and Spanish, that gives you a history of El Yunque.
The most interesting part of that to me was when it showed the destruction that back to back hurricanes, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, did in 2017. It’s heartbreaking. And then, you see how the rainforest came back.
The trees are used to dying back and going dormant and then flourishing again. There’s a life lesson in there, if you look hard enough.
The visitor’s center also has a learning area, mostly geared towards kids, which teaches about bugs in the rainforest, the path of shrimp, the hurricane, and more.
If you’re there, it’s worth a look.
And then there’s the El Portal trail. The 700-meter trail wraps around the visitor’s center. It’s mostly paved, although some parts are gravel, and you get to see a little bit of the rainforest.
There’s artwork on display throughout that path, which is nice, but it does take away from the fact that you’re in nature’s artwork. The path is mostly flat, so if you want to say you hiked the rainforest without much of the effort of hiking the rainforest, that’s for you.
There’s also a gift shop there, which is great because that’s how we found out that the road leading to the most popular trail has been closed for the last six months due to a mudslide.
So, in order to get to the Angelito Trail, the one that leads to a natural pool, you have to take a 35 minute detour via car rather than just driving five minutes up the road.
Small aside: The government has asked Apple Maps to update its maps with the detour as the default path. So if you type “Angelito Trailhead” into Apple Maps, you’ll get the right directions.
Google Maps or your car’s GPS will not give you the correct directions.
Angelito Trail
The Angelito Trail is the most popular in the rainforest. So, if you’re going to do any hike in El Yunque, and you’re not really a hiker, this is the one you want.
Technically the Angelito Trail is on private property, outside of the boundary of the actual rainforest. But that’s semantics because you’re in the rainforest, just not the part that’s under Teddy Roosevelt’s accord that established the Luquillo Forest Reserve (which we now call El Yunque).
There’s no parking lot, so you park on the side of the road, as close to the trailhead as you can get.
That’s a lot of Puerto Rico parking, by the way. Eventually, people just pull off the side of the road and park near beaches, streams, natural waterslides, etc. You get used to it.
The Angelito Trail is clearly marked with a sign near a clearing, so you can’t miss it. If you don’t see the sign, keep driving. Don’t enter the rainforest without it.
The trail itself is about 0.4 miles (0.2 km) downhill. Most of it is flat due to its popularity, but it isn’t paved. So you’ll be walking on wet leaves, vegetation, and down stone paths.
Water shoes are a great idea for this hike. Sneakers are okay too. Don’t wear flip flops.
As you walk through tremendous bamboo trees, you hear running water. That’s because the trail ends at a clearing that leads to a natural pool. Yes, an actual pool that’s right in the middle of the rainforest and deep enough to swim in.
You have to walk across the rocky bottom of a bed of water to get there, but it’s worth it.
There are also a ton of other rocks you can climb in order to get to the small waterfalls. Either keep your water shoes on, or take off your sneakers, and do this. The peacefulness of the running water is unparalleled.
It’s packed there because it’s really the easiest hike and leads to the best reward, but it’s still so, so tranquil. You can lay back on a rock, listen to the running water, and not even realize you’re feet around from swimmers or surrounded by swimming fish.
If you book a guided rainforest tour, this is where the tour will take you. Most advertise a rope swing to get into the water, although we didn’t see one when we were there.
You don’t have to pay to access this part of the rainforest, so you can see this completely for free. So if you’re traveling on a budget and don’t want to pay for a guide, you don’t have to.
Other trails in El Yunque
If you’re skilled at hiking, or just have a lot of time to spend at the rainforest, there are some other trails you can hike. There are 13 total, so we’ll give you a really quick rundown of them, the length, approximate timing (from AllTrails, which, keep in mind, is mostly used by hikers so if you don’t hike, your time may be much longer).
Caimitillo Trail
1.1 mile | 30 minutes
Moderate
A short trail with lots of picnic tables to stop and relax along the way. This trail, which has some views of streams, is recommended if you’re going with young kids or pets.
El Toro Wilderness Trail
4.9 miles | 2 hours, 47 minutes
Hard
This trail brings you to the highest peak in the rainforest, but you need to climb over fallen trees and rocks to get there.
El Yunque Big Forest Loop
5.3 miles | 3 hours, 16 minutes
Hard
There’s a tower on this trail, which is a nice focal point (besides, of course, the rainforest). It’s beautiful on a clear day but the views are really hidden when it’s cloudy.
El Yunque Trail
5.4 miles | 3 hours, 14 minutes
Hard
This trail starts with Mount Britton and ends at El Yunque peak, which has the most spectacular views. You can see from the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean Sea and across the forest. But it is a one-hour hike uphill to get there.
La Coca Trail
3.6 miles | 2 hours, 13 minutes
Hard
It’s a really steep trail with streams and rivers to cross. It leads to the La Coca Falls, which is a pretty waterfall that you can hike right next to for an incredible photo op.
Los Picachos
1.5 miles | 56 minutes
Moderate
Los Picachos is an easy 0.2 mile hike, but don’t be fooled. You need to walk on the El Yunque Trail first before that tiny hike. The views are beautiful, but almost every review says it will rain on you so be prepared. There are also steep stairs that may be slippery on this trail as well.
Mount Britton Tower Trail
1.6 miles | 1 hour, 6 minutes
Moderate
You head towards the Mount Britton Tower all the way up into the clouds. It does get steep on the 40 minute walk.
Tradewinds Trails (Sabana River Trail)
11.3 miles | 5 hours, 54 minutes
Hard
This trail isn’t that popular because of it’s length and challenge, plus it’s reported that it’s not well maintained after the first mile or two and saw grass makes it really difficult and cuts hikers legs (so pants are recommended, even though it’s really hot in the rainforest). Since Hurricane Fiona, it has been wiped out. So be really, really careful if you attempt this.
There are three trails that are currently closed: La Mina Trail: 1.3 miles, 47 minutes, moderate; Veredas Noreste (PR Northeast Trail): 35.9 miles, multiday, hard; and La Mina Waterfall (Big Tree Trail): 1.5 miles, 50 minutes, moderate.
Personally, we didn’t do them, although I am bummed we missed the Yokahú Tower. You get a great view of the rainforest there, and it’s off the road, so you can drive and not actually hike there. We did see a bunch of the rainforest anyway, so we didn’t really miss anything, but that would have been cool to do.
But, when you’re on vacation, you have such a limited amount of free time. You can’t do everything. So, would it have been cool to see one of the observation towers or a the “hidden” Juan Diego falls? Of course. But did we have an additional five hours to spend in the rainforest after already spending three hours there between the Visitor’s Center and the natural pools? No.
I’ll be very honest. I don’t feel like I missed out by only doing two trails. We experienced the rainforest, we saw the gorgeous trees, beautiful bamboo, a ton of iguanas, and a mongoose. We got to relax at a natural pool and see small waterfalls.
And that was amazing.
Plus, it gave us time to go to Luquillo Beach and eat at the famous kiosks (kioskos de Luquillo, if you’re looking for them on your GPS) for an early dinner before driving back to the hotel.
Bioluminescent Bay in Fajardo
If you’re booking a tour, it can take you from the rainforest to Luquillo Beach to the bioluminescent bay in Fajardo.
That’s an amazing, unforgettable experience.
You kayak into the bay and see the water glowing. You stick your hand in the water, pool some in your palm, bring it up, and that’s glowing.
Three of the world’s bio bays are in Puerto Rico, and they’re on the top of every travel list.
But — and this is a big but — it’s a really long day if you do it all. The entire day is 12 to 13 hours with your only actual meal happening at the Luquillo kiosks. And your meal there is delicious, but most of your options are fried and aren’t filling for a day of hiking, swimming, and kayaking.
If you’re staying on the east side of Puerto Rico and can split the rainforest and the bio bay up into two days, that’s the best way to do it. But, if you’re traveling to that area from San Juan, it’s gonna be a long day — especially when you consider you have to drive back to San Juan at the end of it.
If you book a tour, the tour will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel for an additional fee. That’s worth the cost.
If you booked a car, your have a little more freedom, but that means you’ll have to drive back to your hotel, at night, after the bioluminescent bay. And driving on roads in Puerto Rico, which do have a lot of potholes, is a little nerve wracking until you get used to it.
El Yunque National Forest: Frequently Asked Questions
Wear comfortable clothing. Loose fitting shorts, a sports bra, a breathable workout t-shirt or tank top is best.
There is vegetation all over, so some hikers do wear long pants in order to protect their legs even though it’s usually over 80 degrees in the rainforest.
You also want to wear closed-toe, non-slip shoes, like sneakers or water shoes.
The Angelito Trail in El Yunque leads to a natural pool that most visitors swim in. It’s definitely most comfortable to swim in a bathing suit.
We do suggest packing a towel and dry clothes to put over your bathing suit to hike out of the forest.
Apply bug spray before you enter the rainforest. Because of the dampness, mosquitos are around.
Personally, I love Buggins Spray. I have no association with them, but this is the only spray I’ve ever found that actually works to keep away no-see-ums and mosquitoes. We applied it before entering the rainforest and left without a single bug bite.
Bonus: It’s all natural.
Absolutely apply sunscreen before hiking in the rainforest. There is a large tree cover so it is shady, but parts of your hike will be highly elevated with no cover. And, even on a cloudy day, you’re bound to get sunburned.
There is a small cafe at the Visitor’s Center called El Portal Rainforest Cafe. You can purchase food, cold drinks, coffee and Ocean Lab Brewing Company beer there.
The Visitor’s Center had a full bathroom. Many of the trails don’t have any bathrooms (the Angelito Trail definitely doesn’t).
A few years ago, due to the state of the world and overcrowding of outdoor spaces, you had to book time slots in order to enter the rainforest. You don’t have to do that anymore.
Have you been to El Yunque? Let us know your experience in the comments.
Steph@CrazyLittleLovebirds
Thursday 3rd of October 2024
This looks like a great trip!
Julie Briones
Monday 30th of September 2024
Just gorgeous! What a fun trip!
Melynda@ScratchMadeFood
Monday 30th of September 2024
Wow, so much to see!
Jennifer Wise
Thursday 26th of September 2024
This is awesome! So pretty. I just love all the vegetation! I went to Puerto Rico several years ago on a large family vacation, and I got outvoted on seeing El Yunque. ha Next time for sure! Great photos, and I love your thorough guide.
Joanne
Thursday 26th of September 2024
That visitor's center is so pretty! I feel overwhelmed like that when trying to plan most visits to the national parks since they are so large and so diverse. So I end up writing up a whole list of possible things to do and then we just explore and enjoy and see where we end up!