El Yunque National Forest

We almost didn't go because the reviews indicated that incoming cars were counted and people were turned away. We just drove in with no problem on Saturday afternoon. The visitor center is lovely and informative. We drove to a waterfall and a lookout tower. We weren't up to a hike, but saw the beauty of the forest anyway.

Beautiful. I highly recommend coming earlier before it gets crowded. Also don’t wear white if you want to do any climbing! Also good shoes are recommended since it can be muddy and difficult in some areas to get around. Personally I thought the water was too cold but many people were swimming. Can’t wait to come back. My family and I did our own thing but the tours look very nice and informative!

Definitely worth a trip to visit this beautiful rain forest. Wear comfortable shoes as hiking is moderate but very muddy so don't wear anything nice. Beautiful views.

Definitely a place to visit in Puerto Rico, but very crowdy. Be prepare to receive a lot of rain too, so take a jacket or an umbrella with you. Still the plants and the view from the hikes are amazing

Beautiful! The mount Britton trail and tower are a must. The view was spectacular. Nice visitor center too. If you are hiking be sure to have good hiking boots. Also recommend getting there early because it gets busy.

Imagine breathtaking views unfolding before you as you travel through scenic hiking trails. The cascading waterfalls offer stunning photo opportunities at every turn. Lush greenery and the sounds of nature create a truly immersive experience. This picturesque destination promises a memorable escape from the everyday. Come and discover the beauty that awaits you.

Such a gorgeous park! And it’s free to enter. There are limited parking spots close to each attraction. We went at noon and it was still busy but apparently not as busy as in the morning. We did the Mount Britton Tower Trail and it was really nice and quite easy—paved all the way through. Busy trail. The views from up there are gorgeous. Lots of different plants throughout the park and multiple waterfalls. Highly recommend!

The natural scenery is fantastic, but the gated park road is only open on weekends. You can park along the road and walk about 1/3rd mile to the parking where there are shelters with picnic tables and restrooms.

This review is only for 2 areas that we visited- the Visitor Center, and the Mount Britton Trailhead. The Visitors Center charges $8 per person over 15 yrs. Once inside, you park at the Center where there is a gift shop, cafe, theater, guided tours, and (clean) bathrooms. From here, you take the Science and Conservation Trail. It's not too strenuous. Just don't wear flip flops or shoes you don't want getting dirty. There are muddy parts. It's so green, quiet, and beautiful. Along the path you will notice some structures that look a little out of place. These are art works done by local artists. You will also see lots of little iguanas running about, beautiful and intricate spiderwebs, and crazy looking root systems on trees. This trail took us about an hour only because we were stopping everywhere to take pictures and video. The next review is for the Mount Britton Trailhead. The gates for this open at 8. The drive from the Visitors Center is about 15-20 minutes. Here, the weather changed for us. It was about 20 degrees cooler and raining. We parked and started up the paved trail. If you're not used to hiking, it is rather strenuous. If I'm not mistaken, the total elevation at the tower is 3,300 feet. There are small rest shacks along the way for you to catch your breath. Once we got to the top of the tower, the clouds were obscuring our view. I didn't mind as it was just beautiful being among the clouds. On the way down, we encountered tours coming up the trail. We had to maneuver our way around them. They were polite for the most part. Overall, we only scratched the surface of this National Forest. We do hope to go back someday and explore the waterfalls.

The rainforest is so much fun it's so peaceful and magical . Even with all the tourist still have time alone!!!! I love it and would seriously live there !!!!!! Must see when in PR.... The visiting center you have to pay but if you're just going to you don't have to pay . But the shop is cool to check out and it's educational. And they have a cafe opens 10. Love it will go back

A simply amazing visit. Beautiful paths to hike that are accessible for beginners and expert naturalists alike. lots of great waterfalls and also scenic drive views (parts of the road were under construction when we went but for the most part this did not impede our travel). highly recommend the hike up to the tower.

First time hiking & gotta say it was something to remember by! After 3 days of straight rain the forest was muddy , slippery & extra scary ! The amount of areas I went through I still can't believe I have done all of this ! Still feels like a dream . And there was no way I could have done it by myself. I booked my group tour through Viator & the tour guy was a life saver . Couldn't have done anything without this kid for real ...! I don't even know how to swim but I jump from the top of the hill with rope, I slide down from a natural slider from the top ! It was nerve racking but I told myself I hiked all this to the top , can't back down now. So had to do it. The amount of water I drank through my nose lol ..! And yes I did had a life jacket.

El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the National Forest system, making this a must visit destination for residents and visitors alike. That said, do understand that the forest took a beating in 2017 with Hurricane Maria. There are still repairs going on. Last year, Hurricane Fiona set some of the progress back a few. Still, make sure you visit as there's still plenty to enjoy. Perfect family activity. We took our son here for the first time a few weeks ago to hike El Yunque Peak Trail. He loved it. We'll be coming back more often. Reservations are no longer required.

Beautiful area to walk and be at one with nature. They have a great visitor center, souvenirs, a place to stamp your national park passport book, got and cold food, drinks, and a small artisanal market. There are several trails to explore, much flora and fauna. I did not go during the wet season but wish I had.

I am lucky enough to have been on some of the closed trails and go on special nighttime hikes of El Yunque National Forest in the past and presently. I came this time for a conference and it was good to hear from the Superintendant the impact of multiple hurricanes on the area, how specific wording from the US Government does not implicitly include them often (which means zero funding), and how they are able to revive the thriving ecosystem. El Yunque is a unique place to visit, worth every single step you take. Do yourself a favor, stop, and take the hikes, there are plenty that are easy! The more difficult ones take a bit of planning, but nothing too bad. Take water, a map, and a phone that is charged with a backup because you'll want to take images like crazy!

100% worth the visit! This was one of my favorite parts of my trip to Puerto Rico! The El Yunque National Forest is so beautiful, with many trails full of waterfalls and views. Not much parking in the park, but we were there on a Friday when it wasn't too busy. We hiked the El Yunque Trail and didn't run into too many people - we were amazed by the view from the top. Beautiful!

The Visitors Center at the entrance is wonderful. New and modern with a delightful cafe, walking paths, displays and other information that make the visit very pleasant. I especially like the trails around the center; there were many birds and foliage typical of a rainforest. Make sure you drive to the top to see waterfalls and and other scenic views.

El Yunque is the best. We went with some friends and hiked to the top of El Yunque Peak. The hike was long but very nice. It's not very difficult. We had a 4 and a 5 year old and they made it with minimal complaints. The view at the top is spectacular. We had some sandwiches and then returned. It was a beautiful experience that we'll definitely do again.

Amazing views good location lots to do , nice tours and great natural water to swim in so yes yes yes come and enjoy the scenery if you book with Carabali ask for tour guide Michael he was really fun and nice to our entire group had lots of information to share good time

Beautiful rain forest! We got a ticket for $2 to enter with our car and go to some nice trails. So beautiful here, especially the waterfalls!

One of the most beautiful places on earth. I would say El Yunque is the eighth wonder of the world. The day I went it surprisingly didn't rain. I opted to walk the trail to Mt Britton tower, which took around 45 min. to hike. There was a lot of construction going on in the roadways that lead to the trails, but this didn't impact the hike at all. Most of the trail walkway is a skinny cement path. When encountering other hikers it was hard to pass one another without someone stepping off the trail into the mud to let the other pass. The only thing that made this trail somewhat difficult was the incline the whole way up. But way worth the beautiful views on the tower at the end. Tickets for the park must be purchased online at 8AM the day prior to your visit. I would recommend bringing something waterproof to store items you don't want to get wet. It can start raining randomly.

El Yunque was definitely one of the highlights of my trip to Puerto Rico. Make sure you make a reservation if you want to explore the waterfalls because they do book out and are not available the same day (we learned this the hard way) Even without a reservation you cal explore the two trails it was amazing to see the different plants and hear all the coqui! The gift center had great souvenirs to take back.

We love this place - even just the drive in is beautiful for those who aren't physically mobile. All kinds of fun flora and fauna, including coquis! Plan for rain and mud! It is a rainforest after all.

It was amazing, we had a great time even in the pouring rain!! We went to the tower and that was great as well.

Gorgeous gorgeous... be ready to walk steep inclines. The park center offers tasty food. Prices for souvenirs are about standard for a national park. The educational video at the park center was closed to viewers. Other displays were nice and the parrots onsite were quite a treat!

I love El Yunque! It's been many many years since I've last been to this beautiful rainforest. I went during the week, so there weren't that many people around so I took my time exploring and taking pictures. Plus, the weather was perfect! There are a number of trails to hike and overlooks to see the rainforest in it's entirety. Plus waterfalls and natural pool. There are areas closed off because of Hurricane Maria but there are still enough open that you can enjoy. The national park closes at 6pm so make sure you come early enough to enjoy as much as you can in the daylight. Also, you can find restaurants and souvenir shops on your way up.

How can you rate a natural wonder anything less that 5stars? Maybe it was cloudy? But whose fault is that? Yours for not checking the weather hahahaah This park is only one of the many reasons why you need more than a few weeks to visit Puerto Rico, you need a few days, maybe a week alone to really experience what El Yunque has to offer. Beautiful sights everywhere you stop. Make sure you go slowly and actually make a point to look for things, bugs, critters, plants, flowers and so on. So much beauty all around. Definitely recommend to everyone and would visit every time I come back to Puerto Rico.

The only rainforest in the U.S. of course you have to visit. I love waterfalls so we had to hike to see a few of them. I hurt my knee prior to coming and then hurt it again on the beach. And again hurt it hiking here. The hike was not easy but we want through a secret path that was highly difficult. But worth it, so beautiful and the water was refreshing. All the visitors we met were friendly. We had a great time. We got here early morning before the rain. It was perfect. Less muddy.

A beautiful rain forest! Great place for spending whole day walking and exploring and having lunch at yunque restaurant. It has a small beautiful waterfall that you can stand under it. The ticket for getting in is just $4 per car!

Do not go to the visitor center if you want to go for long real hiking or water fall areas. Just drive straight about 10 minutes from the visitor center.

A amazing time a must do.just have shoes with ankle support. We seen 3 waterfalls. A back pack with water. You just make reservations to get in the day before. Can't just show up.

All the different stops are well explained. The natural beauty of the forest is unmatched. Furthermore, I love a good hike, and we had the best workout of our vacation.

one of the most beautiful places you'll ever see alive, it has to be El Yunque national forest. This place was a highlight of my trip. If I only got to see this place while in PR, I would be satisfied. It also all depends on who your tour guide is! my tour guide was hands down the absolute best so therefore my experience was phenomenal! It always rains here, so be prepared to walk, hike, get muddy, and rain obviously but it so WORTH it. I would do it again and again. I would not recommend going by yourself because its not the same and you dont get to learn as much as when you have a tour guide. I cant wait to return!

Absolutely breathtaking and an amazing experience! I booked the tour on Trip Advisor. I forget the name of the tour guide, but he was amazing. You start off on a 45 minute to an hour drive to the rainforest. From there, you're briefed on safety measures and then the "hike" begins. I wouldn't say that the hike is hard by any means. Just be be prepared with closed-toe shoes that can get wet, with a sturdy grip. As you hike, you'll get lessons on the native trees and surrounding flowers. Before you know it, you'll be standing amongst beautiful waterfalls that feel like heaven when jumping in! Please take the time to visit if in PR - absolutely breathtaking!

This place has awesome waterfalls and streams, along with amazing views! Anyone who enjoys the outdoors should go if they visit Puerto Rico!

El Yunque is a lush rainforest home to hundreds maybe even thousands of organisms be it in botanical form, animals, insects or otherwise. I am happy to have had the opportunity to immense myself in all its natural splendor. There are still a lot of trails and attractions that are closed to the public as part of the hurricane aftermath but the rainforest is still worth a visit! There are trails leading to fantastic views such as the Mt. Britton trail which eventually leads to a tower boosting a beautiful view of the many tropical vegetation as well as the surrounding towns and beaches. The view is absolutely breathtaking. Another tower worth stopping at for some fantastic view is the Yokahu observation tower. Drive carefully through the rainforest roads as they are quite a bit of a tight fit for 2 vehicles, let alone tour buses and other tour vans. I absolutely enjoyed my time here. The appealing view and all the natural wonders to discover will never cease to amaze!

Beautiful scenery! Amazing views! Natures finest display! A must view! Bring your family

I absolutely loved the national forest. Our day started out a little slower than I originally anticipated, and I was worried about the amount of people or finding parking. We arrived somewhere around 10-10:30 am on a Sunday. At the entrance we were given a map of the forest, and there was no charge to enter. A lot of the trails are still closed from the hurricane, but there was still plenty to do. You could literally make a day out of chilling near the waterfalls. There is also a creek we saw a ton of people at that is at the way beginning of the forest area. Lots of family's were gathered before and after we left. I read in other blogs that if you wear bug spray and I would imagine sunscreen not to put the chemicals in the water as it affects the ecosystem. I had brought bugspray, but we never needed it. We never saw or were affected by any bugs. The water in the falls was VERY refreshing lol. Nice and cold and a great way to cool off. You get used to the temperature pretty quickly. I highly recommend water shoes so you can walk the trails, but your feet are also protected if you are walking into the falls area. There are a lot of rocks and I suggest protecting your feet. We made it to the first tower, but but we didn't see the other at the top of the mountain as we didn't continue all the way to the top. The view through the windows in the tower had better views than the top in my opinion. When we reached the top of the man made stair climber, it was overcrowded with people and I couldn't see anything but up. There are port-a-potties and restrooms along the way. I would advise bringing a towel, camera/phone for pictures, a change of clothes or material that dries quickly, water shoes, and a change of shoes as the ones you are wearing will be full of dirt etc. When we left, the line to get into the forest looked never ending. It is better to go to the there sooner than later as everyone wants to go and you will be sitting in standstill traffic for a while! We felt so blessed of arrival time worked, but we were still worried that would've been too late. You will most certainly love the forest! I don't doubt that one bit.

Beautiful rainforest breath taking! Great place to catch some vitamin d post Covid and they are still requiring reservations for the waterfall but the river is just find parking and relax at marker 1988

Highly recommend and make sure to make a reservation on recreation.gov! It's two dollars per person to get in. Also, it's available the day before you want to go at 8am or 11am for tickets. They are good for all day. I got it at 11am and thought that meant it was for 11am. Just heads up for anyone when they read the confirmation because it wasn't clear. I also recommend bringing water.

Everything is overgrown or under construction. There's no access to water for swimming or just getting wet. It is only $2 per vehicle, but it's a complete waste of time. We walked for over 30 minutes, uphill on a paved road, just for people coming back telling us it would be another hour walk & the water hole was dried up. Other water holes, baños, were overgrown by vegetation, a trickle of water and extremely rocky. It is beautiful to see & hike, but that's it.

Visited in February 2019. So many areas of the forest are still closed after Maria. They are taking advantage of this time to make some improvements as well. Mt. Britton tower and El Yunque peak were open. It wasn't a strenuous hike by any means, but just remember that it is a tropical rain forest. On the way to El Yunque peak, the clouds thickened and never let up. Once at the peak, the rain clouds opened up and I got a thorough drenching. I imagine that the views on a clearer day would be stunning. On the way back to the entrance, Yokahu tower was closed, but La Coca falls and the muddy trail were open. It was cool to see that La Coca falls had 3 tiers on top. Pretty majestic. One word of warning about getting out of the park in the evening. When the rangers tell you that they close at 6pm, they mean it. Just outside the La Coca falls area, there is a large metal gate. As I was leaving, one of the rangers had closed it half way to prevent others from entering the area. Not sure how hard ass they are about it, but I can imagine.

It's best to drive up to which trail you want to go too. Hiking down to the waterfall wasn't bad but going back up was a bit harder since we got done swimming and climbing the rocks. It was so crowded here that it was hard to get close to the waterfalls. The water was so cold but refreshing since it was a hot day. After all the fun, there is a stand that sells fresh coconut. They will chop it open for you. Deliciousness! Wear swimming shoes because those rocks are slippery.

El Yunque National Forest is a great rainforest experience that is well worth a visit to explore and be a part of everything. I really like the trails and waterfalls here the most. Being able to be feel the forest and everything that it has to offer is fun and unforgettable.

Lots of roads were still closed because of damage from the hurricane the year before, but still lots of places to explore around the park. If you are in PR, you have to visit El Yunque. It's an all day trip.

I'm glad I went to this landmark! While many of the trails are still closed for repairs from the hurricane we were able to hike the coco falls and across the path to the second highest tower point look out. The only thing that I dreaded was that the only way back down to your car is to walk the exact trail backdown which isn't so terrible I suppose because it's all downhill ~ on another note I'm not sure if we just couldn't figure out the map or the trails were closed it can be hard to find some of the hidden gems of the forest, the park does not give you a map but has a bunch posted throughout. Definitely bring water, and sneakers, and minimal packing it gets super hot really fast even being shaded by the trees, also be aware of the altitude changes as you continue to hike. One of the lower ground swimming holes was open but we didn't visit, a few people we saw along the way said it was refreshing cold. Beware to touch the plants one of us did and it made the skin very itchy and red for about an hour. I'd suggest to also go early in the morning the trails start to get packed and really are only wide enough for one person. We considered the tour guided but used the funds towards seeing the islands of the area (Icacos and Culebra) - with a little bit of research and following signs you won't get lost. Check out the pictures they really speak for themselves!

Great hike, beautiful scenery in lush vegetation and time with my newlywed husband. We rented a Jeep while in San Juan and drove here for a day to check it out. Glad we did. Worth the time and it was relaxing and kept us active. Lots of waterfalls, picture opportunities and a lookout tower to climb and enjoy the incredible view. So worth going to visit and glad we had a rental to do this.

I've done the Big Tree trail twice. Once in July 2015 & Feb 2017. The trails an approximate 35 minute hike. Yes, HIKE, not walk. It's listed as easy/ moderate. That's not true. It's moderate/difficult. The other trial is listed as difficult and I honestly cannot imagine something worse than this one. I almost saw a guy fall to his death. He didn't, he caught himself. But, I'm telling you, if he fell, he would have been on his own. No ambulance or helicopter or medic of any sort could rescue him. The trial is narrow, slippery at times, steep inclines and declines, scary drops... you'll want to give up 15 minutes in and then 25 minutes in you'll start questioning the meaning of your life. I beg of you... push through, keep going it's worth it. Yes you are hot, wet, sticky, out of breath and tired, I assure you the waterfall is magnificent. Would I do this again? You know... although childless, I will have to compare this to childbirth without an epidural. It's hell while it's happening, then end result is so wonderful, you forget how treacherous the experience was, and a year later you are ready to go at it again. In saying that, yup. I'd do it again.

I know it's a rainforest, but I wasn't expecting So much green! From the bottom of the hill, takes about 20 min to get to the "entrance". There is not a fee, but they only let so many cars in at a time. So get there early. It is still recovering from "Maria", so lots of the trails and formerly must do hikes/waterfalls are not accessible yet. Though there is still enough open to get a good feel of the place. Expect to spend 2-3 hours here, if you are not doing a hike. You can see a pretty waterfall not to far past the entrance, just beyond that is a tower that you climb up to get an amazing view. I think i would come back once they open up the other trails. till then, it is still worth the visit if you have never been.

​What a fantastic place, we were glad to hear that they were working to bring it back after the hurricane. As you enter the park, you can feel the temperature drop, and it was remarkable how quiet it got. The roads are rough and winding. Fortunately, our friends spend a lot of time in the park and drive the roads frequently. We stopped at the tower and even with the clouds were able to see the lighthouse​ across the island. The vegetation is coming back with thick bamboo, green plants and a lot of white ginger. We parked and walked to the waterfall and took some photos. Our local friends commented on how much work had been done to the trails. It was a great break from a day of airports and flights. We can't wait to come back again and explore.

Wow is how I'm starting this review. My second time in Puerto Rico and came with a group of friends and stayed 10 minutes away from the Yunque rainforest. This is my first time ever visiting a rainforest it was incredibly enchanting and beautiful. Be ready for a long winding road with plenty of cliffs and beautiful waterfalls all around. Drive slowly this road is very small and cars are coming and going and could be dangerous. Your ears will pop as you go up the mountain so whatever helps you alleviate this bring it. My second piece of advice would be bring comfortable attire and plenty of water in a book bag. They have a few spots that you can park and go on trails that lead to waterfalls. Also leave your sneakers on even in the waterfalls the rocks are full of algae and could be very slippery and you can hurt yourself like I did lol!! I recommend visiting the rainforest if you are visiting Puerto Rico you won't regret it. Also their is no charge to visit this National Park.

El Yunque National Forest, the rainforest of Puerto Rico is really a must see. They have a fabulously beautiful visitor center, plenty of walking trails, waterfalls, a viewing tower and all sorts of exotic plant life. It will take you a good solid day to cover it and my suggestion would be to do it on a tour bus, I used E & B Tours, as it will make everything so much easier. I would also strongly recommend wearing some very good sneakers or hiking shoes, and to be very, very careful. The fallen tree leaves on the trails can be super slippery. Just during the brief period of time I was at the Big Tree Trail Head walking La Mina falls, one person fell, broke her hip and three others fell breaking their legs. In fact one those who broke their leg suffered such a serious break they had to be emergency airlifted out.

I have been all over the world, including to locations with rainforests, but I have never seen something so beautiful as this National Forest. The rainforest is filled with magical and exotic trees, it rains frequently, and if you pull over to the side of the road you will be shocked at the small creatures you see, e.g., frogs, etc. It was an amazing experience and I look forward to returning to Puerto Rico to get more hiking and waterfall trails in. Thanks.

What a beautiful way to spend the day in Puerto Rico. Though much of the park remains closed due to damage after Hurricane Maria, we were able to still climb rocks into waterfalls and we even found a secluded trail to hike. Everyone we interacted with was super friendly - tourists and locals alike. Don't let the closed deter you, the trip is still well worth it. Also, support the local businesses as much as possible while in Puerto Rico, it's really the best way to help the island recover right now.

Absolutely the most amazing hike I have ever been on! I did not make it to the tower or the peak as it was really hard for me. I went to the rain shelter and relaxed as it was raining! Very beautiful views and everything! Great way to celebrate the holidays! If you are ever in PR or planning to go to PR then you must x3 visit this forest! Items to bring: Water, hiking bag, close toed shoes, hiking clothes

ATTENTION: This National park is currently closed. A park ranger advised on Sunday, May 27, 2018 that this was due to severe mountain road damages caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017. Rangers said they weren't sure when construction efforts would be completed and could not guarantee this would be accomplished by next year in 2019. Rangers advised you can call them to be sure. BUT, in the meantime... there are two parts we explored near its entrance opened to the public at no charge! Site 1: "Angelito" is a great trail through a beautiful part of the rainforest that leads you to a river with plenty of rocks that is picturesque! (Pictured). It is a swimming area. Look for the rope you swing on to jump on the water! Site 2: Just before the main entrance, there is a huge beautiful waterfall "La Coca Falls". It leads into a creek into the scenic rainforest! You can climb the waterfall and also climb your way under the bridge straight into the creek. (Pictured) Important items to take: Camera, water shoes & bathing suit for swimming, sneakers for climbing, drinking water, and big repellent. I really couldn't give this amazing place an accurate review since I was not able to explore the main parts, but the little I did was breathtaking! I will certainly have to return once they reopen to provide an update.

The drive up is windy and nice for a better car than a small engine Kia, but we made it up. Much of the rainforest is closed off due to the hurricane. We were still able to see the falls and that was nice to see and hear. Had a nice tranquil but quick moment there.