Definitely worth the 30 minute hike to reach the waterfalls. Its absolutely beautiful. Sneakers are a must! Get there early. read more

El Yunque Rainforest - Hiking Near Me - Luquillo, Puerto Rico

Reminds you a lot of the Road to Hana in Hawaii The gorgeous waterfalls that pop up around every corner after a rain The winding, curving roads through lush vegetation The trails are well maintained and exploring is a must. I found the trails much more fun than my wife who opted to stay in the vehicle. So we spent 2 hours driving around and maybe another hour hiking. I would like to go back and do the trails right giving them the time needed to fully appreciate them The beauty here is a must see read more

A must go when you're in PR! It rained when we were hiking but I mean its the rainforest and the waterfall was too beautiful!

Beautiful place and nice trails. Some waterfalls are better than others, mostly it depends on the season and the amount of rain they get. I stayed in the below place. It was very beautiful, peaceful and relaxing. Beautiful house with geougeous view of El Yunque Rainforest. Nice pool and hammocks. Watch out for mosquitos and use insect repellent. https://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p332425?utm_campaign=HAUS_TRV_RES_HASC_reservationaccept_PPS&utm_content=propthumb_image_o_lprop&utm_term=20150516&utm_source=SYS&utm_medium=email read more

El Yunque Rainforest - Same falls in July :0( - Hiking Near Me - Luquillo, Puerto Rico

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Unfortunately due to Hurricane Maria and Irma it's closed. Some hiking trails are open but not the actually place. The Ranger suggested not to really hike because they still aren't clear. The website says they're open but once you get there it's closed. So it was a waste of a drive. It's been 8 months and still they haven't done much clean up so, I was a little upset. read more

Beautiful! I'm not an experienced hiker, and was pleasantly surprised that the paths were easily navigable and not as rugged as I thought! We took a path down to La Mina waterfalls which took about 2 hours, round trip. The waterfall was gorgeous and completely worth the hike. We took the Bano Grande path another day. Loved it all, if you like the outdoors, or just want to experience a rainforest, definitely plan a visit to El Yunque! read more

El Yunque Rainforest - La Mira - Hiking Near Me - Luquillo, Puerto Rico

We visited El Yunque during a drought and we were embarrassed that it took us awhile hiking on the La Mina waterfall trail to finally realize why this forest didn't look very much like other rain forests...after that we started noticing all the ferns and other plants that should have been green were brown and dormant. No matter...we were still glad that we put the effort in to hike all the way to the La Mina waterfall. I say hike in loose terms because how we hike in Wisconsin does not include paved trails!!! Our 8 year old and 7 year old had no trouble navigating the path but the adults may have been puffing a little bit after the walk back up. Our favorite part of the forest was actually Yokahu Tower at around 8.2 km. The views from the top of the Observation Tower made the whole trip worth it!!! read more

El Yunque Rainforest - View from the top of the tower. - Hiking Near Me - Luquillo, Puerto Rico

Secure place to enjoy nature. It feels magical, and the river is super clean. Dress comfortably, you are going to walk a lot and swim! read more

El Yunque Rainforest - La coca falls - Hiking Near Me - Luquillo, Puerto Rico

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RENT A CAR!! No need for a tour guide. Easy to drive to sites and then park/walk. The half hour walk/hike to La Mina falls is beautiful, and a bit hilly/exhausting so bring sneaks. Half day is sufficient to get a good full of this beautiful landscape. read more

El Yunque Rainforest - Hiking Near Me - Luquillo, Puerto Rico

Beutiful. We hiked and found one of the waterfalls, the water is refreshing, and clean. Must see for yourself! read more

El Yunque Rainforest - El Yunque National Rainforest one of the many beutiful waterfalls - Hiking Near Me - Luquillo, Puerto Rico

Amazing beautiful experience. Go early. Difficult to navigate but definitely worth the trip.

Went here for the first time with a tour guide and the views were amazing. The history is fascinating.. The fresh water and natural water slides were refreshing. My favorite part of the day was the hike to the slides, I can't wait to go back. read more

Had a wonderful time in the park. I found it beautiful and well maintained. Some of the areas surrounding some kiosks seemed in severe disrepair. Broken down vehicles and trash piled behind them. However, the park itself is beautiful. Natural pools of crystal clear water. Waterfalls. Lots of trails of varying difficulty. I came after the busy season so I had the place to myself. The view of the country from here is unparalleled. The sun shining through the tree tops. The sounds of native wildlife. It's awe inspiring and humbling all at one. If you ever get the opportunity to go, don't pass it up. read more

El Yunque Rainforest - Found a stream. - Hiking Near Me - Luquillo, Puerto Rico

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It's beautiful but a lot is still closed off due to the hurricane aftermath. The ride up is hilly and narrow but not as bad as the city streets in San Juan. You can only park in one place for 30 minutes. There will be a lot of other people in and out. Beautiful but quick. It's free so rent a car over paying an excursion. read more

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COQUI~ COQUI~ Here's the lowdown: -Print this out before you go. This is the trail map. link: http://www.rainforestsafari.com/maptrailsbig.htm -Drive there. Rent a car. Don't pay $95/pp for a hotel excursion. Not worth it. -3 East, KM30.9 is where you will make a right. You will see a brown sign to El Yunque and 191 South. -Skip the Welcome Center. It's $3/pp. Unless you need to take a leak, are are starving, or like watching long videos. -If you insist on the Welcome Center, skip the food/drinks at Yoquiyu there. It sucks. Instead, wait for the first food 'shack' @ Coco Coco. It's a 5min drive from there and totally worth the short wait. -Hit La Mina Falls - You take Big Tree Trail for this. Walk is 0.8 miles each way. You can immerse yourself in the shallow end of the falls. If taking pictures outside of the water, be careful not to slip on the slippery rocks. I've seen it happen one too many times. -Hit El Yunque's Peak - no, not via the green el yunque trail on your map, (unless you like hiking uphill over uneven rocks and terrain for 2.4 miles each way, aka 2hrs each way) but instead, drive ALL THE WAY UP and leave your car there (flat, even terrain, 40 minutes each way). How do you know when you've reached the peak? When you ascend upon a stone lookout point and all you see are clouds around you. -Skip the rest. The rest is just filler, trust me. Oh, and don't expect to see tons of wildlife. All we saw were little geckos, brown and black, giant fiddlehead ferns, hibiscus plants, banana plants, orchid plants, bamboo plants, snails on leaves, and some birds. Also, don't try to find the coqui frog. You'll hear it but you will rarely see it. It's 1/4" to 3/4" and usually hides between leaves. Good luck. I'll upload teaser pics for now but will upload more in a few days to do this review justice..be sure to check back! Pic1: La Mina Falls http://i41.tinypic.com/ejxyf4.jpg Pic2: El Yunque Peak http://i41.tinypic.com/ejxyf4.jpg read more

The rain forest is beautiful and I think it does merit a visit. We paid the $4 per adult to go to the information center, which in retrospect was completely not necessary. The only positive to doing this was the use of relatively clean bathrooms with plumbing. The map that they provided us was nothing more than a xeroxed black and white piece of paper with a picture of trails drawn on it. (You can print out a copy from here: http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/elyunque/maps-pubs) If your reading this and have the ability to plan ahead, I'd recommend doing your research here and skip the information center and just hit the trails. That doesn't cost any money. We ended up stopping at La Coca Falls, YoKahu Tower and did the La Mina Trail hike. La Coca Fall is pretty for a quick picture. Yokahu Tower gives nice view of the rainforest and you can see down to Luquillo Beach. La Mina Trail was a pretty hike, but was a lot of commotion and annoyance for what I considered to be a relatively small waterfall. I grew frustrated with the number of oblivious people on the La Mina Trail. Hiking etiquette was lacking by the majority of people on the trail. Large groups going slow and blocking the path, but not letting you pass. Small groups going slow and not letting you pass. The trail is narrow and the people going downhill should really have the right of way, but no it's a free for all. When we got to the falls, there was a swarm of tourists packed into the tiny pools at the foot of the waterfall. Lots of loud talking and obnoxious posing for pictures. The water didn't look particularly clean to me. At this point we wondered why in the world would people be clambering to get waste deep in those little pools when a beautiful beach is a 20 minute drive away. I guess my only explanation is that, they do it because they can? At this point we decided to snap a picture turn around, enjoy the forest on our hike back and head to Luquillo Beach. El Yunque is worth a visit, the forest is beautiful. I think La Mina Falls is overhyped. If I ever went, back I would go really early in the morning to avoid the swarm of oogling tourists or I would consider going on a different hike farther up the road. read more

its a must do .. you won't get this experience anywhere else . Enjoy the green forests of PR

This is a National treasure, the only rain forest in the US. I believe it is a must see when visiting the Island. There are many ways to visit, you can hike, drive or take a tour. The hiking and scenery are quite breathtaking. You will remember this visit long after you leave. This is a good place to spend a few hours or all day if you are really adventurous. read more

Breathtaking, enchanting, unique, amazing. Beautiful, beautiful place. Wear sneakers and bring a bathing suit and a camera. Be prepared to walk a bit but it's so worth it!!! You must visit when you're here. read more

El Yunque is beautiful! The boy and I had originally planned only one day in the rainforest, but it was so pretty that we went back a second time to explore more. The key is to get there early so you can explore the place alone! If you're going to the top of El Yunque, I'd strongly recommend taking the scenic but much longer trail rather than taking the shorter but boring road. It's so worth it! Bring some snacks and food so you can have lunch at the top of the mountain overlooking the island. read more

Bring your hiking shoes, water and camera. Be prepared for a hike 2hrs up/2+hours down. Wet and muddy in places, slippery, a walking stick/pole would have been handy. Somewhat deserted, stay on the trail. The views from the top are beyond words. Surprisingly no bugs or insects. A great day hike. Then finish your day back at your hotel on the beach. read more

This place is amazing and a piece of heaven. It was super humid and i made sure I wore my nikes. The hike is nice and the waterfall was beyond gorgeous. Bring water shoes if you're going to get in the water. I saw people fall left and right. This is a must to visit! read more

An experience of a lifetime, and one of the top 3 must-do things in Puerto Rico! Make sure you hike to the waterfall as that is the icing on the cake and it's a blast to relax in (don't forget your bathing suit!). It's a pretty easy hike, I saw many-a-grandma and plenty of folks hiking in flip-flops. Easily one of the most beautiful places I have ever had the pleasure of going to. read more

Five starts for the location, but 1 star for the crowds. We went on a Sunday and again on Monday. On Sunday, the place was packed to the gills. Every destination - La Coca Falls, the observation tower on the main road, La Mina Falls, and the observation tower at the bottom of the park - were obscenely overcrowded with loud and obnoxious tourists (Americans and Puerto Ricans alike) who seemed to have no sense that that they are in a beautiful natural setting, let alone surrounded by other people who would rather listen to the sounds of nature than their shrieking kids. At the top of one of the observation towers, there was even a group of teens partying with their cooler and a portable stereo! On top of this, many of the parking areas were full, and police were ticketing cars parked in unauthorized areas. However, when we came back on Monday, the park was much less crowded. If you have the choice, avoid the park on weekends. If you must go on a weekend, try to get off the beaten path by doing one of the less-used hikes, like the La Coca Trail. Another big tip - La Mina Falls itself turns into a circus when the park is crowded, but continue the trail upriver past the falls and you will find many pools with small falls that are much more private if you want to get in the water. read more

My friends and I had such a great time at El Yunque this past week. It is definitely a must see if you are traveling to Puerto Rico, especially if your an amateur photographer like myself. I believe what made the trip even more interesting was that we had such a knowledgeable and interesting tour guide. He would stop along the trails and teach us about the various plants and wildlife. We were lucky that it was such a beautiful day. We had a little time left at the end of the tour, so our guide stopped off at a local restaurant and fruit stand and let us run wild for 15 minutes. You gotta love it. read more

This is such a wonderful place to go see. It rained on our way there but since it is the rainforest we really couldn't complain. The hike was crazy showed how out of shape I am but the waterfall was so beautiful it was so worth it. The water is ice cold so be prepared you will never be prepared for the cold. read more

You know this tree-hugger was going to give it 5 stars, right? I love El Yunque, just the lush greenery and cascading waterfalls is 5 stars alone. Seriously. If you are a tourist then please so visit this place. There are many natural beauties in Puerto Rico but this should be one of the first places to go. As a native Spanish speaker and fluent in English this place was a breeze to navigate, however if you can't speak Spanish they do have English guides but I'm more of the get lost kinda girl. Just give me a map and some water and I'm set. It's hot, its humid but walking the trails will give you plenty of shade, just make sure you hydrate especially en route to the Mina Falls. There's an educational center with some souvenirs and some videos to learn about El Yunque as well as a small cafe selling your typical PR fast foods ( don't waste your money here, very poor quality). There various tourist traveling agencies offer rides along El Yunque but I just went in my car and drove which...can be tricky. Not being a local I used GPS which lead me to what I believe was the exit of El Yunque and the roads there were poorly maintained and went on forever. It can be very dangerous so make sure if you are driving yourself that you come in the proper entrance ( the one with the ticket booth). Anyways, sights are amazing. Yokahu Tower gives you a nice view of the rainforest. You can swim in the larger waterfall, just be careful as the rocks are very slippery. I went in October and this place was still packed with tourist but I don't blame them-the weather is awesome. Overall, I will definitely return on my yearly trip to my homeland roots. This place is beautiful and hopefully will continue to be amazing as is. read more

One of the highlights of the trip. This place is so beautiful and left me in amazement that I could possibly be in a rainforest while in the US (even if it is a territory). read more

Beautiful scenery but there is no need for a guide. We took the trail to La Mina and it wasn't bad at all, it was paved (!!) and you can easily get a map at the information center. The way back up the trail has quite a bit of stairs but not too strenuous. If you want to go in the waterfall, definitely wear some type of water shoe. I really felt as though that entire experience was an accident waiting to happen after seeing many people slip and fall so I decided against going in. Overall, it was good but it's a one time see kind of place for me. read more

Beautiful Rainforest! It was a lovely treat to be able to tour this place. It is definitely a must while you're in PR. The zip line tours through the rainforest were great also! read more

Gorgeous hike with amazing views. This is a must if you're in San Juan. Don't be afraid to jump in the water where the La Mina Falls is at. Water is cold...don't be weak! read more

No need to go with a tour. Save yourself time and money - rent a car and go on your own! It's a short hike to the waterfalls but easy enough for the kids. Be sure to wear sneakers/hiking shoes as the trail can be slippery at times. Try to go early because it gets very crowded in the middle of the day. read more

Go early and wear the right shoes and shorts to swim in this National Parks beautiful water fall. It's a longer hike than you think... once you get up the steps, you're about 2/3rds the way there! read more

I don't know quite what I was expecting, but this turned out to be a pretty nice and user-friendly rainforest. (I never thought I would use the phrase "user-friendly rainforest) There is a road that goes all the way up through the rainforest, so even if some people aren't in shape to walk a long distance they can still experience it from the car. There were stops along the way, some trails (paved--- would have felt more genuine if they weren't but it probably wasn't such a bad thing), some lookout points, some gorgeous waterfalls. Stopping at each little place was a nice way to break up your time there. Lots of beautiful foliage, of course! An absence of wildlife :-(... I was hoping to see a bunch of colorful birds and monkeys and whatnots! But logically, I know they probably don't like the human hustle bustle and stay away. And once you get to the top/end, prepare yourself for what could be motion sickness on the long ride down. bleghhhh! Been to a rainforest: Check! read more

Great experience, great views and waterfalls . La Mina was my favorite, we got to go in the waters just take comfortable shoes with support because it's pretty slippery. read more

Absolutely gorgeous rainforest and seriously challenging hikes for the avid hiker. A few tips will make your trip as enjoyable as possible. Get started early! I think the park opens at 9 or 10--get there as close to then as possible. Stop at the visitor's center (it's worth the $4) but skip all the exhibits (you can go back to them later, but you want to beat the huge tour groups up to the trails). Ask the guide at the desk to give you a map and tell you which sights are the best to see. Wear sturdy shoes with rubber soles. The paths are so, so slippery because they are basically soaking wet stones. Bring water--the paths are very steep, and you'll be working hard. Bring a camera! The vistas at the top are worth capturing. We also walked to La Minas falls and up the 2nd tower on the mountain, then finally saw Los Cocos. All in all, a great stop and a must-see for PR, especially if you are a nature lover and a hiker. Honestly, I would not bring young kids here. Only if they are pretty athletic and you're confident they can handle hiking a mile straight uphill would I even try. read more

This review is more informational for those considering taking young kids to El Yunque. There are certainly enough reviews that speak volumes about the beauty of this rainforest which I can definitely attest to. We have a 6 month old boy. We weren't sure whether hiking a trail in a rainforest would be a good idea. We left our hotel and headed that way still undecided. We arrived at the Visitors Center still undecided. We arrived at the entrance to the trail still undecided. We took a leap of faith, threw him in his Baby Bjorn, lathered him in sunscreen, dressed him in long sleeves and long pants (hoping to avoid insect bites) and started walking. It was a wise decision. He's at an age where he's becoming very curious about his surroundings and anything new is fascinating for him. The trek to La Mina falls is about 30-45 minutes depending on your pace. It's paved, safe, moderately difficult due to some sharp inclines, insect free this time of year (december) and totally worth it once you reach the waterfall. Our baby dipped his feet in the water while I went for swim in the water reservoir under the falls. In summary I'd certainly recommend it for kids that are light enough for a baby carrier. I would not recommend taking a stroller. If your kids are on their feet, I would say it would be appropriate to take them once they are around 5+ years. read more

Roads are a little scary, but this place is beautiful. Ditch the tour group and rent a car to get here. If I were to do it again, I would skip the visitor's center (although it is quite beautiful) and hit up the most-traveled places when it's early and the tour groups and other people are still in bed: both waterfalls and the tower. El Yunque peak is incredible, and you're in the clouds when you get to the top. Another trail that ends in a beautiful swimming hole is the Angelito Trail, which is on a different path that is less-trekked (if you pass by a church on your left, you've gone too far; if you've left the park, you've definitely gone too far). A must for any visitor to Puerto Rico. read more

We visited here from Chicago and we got out of the vehicle to see the water fall returning to our rental car we come back to a broken window And EVERYTHING STOLEN to the ids to even shorts! Purses everything life lesson for sure but just be alert of your surroundings and don't leave anything in the car!!!!! read more

This is a GORGEOUS spot. It should not be free. You can see coquis in all their glory amidst cascading waterfalls, gorgeous plants, and lots of animals. It is here where I learned that none of the snakes in PR are venomous. Hiking paths abound! Not-wealthy Puerto Ricans go here for excellent smelling BBQ's. read more