Things to do & places to visit in El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico

Experience the rain forest without having to blaze your own trail. El Yunque's well-marked trails and helpful guides lead you to its many photogenic features, from waterfalls and lush vegetation to an observation tower with great views. It's an easy day trip from San Juan.

El Yunque National Forest #2 destination in Puerto Rico 2023. The average rating score is 4.49 based on 10.3k traveler reviews, of 17 attractions. Timezone: America/Puerto_Rico, current date and time: Friday, May 03, 2024, 6:43.

Top things to do (10)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Louie's VIP Tours (427 reviews)
- Great tour guide! It really made our day!
Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Sightseeing Tours

Easy hotel pick up led us on a 45 minute ride east to El Yunque National Forest. We made 4 different stops and saw the rainforest from a number of vantage points. The roaring waterfall was very beautiful and the vast green forest was incredible. We stopped at a road side cafe for some delicious and reasonably priced authentic Puerto Rican food for lunch. The entire experience was just as described, and was well worth the cost. Glad we booked this tour! See more..
5.0 Mount Britton Trail (19 reviews)
- Spectacular, worth the effort
Hiking Trails

My wife and I rented a soft top Jeep, put the top down and headed up to El yunque. We had an absolutely spectacularly gorgeous time. The road is twisty and windy and narrow just like the road to Hana in Maui, if you've done that before. We were hoping to hike to the El Mina waterfall/pool, but that is currently closed due to covid. ****Important**** you now need to reserve a time at recreation.gov from either 8-11am or 12-3pm to proceed to Mt. Britton tower, Coca Falls, and the bulk of the hiking as a Park Ranger checks every incoming vehicle for a pass. The cost is just $2, I think they are attempting to control volume of people coming in to the park due to Covid-19. Masks are required. Despite these hassles, was WELL worth the trip. Highly recommend an open air Vehicle to take in all the views. See more..
5.0 Luquillo Mountain Range (13 reviews)
- Abundance
Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Mountains

The gem of this range is El Yunque, the 3500-foot peak renowned for its hiking trails and other outdoor activities. See more..
5.0 El Yunque Hiking Area (3 reviews)
- No better place to hike
Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Hiking Trails
the hiking here is beautiful...a nice thing is that throughout the trail there is fresh natural drinking waters, lots of water areas to cool off and natural water slides to slide into the water from . You will love it. See more..
5.0 Louie's VIP Tours (427 reviews)
- Great tour guide! It really made our day!
Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Sightseeing Tours

Easy hotel pick up led us on a 45 minute ride east to El Yunque National Forest. We made 4 different stops and saw the rainforest from a number of vantage points. The roaring waterfall was very beautiful and the vast green forest was incredible. We stopped at a road side cafe for some delicious and reasonably priced authentic Puerto Rican food for lunch. The entire experience was just as described, and was well worth the cost. Glad we booked this tour! See more..
5.0 Mount Britton Trail (19 reviews)
- Spectacular, worth the effort
Hiking Trails

My wife and I rented a soft top Jeep, put the top down and headed up to El yunque. We had an absolutely spectacularly gorgeous time. The road is twisty and windy and narrow just like the road to Hana in Maui, if you've done that before. We were hoping to hike to the El Mina waterfall/pool, but that is currently closed due to covid. ****Important**** you now need to reserve a time at recreation.gov from either 8-11am or 12-3pm to proceed to Mt. Britton tower, Coca Falls, and the bulk of the hiking as a Park Ranger checks every incoming vehicle for a pass. The cost is just $2, I think they are attempting to control volume of people coming in to the park due to Covid-19. Masks are required. Despite these hassles, was WELL worth the trip. Highly recommend an open air Vehicle to take in all the views. See more..
5.0 Luquillo Mountain Range (13 reviews)
- Abundance
Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Mountains

The gem of this range is El Yunque, the 3500-foot peak renowned for its hiking trails and other outdoor activities. See more..
5.0 El Yunque Hiking Area (3 reviews)
- No better place to hike
Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Hiking Trails
the hiking here is beautiful...a nice thing is that throughout the trail there is fresh natural drinking waters, lots of water areas to cool off and natural water slides to slide into the water from . You will love it. See more..
4.5 El Yunque National Forest (6.804 reviews)
- Beautiful!
Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Forests

Plan a day trip to the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. With 29,000 acres of lush foliage and 25 miles of year-round trails, this is a nature enthusiast’s sanctuary. Attempt to spot elusive wildlife like the Puerto Rican parrot on a rejuvenating hike, soar through the canopies on a zipline, or go horseback riding at Carabalí Rainforest Park. If time permits, visit the Yokahú Observation Tower which has an elevation of 1,575 feet and provides expansive views of the mountains. Sporadic showers are common here—check their website for the latest information about trail statuses and park closures before setting out. – Tripadvisor See more..
4.5 Catarata La Mina (886 reviews)
- El Mina is currently closed due to Covid
Waterfalls

Be sure to leap into the cool waters at the base of this 35-foot cascade. See more..
4.5 Yokahú Observation Tower (858 reviews)
- Well, if you can't get to Britton tower...
Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Observation Decks & Towers

A tower in El Yunque offering a sweeping view of the rainforest. See more..
4.5 The Mine Trail (La Mina) (184 reviews)
- Amazing views and refreshing natural pool
Hiking Trails

Temporary Closed An extension of Big Tree Trail, this rainforest trek passes by a waterfall and gold mine. See more..
4.5 El Yunque Peak (155 reviews)
- Great Hike, Amazing Views!
Friday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Mountains • Nature & Wildlife Areas

We hiked to El Yunque Peak from the Mt. Britton Tower Parking area. It is a very scenic and enjoyable hike and the views from the peak on a clear day are amazing. From the top you can get a great view of the peaks and valleys of the National Forrest, see the Atlantic to the north, San Juan to the west, and the Caribbean to the south. Although from the parking area El Yunque Peak looks far away and high up, the trail is well marked, well maintained, and comfortable, and the climb and change in elevation is easily manageable. When you reach the fork for the Mt. Britton Tower, the trail to the tower is to the right. It is a short hike on a spur trail and the tower is worth the visit. The service road to El Yunque peak is to the left, and the hiking trail to the peak is straight ahead on the left. I recommend that you take the trail. The road to the peak is smooth and paved, and the distance is shorter, but it is very, very steep. The trail to the peak is longer, and rocky and uneven, but it is much more scenic and the change in elevation is much more gradual. See more..
4.5 Big Tree Trail (134 reviews)
- Get there early!
Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Hiking Trails

This short, memorable and popular walk is the best way to experience the rainforest. See more..
4.5 Torre Britton (99 reviews)
- Breathtaking view
Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Lookouts

This lookout tower in El Yunque is sometimes incorporated into Santeria (an Afro-Caribbean religion) ceremonies. See more..
4.5 Cataratas Juan Diego (33 reviews)
- Swimming in Waterfalls
Friday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 2-3 hours Waterfalls

When I was a child we use to visit and swim in Lo Mina Falls all the time. I wanted my kids to have that experience, so we decided to try Juan Diego since the other falls were closed due to hurricane damage. This was such a cool experience for them. The trail up has some concrete steps to start and then the rest of the trail is a very uneven path, so be prepared with proper shoes but it will be worth the hike. The water is cold but refreshing and the scenery is stunning. We spent a good bit of time here and it is was the kids favorite thing from our trip. See more..
4.5 Angelito Trail (27 reviews)
- The popular swimming hole is very nice, but go upstream for your own
Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

Come prepared with good water footwear, a hiking pole and a drybag and you can wade upstream to find your private little slice of PR heaven. The common swimming hole at the end of the main trail is the biggest and deepest, but there are a lot of folks there on a warm afternoon, even a weekday. Mostly locals, it seems, but tourists too. We did a hit and run one afternoon while we waited for our Air BnB to open. Then came back a few days later prepared to strike out upstream. The Mameyes river is the clearest stream we saw in PR, which made it far more inviting to get in. It's quite cool, 70F I'd guess, so you won't likely sit and soak, but if the sun is out it's really nice. Beautiful surroundings. The road getting there is not too back, relative to other mountain PR roads. Still, it's narrow with plenty of pot holes. I wouldn't say there's "plenty" of parking at the Angelito TH, but we didn't have a problem either time. See more..
4.5 El Toro Peak (20 reviews)
- Well Worth the hour and a half hike in the rain
Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Mountains

Take the difficult 4-hour Trade Winds Trail all the way to El Toro Peak, which is the second-highest peak in Puerto Rico. See more..
4.5 El Portal Visitor Center - El Yunque National Forest (5 reviews)
- The best part of El Yunque
Friday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Visitor Centers

Brand new visitor center for El Yunque NP . Very nice educational walk . Good exposition about the park' wildlife and botany. Too bad the rest of the park is not upkept as this place. Stop here first before proceeding to the park for better understanding of surrounding areas. If you have National Park yearly pass, is accepted here, otherwise there is $8 per person charge. See more..
4.5 El Yunque National Forest (6.804 reviews)
- Beautiful!
Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Forests

Plan a day trip to the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. With 29,000 acres of lush foliage and 25 miles of year-round trails, this is a nature enthusiast’s sanctuary. Attempt to spot elusive wildlife like the Puerto Rican parrot on a rejuvenating hike, soar through the canopies on a zipline, or go horseback riding at Carabalí Rainforest Park. If time permits, visit the Yokahú Observation Tower which has an elevation of 1,575 feet and provides expansive views of the mountains. Sporadic showers are common here—check their website for the latest information about trail statuses and park closures before setting out. – Tripadvisor See more..
4.5 Catarata La Mina (886 reviews)
- El Mina is currently closed due to Covid
Waterfalls

Be sure to leap into the cool waters at the base of this 35-foot cascade. See more..
4.5 Yokahú Observation Tower (858 reviews)
- Well, if you can't get to Britton tower...
Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Observation Decks & Towers

A tower in El Yunque offering a sweeping view of the rainforest. See more..
4.5 The Mine Trail (La Mina) (184 reviews)
- Amazing views and refreshing natural pool
Hiking Trails

Temporary Closed An extension of Big Tree Trail, this rainforest trek passes by a waterfall and gold mine. See more..
4.5 El Yunque Peak (155 reviews)
- Great Hike, Amazing Views!
Friday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Mountains • Nature & Wildlife Areas

We hiked to El Yunque Peak from the Mt. Britton Tower Parking area. It is a very scenic and enjoyable hike and the views from the peak on a clear day are amazing. From the top you can get a great view of the peaks and valleys of the National Forrest, see the Atlantic to the north, San Juan to the west, and the Caribbean to the south. Although from the parking area El Yunque Peak looks far away and high up, the trail is well marked, well maintained, and comfortable, and the climb and change in elevation is easily manageable. When you reach the fork for the Mt. Britton Tower, the trail to the tower is to the right. It is a short hike on a spur trail and the tower is worth the visit. The service road to El Yunque peak is to the left, and the hiking trail to the peak is straight ahead on the left. I recommend that you take the trail. The road to the peak is smooth and paved, and the distance is shorter, but it is very, very steep. The trail to the peak is longer, and rocky and uneven, but it is much more scenic and the change in elevation is much more gradual. See more..
4.5 Big Tree Trail (134 reviews)
- Get there early!
Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Hiking Trails

This short, memorable and popular walk is the best way to experience the rainforest. See more..
4.5 Torre Britton (99 reviews)
- Breathtaking view
Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Lookouts

This lookout tower in El Yunque is sometimes incorporated into Santeria (an Afro-Caribbean religion) ceremonies. See more..
4.5 Cataratas Juan Diego (33 reviews)
- Swimming in Waterfalls
Friday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 2-3 hours Waterfalls

When I was a child we use to visit and swim in Lo Mina Falls all the time. I wanted my kids to have that experience, so we decided to try Juan Diego since the other falls were closed due to hurricane damage. This was such a cool experience for them. The trail up has some concrete steps to start and then the rest of the trail is a very uneven path, so be prepared with proper shoes but it will be worth the hike. The water is cold but refreshing and the scenery is stunning. We spent a good bit of time here and it is was the kids favorite thing from our trip. See more..
4.5 Angelito Trail (27 reviews)
- The popular swimming hole is very nice, but go upstream for your own
Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

Come prepared with good water footwear, a hiking pole and a drybag and you can wade upstream to find your private little slice of PR heaven. The common swimming hole at the end of the main trail is the biggest and deepest, but there are a lot of folks there on a warm afternoon, even a weekday. Mostly locals, it seems, but tourists too. We did a hit and run one afternoon while we waited for our Air BnB to open. Then came back a few days later prepared to strike out upstream. The Mameyes river is the clearest stream we saw in PR, which made it far more inviting to get in. It's quite cool, 70F I'd guess, so you won't likely sit and soak, but if the sun is out it's really nice. Beautiful surroundings. The road getting there is not too back, relative to other mountain PR roads. Still, it's narrow with plenty of pot holes. I wouldn't say there's "plenty" of parking at the Angelito TH, but we didn't have a problem either time. See more..
4.5 El Toro Peak (20 reviews)
- Well Worth the hour and a half hike in the rain
Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Mountains

Take the difficult 4-hour Trade Winds Trail all the way to El Toro Peak, which is the second-highest peak in Puerto Rico. See more..
4.5 El Portal Visitor Center - El Yunque National Forest (5 reviews)
- The best part of El Yunque
Friday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Visitor Centers

Brand new visitor center for El Yunque NP . Very nice educational walk . Good exposition about the park' wildlife and botany. Too bad the rest of the park is not upkept as this place. Stop here first before proceeding to the park for better understanding of surrounding areas. If you have National Park yearly pass, is accepted here, otherwise there is $8 per person charge. See more..