How to Visit El Yunque National Forest from San Juan
Getting to El Yunque National Forest from San Juan
My last day in Puerto Rico I rented a car and drove to El Yunque National Forest from San Juan. The drive to get to El Yunque took a little under an hour and provided some interesting views. Roads in Puerto Rico have a speed limit of between 50 and 65 miles per hour and are very similar to interstate highways in the US.
The easiest way to get to El Yunque from San Juan is to take Puerto Rico Route 26 which turns into Puerto Rico Route 66. This route has tolls. To avoid the tolls, take Puerto Rico Route 3. I made a quick stop in the town of Rio Grande to get food and a few bottles of water to drink.
The last 10 miles or so of the drive on Puerto Rico Route 191 is slow. There are a lot of turns and switchbacks and the speed limit drops to 25 miles per hour.
Visiting El Yunque National Forest - Table of Contents
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El Yunque National Forest Tours
There are plenty of tours available for people who do not was to rent a car and drive to El Yunque. Some of these tours include more extreme activities such as zip living and kayaking. I am an affiliate partner of Viator. If you book a tour using one of the links below I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider booking using one of my links.
Prices are accurate as of April 2023.
 Zipline Canopy and El Yunque Rainforest Hiking Combo Tour - $259.00 This tour is an opportunity to experience Puerto Rico's National Rainforest in an exhilarating way. For adventure seekers both young and old, soar through treetops and get a unique vantage point high above the forest floor. Feel at one with El Yunque's natural diversity, lush foliage, and unique ecosystem. This tour is by far one of the best methods to view it all at canopy and ground level! |
 El Yunque National Forest Half Day Tour - $115.00 Take time to escape to heaven on Earth in this 1/2 half day tour and let the natural beauty of El Yunque Rainforest captivate you with its lush green vegetation, amazing flora, huge boulders, cascading rivers and scenic views. You will be immersed in a wild, secluded paradise and be mesmerized by Mother Nature’s beauty at its best. At the same time you will be fully infused with the vibrating energy of El Yunque’s rivers and clean air, just like the indigenous Taíno tribe did centuries ago. Nature will be your accomplice in this exhilarating adventure. It will reward you with a sense of accomplishment and a powerful surge of energy, which will be your driving force for days, months and years to come |
 El Yunque Rainforest Nature Walk and Bioluminescent Bay Kayaking Combo Tour - $170.00 If you're looking for an active way to experience Puerto Rico's native environment, take this combo adventure from San Juan that includes a nature hike with a waterfall swim in El Yunque Rainforest and a nighttime kayaking tour on a bioluminescent bay. These two natural wonders provide a fascinating look at the island's ecology. You will also enjoy an authentic Puerto Rican lunch between both activities to enhance your cultural experience (food cost not included in tour price). |
My Visit to El Yunque National Forest
El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rain forest under the jurisdiction of the US Forest System. The rainforest covers 29,000 acres and is filled with wildlife and many unique plants. There is no fee to enter El Yunque. Having limited time, I stopped at the visitors center and decided to drive the main loop stopping often to take pictures of waterfalls and any interesting plantsplants. The only hike I made was to visit the swimming hole below El Mina Falls.
I continued the main loop until it ended at an observation point looking out over the entire rainforest and coast. I identified an area of beach that I wanted to drive to and set my phone GPS to take me there.
Hiking to Mina Falls
The walk took about 45 minutes each way and was definitely worth the time. Unfortunately, when I climbed down towards the waterfall, I slipped on some wet rocks badly bruising my elbow. Despite a minor injury, I was happy that I was able to keep my camera dry and free of cracks.
A Quick Stop at the Beach Near El Yunque National Forest
About an hour after leaving El Yunque, I was at an undisturbed coastal beach. I stayed there for a while before heading back to my hotel via the coastal highway. My final stop of the night was at the Plaza de Las Americas Mall which is the 44th largest in the world. The mall had a very nice food court and many shops similar to those in the mainland United States.
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