Travel Guide El Yunque National Forest

Although 45% of its surface area covers part of the municipality of Rio Grande, El Yunque also extends to other villages: Naguabo, Luquillo, Fajardo, Ceiba, Canóvanas and Juncos. Unfortunately, the park did not escape the violence of Hurricane Maria, and it took 5 years for nature to recover. In its entirety, the Yunque National Forest occupies 113 km², or 1.27% of the Puerto Rican territory. Administered by the United States Forest Service, it is the only tropical reserve in the United States. It is home to more than 200 species of trees, 23 of which exist only in this reserve. In total, nearly 35 km of trails have been developed to allow visitors to discover as many natural wonders as possible. Some observation sites offer a breathtaking view of the country's east coast. From there, you can see San Juan and the Atlantic Ocean. For those who like to swim, a small natural pool is formed at the foot of the Mina waterfall. Whatever your choice of visit, it is strongly recommended to go during the week, and early in the morning. El Yunque has the advantage of being close to San Juan. It takes only 45 minutes by car to reach the capital. But this good point has a disadvantage: it attracts a lot of Sanjuaneros (inhabitants of San Juan) looking for some greenery, not to mention the flood of tourists, especially on weekends