The only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest system — 28,000 acres of cloud forest in the northeastern mountains, with waterfalls, hiking trails, parrots, and the La Mina Falls trail that is Puerto Rico's most-visited hike, 45 minutes from San Juan.
Why It’s Worth Your Time
El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest administered by the US Forest Service — 28,000 acres of the Luquillo Mountains in northeastern Puerto Rico, rising from tropical forest at sea level to cloud forest at the summit of El Toro (1,075m). The La Mina trail to La Mina Falls (1.8km roundtrip) is the most visited hike in Puerto Rico and extremely crowded on weekends; the longer El Yunque Peak trail (10km roundtrip) and Bano Grande trail offer far more solitude. The forest received significant damage from Hurricane Maria (2017) and recovery has been extraordinary — El Yunque is greener and more lush than at any point in recent memory. Go on a weekday morning and take the longer trails to avoid the crowds.
What Stands Out
- Only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest system — 28,000 acres of cloud forest
- La Mina Falls: most-visited hike in Puerto Rico (go weekday morning to avoid crowds)
- Puerto Rican parrot: critically endangered bird
- population recovering in El Yunque
- El Yunque Peak trail: 10km roundtrip with cloud forest views — significantly less crowded
- 45 minutes from San Juan by car — ideal half-day combination with northeast coast beaches