When I was planning out what I wanted to do on my recent trip to Puerto Rico, visiting El Yunque National Forest was high on my to-do list. Although most visitors to Puerto Rico think of endless sandy beaches and Old San Juan, I could only think of visiting El Yunque.
El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest located in the United States of America and her territories around the world.
Just imagine: breathtaking scenery, enough diverse plant life to satisfy every botanist in the world, waterfalls that probably inspired the TLC hit pop song, and plenty of trails to discover.
Why Should You Consider Visiting El Yunque?
Honestly, how many of you can say that you’ve visited a tropical rainforest? Okay, well maybe a few of you, but it’s definitely a status that helps carry a lot of clout.
Lounging at the beach is a great way to fill your Vitamin D and flood your Instagram with plenty of sun-drenched angles. But if you’re anything like me, you get bored with just laying around all day.
Visiting El Yunque will give you a change of scenery, offer you endless paths to hike, and a great way to cool off afterwards.
And if you don’t want to get out and hike, you can simply drive in and out of the forest in the comfort of your rental car!
How to Get to El Yunque National Forest
El Yunque National Forest is located in the northeastern corner of Puerto Rico, close to the Rio Grande area.
If you are choosing to visit El Yunque on your own, you’ll need to rent a car. Some of my favorite moments were driving my rental car through sections of the forest.
Although Uber is widely used in many areas of Puerto Rico, you won’t find any drivers close to the forest. And your cell phone might not have reception in the area.
You can also hire a driver, but it would be a lot cheaper to just rent a car and drive yourself. If you’re adamant about not driving yourself, book a tour with a group so someone else can worry about the vehicle.
Tips for Visiting El Yunque
As 2020 and the beginning of 2021 have taught us, things can change in a heartbeat. Keep that in mind when planning your visit to El Yunque.
Here are some basic tips for visiting El Yunque, so you can enjoy your trip and leave your worries at the entrance.
Make a Reservation before Visiting El Yunque
With all the changes that have happened since the beginning of 2020, you now need to make a reservation before visiting El Yunque.
The only way the US Forest Service can control the crowd size entering the forest at any given day is to require reservations. While you technically can “book” your reservation at the entrance to El Yunque, there’s always a chance that there won’t be any reservations left and you’ll be turned away.
Here’s how you book your reservation for visiting El Yunque:
- Visit Reservation.gov and search “EL YUNQUE RESERVATIONS” (or just click on this direct link)
- Scroll down to “Activities & Experiences”
- Select the tile “Reservaciones para El Yunque/El Yunque Reservations”
- In the new window, scroll down and click on the “BOOK NOW” option on the “Scheduled Reservation Ticket/Timed Reservation Ticket” tile
- Select the date and time you want to visit and add to cart (tickets are divided into 2 times – the busier time will be the 2nd option)
- Checkout and pay the $2USD for your reservation
- Save a copy of your receipt/code/confirmation email/ticket to show at the entrance.
Visit Early in the Day
If I sound like a broken record on this blog, there’s a reason. You need to visit El Yunque early in the morning, right when it first opens.
Not only will you avoid the midday blazing sun, but you’ll also find the forest at the emptiest.
Most tour groups start their day around 9-10am, so if you can arrive before then…you’re saving yourself a bunch of time.
Bring Bug Spray and Sunscreen
It should go without saying that you should always wear bug spray when in a tropical rainforest, but I’ll say it anyway.
Apply bug spray when visiting El Yunque! And reapply after playing in waterfalls and waterslides.
Even if you’re wearing long pants like yoga pants or joggers, it might be worth it to spray a little bit around where the bottom of the pants end.
And make sure you’re wearing enough sun protection. Reapply after getting wet or sweating as well. It’s amazing how long you’ll go before you realize that you’re sunburnt!
Check the Website for Closure Updates
Before your visit, make sure to check the El Yunque National Forest website for closure updates. It might behoove you to also check their social media channels to be sure.
With the challenges that 2020 and 2021 have brought to the tourism industry, many places around the world have experienced closures to a certain degree.
Additionally, mudslides, earthquakes, and other natural disasters can affect the trails, waterfalls, and other wonders found in the forest.
Pack PLENTY of Water and Food
Even if you don’t plan on doing much hiking and adventuring when visiting El Yunque, make sure you bring plenty of water. Sweating, hiking, being at a higher elevation than the rest of the island will dry your body out quicker than you think.
When I visited El Yunque in January 2021, there weren’t any restaurants open in or close to the forest. There was a stand on the side of the road selling snacks, but nothing meal-worthy. Eat before you go and make sure to pack enough food to keep your and your party satisfied.
Wear Shoes that Can Get Wet
You’re visiting El Yunque – a RAINFOREST. Not just a rainforest, but a TROPICAL rainforest. There’s tons of water all around: hikes that take you to waterfalls, rain, and pools you can take a dip in.
There’s nothing fun about getting your new sneakers wet and ruined, or having to take off and then put back on sweaty, gross socks. I personally wore my Tevas.
I definitely recommend wearing shoes that have a good grip as well.
If you’re still on the fence for visiting El Yunque on your next trip to Puerto Rico, just give it a try. The visit will only cost you $2USD, and you don’t even have to get out of the car if you so choose.
But, you’ll be glad you did!
Have you ever considered visiting El Yunque? Have you ever been to a tropical rainforest before? Which one?
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