Know Before You Go: Visiting El Yunque National Park

There’s something for pretty much every kind of adventurer in El Yunque. Thrillseekers can go ziplining through the rainforest, while swimmers can visit one of the park’s waterfalls (La Mina Falls, La Coca Falls, and Juan Diego Falls are some of the more popular). You can even take a dip in one of El Yunque’s many swimming holes.

If you’re someone who prefers a good hike, you can instead pick one of the park’s numerous trails, which vary from easy to more strenuous. Lastly, if you’d like to experience El Yunque at night, make sure to check out the bioluminescent bay, where you can kayak through water full of microorganisms that glow in the dark.

There's no charge to enter El Yunque’s forests and trails. However, the visitor center, El Portal—which is located near the northern entrance to the park, off PR 191, and offers a variety of educational exhibits along with a café, a gift shop, and other amenities—does require an entry fee for adults. (Children under 15 enter for free.) Tickets can only be purchased in person, at the entrance. Some parking areas also charge a fee.

Insider tip: If you have National Park Service passes, you’ll receive half price entrance to El Portal.

Taking a tour will make visiting El Yunque much easier because, unfortunately, there's no way to get to El Yunque via public transportation, and you can’t take a cab into the forest. Instead, to get to the forest, you can rent a car or book a tour that includes transportation.

Plus, by booking a tour, you can choose from a variety of experiences and activities, ranging from trips focused on cliff jumping and swimming to kayaking excursions in the island’s famous bioluminescent bay to river walks and opportunities to learn about Puerto Rico’s diverse ecosystem. In short, a tour is the way to go here.

While El Yunque is open all year round, the best time to visit is between December and April, during the “coldest” time of year (and after Puerto Rico’s summertime hurricane season). Temperatures during this time of year often hover in the 70s (or 20s, in Celcius) and are extremely pleasant.

That said, this is also often the busiest time of year, so the park is also more likely to be crowded. If you do visit in winter, make sure to bring your binoculars and cameras—a variety of bird species migrate to Puerto Rico during the winter and make their homes in the forest.

Insider tip: Be sure to bring mosquito repellant no matter what time of year you visit. These pesky bugs are bound to show up thanks to an incredibly humid climate.

Although the trails in El Yunque are open from early morning through late afternoon, it’s best to visit when they first open because popular spots including La Mina Falls often get crowded quickly. All trails at El Yunque are open every day of the year, except for December 25, though the park sometimes closes due to bad weather or safety concerns.

Given that, you should always check the weather on the day of your trip to see if there are any dangerous conditions, like torrential rain, that would dictate whether it’s a good time to visit. Hint: if there's a storm brewing, maybe give it a miss.

Insider tip: The roads to and from the forest can get dark at night, so if you’re driving, plan to leave before sunset.

El Yunque has one wheelchair-accessible trail, the Discovery Trail, which is a 765-yard (700-meter) trail that winds around the property, allowing visitors to have a short immersive experience. (There is, however, a slight slope on the trail.)

El Portal, the visitor center, also offers a variety of different indoor accessible activities, such as a movie theater that shows informational videos about the forest and its ecosystem, as well as educational displays about wildlife and conservation. There is also a large wheelchair-accessible courtyard on the second floor.

Although you can purchase snacks and drinks at El Portal, the visitor center, you should plan to bring your own food and plenty of water so that you can stay hydrated on your trip. Many people choose to stop for provisions on their way to the rainforest, and there are a lot of kiosks selling food and drinks on the side of the road along the way. That said, make sure to take out whatever you bring into the park or dispose of your refuse in a trash can on the way out.

Insider tip: A popular stop en route to the rainforest is Luquillo, the nearby town famous for its beachside restaurants.

It’s important to wear breathable clothing and comfortable shoes for your trip to El Yunque, as the weather is humid and paths can be covered in mud and are often slippery. If you’re planning on hiking, be sure to wear appropriate hiking shoes and bring essentials such as a map, water, and sunscreen. Rain is also not uncommon, so don’t forget to bring along a rain jacket or a poncho to keep dry.

Insider tip: If you’re planning on swimming in the river, wear or bring waterproof shoes. There are often a lot of rocks along the riverbeds, and it can be uncomfortable to enter the water with bare feet.

• Where is El Yunque National Forest? El Yunque National Forest is in the northeast region of Puerto Rico, near the towns of Luquillo, Fajardo, Ceiba, Naguabo, and Loiza. It’s less than an hour’s drive from San Juan.

• What does El Yunque mean, and how do I pronounce it? The word “Yunque” comes from the Taíno word “Yuke,” which means white lands—referring to the clouds that cover the rainforest and mountains. It’s pronounced El YUNE-Kay.

• What kinds of things will I see in El Yunque? El Yunque is home to all types of amazing creatures. There are hundreds of different plant species, fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. El Yunque is also home to one of the world’s most endangered birds, the Puerto Rican parrot.

• Is there a public bathroom in El Yunque? There are public bathrooms in El Portal, the visitor center.