Now let me set the scene…
Although Ryan and I are technically the “adventurous” type, I have been blessed with every environmental allergy known to man. Every type of tree, plant, dust molecule, mold spur and animal on the planet can essentially send me deep into an allergic reaction that turns me into a walking pile of hives. So, it’s safe to say I was a little skeptical about trekking through America’s only Rainforest without knowing exactly what to expect.
Whether you’re skeptical like me, just looking for some more information on the area, or wondering if the trip to El Yunque might be too physically demanding… stop worrying and without hesitation, go there!! There is a way for every person to enjoy the beauty of El Yunque, no matter your age, physical restrictions or monetary hesitations. Below I’ll share my experience that will make your decision to visit El Yunque a whole lot easier.
Do I Need a Guided Tour through El Yunque?
No trip to Puerto Rico is complete without a trip to El Yunque National Rainforest and let me start by saying first and foremost you DO NOT need a guided tour to enjoy El Yunque. Tours cost about $50-$100 per person including a guide and transportation from most popular hotels on the island. Instead, we rented a car ($40/day) to take the 45 minute drive from Isla Verde Beach to the El Yunque Rain Forest which cost effective and convenient as we could come and go as we pleased.
Driving ourselves gave us the flexibility to visit El Yunque during off-peak hours (early morning or close to closing time) so we didn’t have to wait behind huge lines of tour groups to see the most popular landmarks in El Yunque.
My recommendation would be to set your GPS to take you to El Yunque’s “El Portal Visitors Center” which costs $4.00 to enter. Inside the visitors center, there are maps, information about the Rain Forest’s flora and fauna and a guide that will point out all of the popular destinations to visit during your trip to El Yunque.
Don’t forget to listen for the infamous Coqui (Koh-Kee) Frog!
How Physically Demanding is El Yunque?
Like I mentioned before, El Yunque has a way for everyone to enjoy. There is a long road that stretches the entire length of the rainforest where you can stay in your car and pull over at scenic overlooks along the way. You’ll even be able to enjoy a beautiful waterfall, La Coca Falls, right beside the road!
For the more adventurous, you can drive up to the numerous trail heads and hike. The longest hike to the top of the rainforest takes about 3-4 hours, which we didn’t have time for. However, we did hike down to La Mina Falls right around closing time which turned out to be an absolute gem.
Is the Hike to La Mina Falls Worth It?
YES… and bring a bathing suit! The 30 minute hike to La Mina Falls was the highlight of our trip to El Yunque National Rainforest. The hike itself was downhill on the way there and uphill on the way back. The trail is relatively narrow and a little slippery, but there are plenty of hand rails along the way. The hike is of moderate skill level, but suitable for all ages.
The Piece De Resistance is La Mina Waterfall which is located at the end of the 30 minute, downhill hike. Here, you can enjoy the view or jump right in and swim underneath the waterfall. Insider tip: hike this trail at either opening or closing time, as you will have a better chance of missing all of the tour groups and other hikers. We got to La Mina Falls at 5:30pm and were able to take pictures in the waterfall without anyone else around. It was truly amazing.
Enjoy your time swimming in the falls, but don’t tire yourself out too much because the hike back to the trail head is much more rigorous since you are climbing uphill the entire time.
How to get the El Yunque Rainforest
Watch The El Yunque Rainforest Video
Watch the other Puerto Rico Videos
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The car rental is not $40 anymore. It’s now $200 with insurance. We took a cab to the car rental place (there’s none by the port where the ships dock) that was another $50 round trip.
Nice vlog and write up. This is what I was looking for as we don’t want to do tours. Is there a map/route that you would want us to do to see the different attractions?