Do I need a tour guide for 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.

How much does it cost to tour El Yunque?

There is no entrance fee for the Forest itself. The El Portal Visitors Center (optional) is $4/adult and $2/senior. Kids under 16 are free. There are lots of tour operators who will provide transportation from your hotel and give you a guided tour of the Rain forest for a fee.

How do you prepare for El Yunque?

Bring a change of clothes. Bringing a change of clothes or even just a towel will be helpful.
Rent a car. Not only is it less than an hour away from San Juan, El Yunque has different points of interest the further up (or down) you drive.
Don’t pay for tours.
Plan for a Half Day – Full Day.
Check out El Rancho de Apa.

How much time do you need in El Yunque?

So, plan to spend at least eight hours there. Do not miss the falls and the trails! – The hiking trails and waterfalls are what make El Yunque National Rainforest truly world-famous. You can find a list of the waterfalls here and a list of the hikes that you can take here.

Can I just walk into El Yunque?

Normally, El Yunque is free to enter and you don’t need a permit. However, due to park regulations regarding COVID-19, you need to reserve your time slot online here ahead of time. It’s still technically free to enter, but there is a $2 service fee, which you pay by credit card online.

Can you swim in El Yunque?

Swimming in El Yunque The U. S. Forest Service recommends two swimming holes in El Yunque. La Coca Falls drops 85 feet, spilling over a huge rock formation into a pool that is perfect for wading and swimming. The water temperature in El Yunque’s swimming holes is between 60 and 65 degrees F.

Is El Yunque worth visiting?

El Yunque is a huge tourist spot and there are hundreds of tour buses that make the trip up the two-lane road winding through the forest. If you don’t start early, you can get stuck coming and going from the forest behind these buses. It is well worth the effort to wake up early for this one.

What is the best time to visit El Yunque?

Lucky for all travelers, there’s no bad time of year to visit El Yunque. In general, December to mid-April is a great time to visit Puerto Rico, offering warm weather and little rain.

Can you drive through El Yunque?

Avid outdoor adventurers can hike between the north and south sides of El Yunque. Driving A leisurely drive-through may not be as immersive as a hike, but you’ll still encounter beautiful waterfalls, hibiscus, banana and orchid plants, lizards, and the occasional vista over the forest and out to the Atlantic Ocean.

Are there crocodiles in El Yunque?

You will see a live display of caged snakes like the Puerto Rican Boa and a Python; Giant Monitor Lizards, native and exotic Ground Turtles, and even a small Caiman crocodile!

Do people get lost in El Yunque?

Stay on the Trail in El Yunque This is inadvisable. It’s easy to get lost in the rainforest, and many people do. It may the forest service hours, or longer, to find you, and if you were to have an accident you may not be able to receive help in time.

Can you Uber to El Yunque?

The yunque aka “rain forest” is beautiful from what we got to see. Unfortunately for us there is no path to walk. It’s just one road up and the same road down to exit so a car is mandatory and required. So please to anyone traveling to the rain forest DO NOT TAKE AN UBER.

How long is the trail to waterfall in El Yunque?

The most popular trail in El Yunque is the La Mina Trail, a 0.7-mile-long trail that passes by the 35-foot La Mina Falls. The trail takes about 30 to 45 minutes to walk each way and requires a significant amount of stair-climbing on the return trip, but you can relax in the cool pool beneath the waterfall at the end of the trail.

Which trail to El Yunque Peak?

El Yunque Trail takes you up all the way to one of the highest points in the Forest: El Yunque Peak. This trail is accessed through the Caimitillo or Mt. Britton Spur trails.

How far is El Yunque national forest from Fajardo?

El Yunque National Forest, Río Grande 00745, Puerto Rico. The driving distance from Fajardo to El Yunque National Forest is 18 km.

Where can the Yunque rainforest be found?

El Yunque National Forest ( Spanish: Bosque Nacional El Yunque ), formerly known as the Caribbean National Forest (or Bosque Nacional del Caribe ), is a forest located in northeastern Puerto Rico. It is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Forest System and the United States Forest Service.

Do I need a tour guide for 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…