El Yunque National Rain Forest

El Yunque

El Yunque is the only “Tropical” Rain Forest in the U.S. formerly known as the Luquillo National Forest. El Yunque, which may be attributed to either a Spanish approximation of the aboriginal Taíno word yu-ke which means "white lands", or the word "anvil," which is yunque in Spanish.
Location, Puerto Rico, Nearest city Río Grande

Coordinates: 18°19′00″N 65°47′00″W, Area 28,434 acres (115.07 km2) [1] , Established January 17, 1903

A visit to the El Yunque National Forest is a special experience. Only in El Yunque can you see the giant tree ferns and tropical birds such as the Puerto Rican Parrot. You can you enjoy vistas of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea on a clear day.

About 1,250,000 people visit the forest a year. About half of the visitors are Puerto Ricans, including many school children and family groups. The rest are visitors from all over the world.

Water Fall

Islanders typically visit the forest in the hot summer months of July and August when they take advantage of the cool river pools and shady picnic areas. Most of our off-island visitors come during the winter and early spring months. Many cruise ship passengers take advantage of their day in Puerto Rico to take a tour into the heart of the forest.

Our quiet times are mid-April through mid-June and September through October. But whatever time of the year you visit our scenic roadways, picnic areas, nature trails, and the El Portal Rain Forest Center, we will be open and ready for your enjoyment.

Great day trip, pack a lunch, wear sneakers and do bring the beach shoes if you want to go in the pools and water falls as the rocks are slippery.

For more information on what is happening, alerts, passes, permits, land, and resource management and learning center visit the USDA, El Yunque National Forest website.

El Toro Wilderness is a 10,000-acre (40.5 km2) National Wilderness Preservation System located partly within El Yunque National Forest (formerly the Caribbean National Forest) on the island of Puerto Rico. El Toro, named after the highest peak in the forest at 3,524 feet (1,074 m), is the only tropical wilderness in the United States National Forest System.[1]

El Toro is home to a variety of wildlife, including the critically endangered Puerto Rican Parrot.
In descending order of land area the wilderness is located in parts of the municipalities of Río Grande, Naguabo, Las Piedras, and Canóvanas.

Stay with us at Villas de Costa Mar for clean, safe, secure, comfortable accommodations in Dorado Puerto Rico and do day trips to anywhere in the island. Directions and instructions in our rentals and on our website... 
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