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The Best El Yunque Waterfalls and Hikes: Everything you Need to Know to Visit

El Yunke Waterfalls

The National Forest in Puerto Rico is home to beautiful El Yunque waterfalls, overlooks, hikes and tropical rainforest. Just a short drive from San Juan, a visit to the forest makes the perfect day trip and adventure and is easy to do on your own, or you can book one of the many El Yunque tours. We visited El Yunque in 2022 as part of our 7 day trip to Puerto Rico.

Below you can find everything you need to know to help you plan your trip.

El Yunque facts: El Yunque Waterfalls, Overlooks, and More

This amazing place is the only tropical forest in the US National Parks System. Below are some amazing facts about El Yunque National Forest to know before you visit:

  • The name El Yunque comes from an Indian spirit Yuquiyu, and means ‘Forest of Clouds’
  • It is home to 8 major rivers and many endangered plants and animals
  • El Yunque typically revieves about 240 inches of water a year (so be prepared for some rain!)
  • Following Hurrican Maria, parts of the park are still closed
  • When we visited in 2022 they were doing a timed entry system to get in. You can find out more information about this and closures at the National Forest Service
El Yunque Waterfalls and Hikes

How to Get to El Yunque from San Juan

Located about 40 km southeast of San Juan, it is a short drive to the forest. The El Yunque visitor center is located on route 191 which is the main road into the park, although there are several other roads that can get you access to other parts of the National Forest.

If you are driving yourself from San Juan to El Yunque it takes about 45 minutes and the road is well maintained (there is no need for a 4×4). In the town of Palmer, you will turn onto rt 191 and you will find the Visitor Center in just a few minutes of driving. If you simply drive without making any stops, to the end of the road, it only takes about 30 minutes once you’re in the park – of course, you won’t want to do this as there are lots of great places to get out and explore!

Map of El Yunque Waterfalls and Highlights

You can see some of the best spots to visit on the map below. Scroll down to see more information on each spot.

The Best El Yunque Waterfalls

Read below for the best El Yunque waterfalls, swimming hole and more. You can also print out a copy of the best waterfalls and hikes in El Yunque National Forest by clicking on the photo below.

Catarata Coca

This is the first El Yunque waterfall you get to and is almost immediately inside the gate on your right. You can see the waterfall from the road and there is a parking lot where you can stop and snap a few photos. This is a beautiful waterfall as the water cascades over a large rock with moss and spreads out to form a fan.

Juan Diego Falls (KM 9.6)

This is a short hike to several waterfalls where you can swim in the pools. The water is refreshingly cold and the tropical forest It is also a very popular stop and can get crowded. The trail to get to the falls is typically muddy and involves some scrambling, especially to get to the second waterfall. I wouldn’t do this hike in flip-flops!

The entire trail is short and the two main waterfalls (6 feet tall and 15 feet tall) are worth the walk!

El Yunque Waterfalls: Juan Diego Falls
El Yunque Waterfalls: Juan Diego Falls

Cascade La Mina

(currently closed) La Mina was unfortunately closed when we visited in 2022, but as this is a great place to visit, I want to include it here. The waterfall is a tall 35 foot drop with a beautiful pool at the bottom where you can cool off after your hike. The hike to the waterfalls is a km 12.2 and it is about a 0.7 mile walk to the waterfall. Make sure to check the area status before you go.

Baño Grande (km 11.9)

This is more of a pool than a waterfall, but I included it here because the pool is man made with water coming over the dam as you walk up to the pool. It is a very short walk on an easy trail to the large pool. The pool was built in the 1930’s as a swimming pool, this pool dams up the La Mina River. Plan just a few minutes to walk around and snap some photos of the tranquil pool.

El Yunque Waterfalls: Bano Grande
El Yunque Waterfalls: Bano Grande

The Best El Yunque Hikes and Overlooks

Hike to the El Yunque Peak Tower (km 12)

This peak hike takes you to one of the tallest peaks in the El Yunque forest. The trail leaves from the same location as the Bano Grande and is about 2.6 miles each way with 1700 feet of elevation gain. The trail gets muddy in places, so be prepared!

Mount Britton Tower Trail (km 13)

This is a short hike to a stone tower for views across the whole region. The hike is on a 1.6 mile trail and gains about 650 feet and is moderate in difficulty. It’s not only a great view, but a beautiful walk through the tropical forest.

Yokahu Tower

As you drive up 191, you will pass this watch tower on your left. It’s worth the short stop in the lot to climb up the tower for some beautiful views of the forest.

Yokahu Tower

Angelito Trail

This trail is not located on the 191 road that goes up into the park. To get to the Angelito trail, you will need to turn onto 988. The trail is 0.7 miles long that takes you to Las Dams pool on the Mameyes River. There is a place to swim here and a rope swing.

Las Pailas

One other site to note is to visit Las Pailas. This natural water slide is located close to Luquillo so isn’t in El Yunque exactly, but since you can access it either on your way in or out of the forest, I included it here. This is a beautiful swimming hole on the River Pitahaya. As the water cascades down the rock, it forms 2 natural slides where you can swim and slide. We finished our day with a visit to this beautiful swimming hole.

See a Complete Guide to Visiting Las Pailas.

El Yunque Waterfalls: Las Pailas
El Yunque Waterfalls: Las Pailas

Other El Yunque Adventures

If you’re looking extend your day, or want some more adrenaline pumping activities besides swimming El Yunque waterfalls and hiking in the tropical forest, there are several options to get more adventurous by taking a tour. Some of the most popular tours include zip lining, and swimming/sliding down natural rock slides.

Many of the tours available will pick you up directly from where you are staying or you can drive to the location. This is the best way to see the National Forest if you don’t want to rent a car.

Common Questions about El Yunque

How long do you need in El Yunque National Forest?

You should plan on spending a half-day in the National Park, although if you are going to do one of the longer hikes, or want to drive to a different part of the forest you will need a full day.

Where to stay near El Yunque National Forest?

Since El Yunque is just 45 minutes from San Juan, it’s easy to stay there and go to El Yunque for the day. Another great option is to stay anywhere along the east coast. Luquillo is almost directly on the coast from here and is also a great surfing destination.

Where to eat near El Yunque National Forest?

If you are coming for the day to see the El Yunque waterfalls and forest, you can either pack a lunch at eat at one of the parking lot areas where there are bathrooms or look for a restaurant. You will pass several places to eat on the way in on rt 191 such as La Muralla, Rest Elbyby Dajao, and Carabalí Bar & Grill.

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Puerto Rico?

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The Best Things to do in Old San Juan

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Things to do in Culebra

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