As of March 15, 2023: Several trails remain closed following Hurricane Fiona.
Check the National Forest Service website for the most up-to-date information.

El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. national forest system and sees more than one million visitors every year. Visitors come to see El Yunque’s many incredible waterfalls and appreciate the forest’s biodiversity. There are several companies that offer guided waterfall tours, these generally visit the same well-tread paths so you’ll be navigating some more crowded spots. My preference is always a self-guided tour if it is safe to do so. We had a rental car and were able to drive into the forest on our own. This guide assumes that you have your own vehicle.

Check out my Step-by-Step Guide to a Secret Waterfall in El Yunque National Forest off the beaten path for your own private escape.

Before You Go

Since December 20 2021 and as of this publication, visitors need a reservation to enter the most popular portion of El Yunque, the La Mina Recreation Area along Road 191. You can get a pass by visiting Recreation.Gov and paying a $2 service fee. The pass is per vehicle, you do not need one for each individual in your group. The reservation process is easy, and I had no issues getting a ticket on the day of our choice about three weeks before our trip in early May 2022. Tickets are released one month in advance, with a few tickets held back to be released 24 hours before for the spontaneous set. If you have never used Recreation.Gov before, you will need to create a username and password.

What to Bring

Bring a screenshot or a printed copy of your Recreation.Gov reservation confirmation and a photo ID for the person whose name is on the reservation.

There is no publicly accessible potable water inside the forest, so bring your own water bottle or plan to pay a premium at one of the roadside shops along the mountain.

As far as what to wear and pack, keep it light. Loose fitting hiking clothes over a swimsuit will be more comfortable than leggings and much easier to pull back on after you’ve taken a dip. Definitely wear hiking shoes and socks, especially if you’re planning on some of the more adventurous trails. The trails can get muddy and I was glad to not be wearing hiking sandals. I’d recommend bringing as little as possible onto the trail because depending on difficulty there may be times you need both hands to safely navigate the trail. A fanny pack should hold most of what you need.

Getting into El Yunque National Forest

As I mentioned, you’ll need a vehicle to get into El Yunque. The forest covers over 28,000 acres, so it is not realistic to explore it meaningfully on foot. You will enter El Yunque from highway PR3 on the north side of the island onto Road 191. There are some shops and a juice bar just off the highway if you’d like to grab a snack before heading up the mountain. Staying on Road 191, you will drive past the visitor center; you do not need to stop at the visitor center to show your reservation confirmation. Just after passing the entrance to the visitor center, keep right at the fork to stay on Road 191. Around KM8, you will come to a tent with Forest Service employees who will ask for your name and may ask to see your reservation confirmation. Once your reservation is confirmed, you can continue on.

Hiking Trails and Viewpoints

According to the U.S. Forest Service, there are 18.8 miles of roads and 24 miles of recreational trails in El Yunque. AllTrails lists 12 trails, ranging in difficulty from easy to hard and in length from 1.1 kilometers to an ambitious 16 kilometers. The U.S. Forest Service site lists 16 trails, some of which overlap with those on AllTrails. I recommend referring to the Forest Service site because I think their list is more comprehensive and they will have the most current information on trail closures or other alerts.

La Coca Falls

La Coca Falls is an 85 foot waterfall that ends with water flowing over a sheer rock surface. The foot of the waterfall is visible from Road 191 at kilometer marker 8.1. You’ll see people pulling over to the side of the road to take photos. Just be careful crossing the road. This is distinct from La Coca Trail, which begins at kilometer marker 8.5 and is considered one of the most challenging trails in the forest.

Torre Yokahú/Yokahu Tower

Shortly after La Coca Falls, you’ll see a large parking lot on your left next to what looks like the dusty pink tower of a castle. Despite its medieval appearance, Yokahu Tower was built in the early 1960’s. Spiraling stairs lead to lookout point that offers 360 degree views of the forest.

Juan Diego Falls

Just before kilometer marker 10 is the trailhead to a series of waterfalls, though the sign actually says Juan Diego Creek. There are gravel lots and some roadside parking available between kilometers 9 and 10. For more on Juan Diego Falls, including how to reach a third secret waterfall, check out Step-by-Step Guide to a Secret Waterfall in El Yunque National Forest.

La Mina Falls – CLOSED

There are two trails to access El Yunque’s most popular waterfall, La Mina, but both remain closed following damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017. Big Tree Trail starts at kilometer marker 10.4 on Road 191, next to a paved parking lot. La Mina Trail was the other option, which also have paved parking lots adjacent to the trailhead and is further along 191 at kilometer marker 12.0.

Other notes

The gates to Road 191 close at 5:30 every day and you have to be out by 5:00 PM or risk a citation by police. There are no camping permits currently being issued for El Yunque so there is not an option for staying overnight. Dogs are allowed on all trails as long as they are on a leash.