El Yunque National Forest: Visitor Guide
How to visit El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System: entry rules, open trails, getting there, and practical tips.
Start here
Top Destinations
If you only have a week, start with these. The forts, beaches and forests that define the island for most people who visit it.
If this is your first trip, these are the places most visitors build an itinerary around. Old San Juan alone can fill two days: the fortresses of El Morro and San Cristóbal, the walls and gates, and streets lined with eighteenth-century houses. From San Juan, El Yunque and Luquillo make an easy day trip east, and Fajardo is the jumping-off point for the ferries and boats to Culebra and Vieques.
With a few more days, head south to Ponce for its museums and historic center, or west to the cliffs and beaches of Cabo Rojo and the surf towns of Rincón and Isabela. A car makes all of this far easier; public transport outside the San Juan metro area is limited. The top things to do guide puts it all on one page, and the 100 cosas checklist goes much further.
Top Destinations
Playa Sucia (La Playuela), Cabo Rojo: Access and Tips
Playa Sucia, or La Playuela, is a cliff-ringed cove below the Cabo Rojo lighthouse. How to reach it on the refuge road, what to bring and what's nearby.
