El Yunque National Forest Puerto Rico

 Popular day trip from San Juan, El Yunque combines all the magic of a rain forest majestic trees, giant ferns, and mysterious peeps and trills emanating from the dense foliage in the rugged Luquillo Mountains. As the only tropical rain forest in the United States National Forest System, El Yunque provides paved trails that are easy on children and inexperienced hikers. It even offers a drive-through option for windshield tourists who can enjoy the misty landscape and roadside waterfalls along Route 191, the only road through the 28,000-acre forest. But El Yunque, considered sacred by the Taino Indians, is indubitably best experienced on foot. This place is home to thousands of plants, including 240 tree species (23 of which are found nowhere else) and 70 orchids. El Yunque has 13 hiking trails covering 23 miles of varied terrain. 

The hardy can summit El Toro and take in spectacular 360-degree views of the forest, but even small children can handle the less-than-a-milelong Big Tree Trail that wends past La Mina Falls, whose cascades plummet 35 feet into a cool, refreshing pool of water the perfect plunge on a hot day. The 3-mile El Yunque Trail is considered the most rewarding. The farther away you can get from the cruise-ship crowds, the more jungle magic you’ll find. 

There are no large creatures here such as monkeys or panthers, but there are plenty of small ones that you may not see but will certainly hear. Millions of tiny coqui, the endemic tree frog that is Puerto Rico’s mascot, live here, trilling “co-KEE” sporadically until evening approaches, or after a rainfall when it turns into a full-blown chorus. The most prized sighting is the bright-green Puerto Rican SABA parrot, once abundant but now quite rare and highly endangered. After the rain forest, it’s only 8 miles north of Luquillo Beach, a much-photographed palm-lined crescent of white sand and calm turquoise waters that attracts lots of local families from San Juan. Follow them: They know which roadside stand sells the best alcapurrias, plantain fritters stuffed with seafood.

Mar Chiquita, A Lovely Oval Shaped Beach in Puerto Rico

Can a beach be secluded and popular at the same time? Mar Chiquita has someway managed this feat, still retaining its sense of private allure as the surrounding town of Manatí developed. Mar Chiquita, also called “Little Sea”, is a small beach in a protected cove close to eastern end of a long rocky wall uncovered on the coast of Manatí in northern Puerto Rico, almost 40 KM west of San Juan. The north shore of Puerto Rico has miles of beautiful shoreline and it is one best spots for great views on the island. The Atlantic Ocean is always pounding against the rocky outcroppings along the shore carving it into interesting shapes. But that it is not to say you can’t find a calm beach on the north shore.

The lovely oval shaped beach lies behind the rocky wall in a trivial cove protected from the rough Atlantic. The wall was breached by the action of waves to form a 25 meter opening where the tide entered and formed a bay in the shape of the English alphabet U. The waves inside the cove are of substantial height as the result of the backwash meeting the incoming waves at their breaking point, building up the size of the waves. However; due to the shape of the cove and the narrow area between the rocks where water comes in and goes out, there can be serious undertows. It is possible to get sucked out into the open ocean when the water flows back out of the cove. Generally, it is calmer in the summer months so you can wade or snorkel, but it is not always good for swimming due to its strong undercurrents and rocks. 

Mar Chiquita was once a famous beach with a beautiful setting of palm trees, golden sand, and the imposing ridge of pitted eolianite. These days, Playa Mar Chiquita is still an elegant beach, but it is no longer as secluded as it once was due to the major urban development occurring on the coastal plains of Puerto Rico. Though, the beach’s fame has not declined, even on any given day of the week you can see some family picnics, and visitors playing beach sports, or simply enjoying the landscape and sunbathing. One popular activity is to climb and explore the eolianite ridge that forms the rocky headland of Punta Mar Chiquita, on the northeast side of the beach. 

It is likely to walk on all the rocks, but be aware, the limestone rocks were a bit slippery in some spots and they are really sharp. Shoes are essential flip flops are not sturdy enough. Unfortunately if you slipped and fell, it would hurt a lot! Another thing to watch out for is huge waves that have been famous to come over the top of the rocks. Stay alert. Although facilities are scant, with just a couple of huts serving light fare. Bring a beach chair this is a place to relax and soak it in.