mattandersao
03-24-2011, 11:31 PM
42867
Having lived in the desert for my entire life hiking through a dense rainforest was a freakin sweet experience.
El Yunque "is the only tropical forest in the United States National Forest System. Originally set aside in 1876 by the Spanish Crown, the Forest represents one of the oldest reserves in the Western Hemisphere. With over 240 species (26 species are found nowhere else) of trees and plants, give reason to the government of Puerto Rico to spend a great deal of moneymaking to preserve floral species and animals that are on the verge of extinction. The total area is 11,270 ha (75% of Puerto Rico virgin forest is here)."
We first stopped at the road side pull out to take some pictures of Coco Falls
42857
After we quickly started our first hike to the less known Juan Diego Falls. We had this series of waterfalls all to ourselves.
42856
42859
42858
The main Juan Diego Fall was about 40 feet high
42855
42860
Next on to the heavily visited La Mina Falls. If I ever go back to El Yunque I would visit La Mina Falls very early to take some pictures before the masses arrive to swim in the pool beneath the waterfall.
42861
After La Mina I convinced my family that we needed to see El Yunque from above. We had already hiked several trails in the rainforest, I wanted to see it from an observation point. So we hiked to the Mount Dutton Tower which offered 360 degree views. From the top you could see the Carribean, the peaks of El Yunque, etc.
42866
42865
42864
42863
42862
I will add some more pics later as it is past my bed time!
Having lived in the desert for my entire life hiking through a dense rainforest was a freakin sweet experience.
El Yunque "is the only tropical forest in the United States National Forest System. Originally set aside in 1876 by the Spanish Crown, the Forest represents one of the oldest reserves in the Western Hemisphere. With over 240 species (26 species are found nowhere else) of trees and plants, give reason to the government of Puerto Rico to spend a great deal of moneymaking to preserve floral species and animals that are on the verge of extinction. The total area is 11,270 ha (75% of Puerto Rico virgin forest is here)."
We first stopped at the road side pull out to take some pictures of Coco Falls
42857
After we quickly started our first hike to the less known Juan Diego Falls. We had this series of waterfalls all to ourselves.
42856
42859
42858
The main Juan Diego Fall was about 40 feet high
42855
42860
Next on to the heavily visited La Mina Falls. If I ever go back to El Yunque I would visit La Mina Falls very early to take some pictures before the masses arrive to swim in the pool beneath the waterfall.
42861
After La Mina I convinced my family that we needed to see El Yunque from above. We had already hiked several trails in the rainforest, I wanted to see it from an observation point. So we hiked to the Mount Dutton Tower which offered 360 degree views. From the top you could see the Carribean, the peaks of El Yunque, etc.
42866
42865
42864
42863
42862
I will add some more pics later as it is past my bed time!