El Yunque, Puerto Rico

[mattandersao]

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



After we quickly started our first hike to the less known Juan Diego Falls. We had this series of waterfalls all to ourselves.








The main Juan Diego Fall was about 40 feet high





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.



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.











I will add some more pics later as it is past my bed time!

[Wasatch]

Lots of green, cool.

[gnwatts]

Beautiful. Thanks for the TR.

[mattandersao]

Here are a couple more















My favorite picture I took is of my wife in her I LOVE New York tshirt. I asked if she was seriously wearing that. Her response "well I dont want to look like a tourist by wearing my Puerto Rico shirt I bought yesterday!"

[americanhero]

great shots!!
And I can remember the crowds at La Mina Falls.
But how did you manage it to get pictures of Coco Falls without any people?

[mattandersao]

great shots!!
And I can remember the crowds at La Mina Falls.
But how did you manage it to get pictures of Coco Falls without any people?

Luck?? I dont know right as we arrived a tour bus of people was leaving, after we left a bus arrived and when we left the forest there were about a dozen people all over the Coco!

[americanhero]

Luck?? I dont know right as we arrived a tour bus of people was leaving, after we left a bus arrived and when we left the forest there were about a dozen people all over the Coco!

That's the way I remember it.
But beside the crowds it is a lovely place.