20 Apr

El Yunque Tropical Rainforest

Loving nature is what El Yunque is all about. It is the only Tropical Rainforest in the US National Forest System. Explore hiking trails, waterfalls and nature all around. This interesting information was found on the official site of the USDA.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/elyunque/home/

Planning a visit to El Yunque?

Scenery - heavy mist on mountains

Here are some tips for your visit:

The Forest recreation areas and facilities are open daily open except for December 25, Christmas Day.

The El Portal Visitor Center has a movie, exhibits, a store, café and information to help you prepare for your visit. The fees are $4/adult, seniors $2 and youth 15 and under are free. Payment is cash only.

Hours:

The Forest is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
El Portal Visitor Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Driving to the Forest?
If you are driving to the Forest using GPS try entering the following directions to help you arrive most directly to the main Forest entrance and the visitor center :

El Portal Visitor Center
PR 191
Rio Grande, PR 00745

Road construction:
There are several road construction projects happening near the Forest. Please be aware of these projects and use caution when traveling in El Yunque:

Road construction projects are also occurring off the Forest on PR Rd 191, the main access road to the Forest, and in the town of Palmer. Please use caution when driving in these areas.

Some suggested hiking areas for families and children:

Trail at El Portal – short interpretive hike at the visitor center

Angelito Trail on Rd 988 – short hike to the Mameyes River

Caimitillo Trail at Km on Rd 191 – hike includes picnic shelters and can be done as a short loop trail

Sorry, but we currently are not able to provide an interpretive guided hike program

NVUM Survey

The National Visitor Use Monitoring survey will take place occasionally in various locations on roads, trails or recreation areas throughout the Forest through October, 2016. If you see the survey taking place, please take a few minutes to provide us with your feedback and ideas which will help us learn more about our visitors and their recreation experiences in the Forest.

Want to learn more about the history of the Forest ? Here’s an informative brochure on the history of the Forest.

Safety Reminders:

In case of emergency, dial 911. Cell phone coverage in the Forest may be limited in some areas
Nonslip shoes and rain gear are recommended. Bring plenty of water. Stay on designated trails.
Take the time to plan your visit and orient yourself to the trails and areas you intend to visit. Locations along the Forest are marked with signs and trailheads also provide information on the trail routes, time and level of difficulty. Adjust your hiking experiences to your time constraints and physical condition of yourself and your group.
Did you know that the La Mina Falls area is a trash free zone? Please help us keep El Yunque clean by packing out all trash and materials from the Forest
Be careful hiking near rivers and streams as flash flood conditions can occur. Always check the weather conditions before venturing out on the trails
When outdoors, take precaution to protect yourself from insect and mosquito bites

For More information:

Thanks to the USDA website for providing such interesting information about one of the most important resources in the island and the 8th wonder of the world to all puertoricans.

Original source: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/elyunque/home/