EL YUNQUE HIDDEN WONDERS - El Yunque National Forest

217 8 junio 372 15agosto
387 18agosto 418 26agosto
604 4dic

We follow Green Globe and APIE
Codes of Best Practices.

What makes El Yunque
so special?

Located in la Sierra de Luquillo and with
approximately 29,000 acres of land, El
Yunque National Forest is one of the
most important places in Puerto Rico
due to its biological diversity.

		Endemic Birds
		Approximately 35 species of migratory
		birds
		Habitat of several endangered species,
		plus
		Over 240 species of native trees (88 are
		rare and 23 endemic to the Forest)
		50 species of native orchids, including
		world´s smallest orchid
		Over 150 species of ferns
		127 species of terrestrial vertebrate
		14 different lizard species
		Over 1,200 insects
		10 aquatic invertebrates
		7 species of fish
		9 species of freshwater shrimp
		1 freshwater crab
		and glow in the dark fungi!!!

NOAA - Puerto Rico Mean Annual Precipitation
(1971-2000)

If you have enough time to explore El Yunque
National Forest, this is the opportunity you are
looking for. We will visit two of the four types of
forest.

Our journey starts at El Portal Visitor Center where
you will learn the basics of a tropical rain forest. As
we hike El Portal Trail, our first target in this
secondary forest will be the Puerto Rican Tody;
tarantulas and boas are always welcome! Here is
where we start counting lizards.

Water is maybe the most important resource in this
Forest, remember that everything started with a drop
of water. This is way our next two stops will be at La
Coca Falls and Baño de Oro. Keep eyes wide
open for hummingbirds and aquatic invertebrates.

A second hike through a second type of forest will
take us to Caimitillo Trail; more ferns, lizards, fungi,
walking sticks, spiders, blue wasps, plus flowers,
including one of the smallest orchid on Earth. Of the
nine species of the genus Lepanthes occurring at El
Yunque, eight are endemic. The smallest orchid on
Earth was discovered in 2009 in Ecuador.

Our last stop will be at the entrance of Big Tree Trail
which is also part of the first type of forest.

Although departure time is flexible, we suggest
meeting our Guide at 2 PM in Luquillo. If you want to
combine this tour with a night hike, you should meet
our Guide not later than 3:00 PM and join us in our
search of glow in the dark fungi (special
conditions should occur two or three days before the
bioluminescent fungi can be seen).

Please add $25 per person for the combined tour.
Departing from San Juan? Please check prices on
tours departing from San Juan.

Please wear neutral colors, comfortable shoes, and
a hat. Remember to bring your camera and
binoculars. This is not a birding trip.

El Yunque National Forest is home of over 240 species of native trees, 50 species
of orchids, 150 species of ferns, 7 of the 71 species of glow in the dark
mushrooms. Wildlife at the Forest is dominated by birds, amphibians, and reptiles.

Your leader will be a local resident and Certified Interpretive Master Tour Guide
specializing in El Yunque with special permits to offer wildlife observation trips.

CODE
Price
Meeting point
Availability
Reservations
Meeting Time
Durantion
Effort level
Minimum age
Hiking trail
Hiking time
Stops
Minimum
Maximum
Private tour
Site waiver

YNQ-HW
$55 pp
Luquillo
Upon request
Required
2:00 PM
2.5 hrs. from Luquillo
Low-impact
N/A
El Portal or Caimitillo
2 hrs. low-impact
El Portal, La Coca
2
4 (Groups are welcome)
Yes
Yes

Due to the number of people visiting El Yunque National Forest during the Holy Week/Weekend (Wednesday through Sunday, including Good
Friday and Easter) and the month of July (we have four holidays, July 4, July 17, July 25, and July 27), we DO NOT OFFER tours to El Yunque
other than the Night Hike and/or Taíno Ceremony. Access to the Forest is limited and we cannot guarantee the quality on those days.