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· Receptive Nature & Adventure EcoTour Operator · Consultants · Trainers · Mayagüez · Luquillo · San Juan · Vieques · Rincón ·
EL YUNQUE NATIONAL FOREST
with a private Certified Interpretive Tour Guide
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 $20 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 was selected on July 21, 2009,
amongst the 28 New Natural Wonders of the World thanks to the
efforts of people like you.   Do you want to know why El Yunque
should be one of the new Seven Wonders of Nature?  Your leader
will be a local resident and Certified Interpretive Master Tour
Guide specializing in El Yunque.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS - ECOTOURS - EL YUNQUE NATIONAL FOREST
CODE
Price
Meeting point
Availability
Reservations
Departure Time
Duration
Effort level
Minimum age
Hiking trail
Hiking time
Stops
Minimum
Maximum
Private tour
Site waiver
YNQ-HW
$55 pp
Luquillo
Upon request
Required
Before 3:00 PM
2 hrs. (approx.)
Low-impact
N/A
El Portal or Caimitillo
2 hrs. low-impact
El Portal, La Coca
2
8
Yes
Yes
The Hidden Wonders does not include bird
watching.  If you are interested in bird watching
at El Yunque, please visit this
link.
El Yunque’s biodiversity makes it unique among other forests in the United States National Forest System. Frequent rain
showers generate close to 100 billion gallons of rainwater a year and conspire with Puerto Rico’s warm tropical climate to
accommodate over 240 species of native trees, 50 species of orchids, and 150 species of ferns. Almost a third of the tree
species are native to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and 10 percent of them are endemic to El Yunque and cannot be found
anywhere else in the world.

The forest’s animal life is dominated by reptiles, amphibians, and birds, including the endangered ‘Higuaca’ or Puerto Rican
Parrot. The forest attracts over a million visitors each year, who come to hike its more than 13 miles of trails while enjoying the
lush scenery and fresh mountain air.