Caribbean National Forest - El Yunque

The Caribbean National Forest, also known as El Yunque, is located on the northeastern part of Puerto Rico. This 28,000 acre park is the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System. The forest encompasses a large variety of terrain and ecosystems. With over 200 inches of rain per year and an average temperature of 73°, the forest is packed with a wide range of flora and fauna including thousands of native plants (150 fern species alone) and 240 tree species as well as hundreds of species of small animals, many of which are exclusively found in this forest.

El Yunque is criss-crossed with an amazing network of well maintained trails with a wide range of difficulty levels. One of the more popular trails, Big Tree Trail, is a paved path leading through the jungle to a waterfall. The trail is lined with interpretive signs informing visitors about the area's flora and fauna. The trip is about 45 mintues each direction and is an easy hike.