The waterfalls
Waterfalls drop over rock into pools, with swimming stops that depend on the open route. La Mina Falls is closed; that stop isn't available.
Things to do in Puerto Rico › Places › El Yunque National Forest
El Yunque National Forest
free entry · no reservationUpdated October 8, 2026 fees and hours from Forest Service; trails from official pages and guide
El Yunque is a rainforest east of San Juan. You can visit on your own without a reservation or an entry fee. The PR-191 recreation corridor opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. El Portal costs $8 per person age 16 and up. It's the visitor center near the forest entrance. La Mina Falls is closed, so your waterfall plans need another stop.
Entry
El Yunque: entry, hours and trail access
| Entry | free entry without a reservation; access is first come, first served. The gate holds cars when parking fills, so arriving doesn't guarantee space. |
| Hours | the PR-191 corridor is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Start leaving by 4:45 p.m., at least 15 minutes before closing. |
| El Portal | entry is $8 per person age 16 and up; ages 15 and under enter free. Interagency pass holders pay $4 per person. Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with holiday closures. |
| Open trails | the easy Angelito Trail is 0.4 km, or 0.2 miles, one way; El Portal has an accessible trail. Juan Diego and Mount Britton are open. La Coca is 2.9 km, or 1.8 miles, one way; both it and El Toro are very difficult. |
| Closed trails | the La Mina Trail and its falls are closed. Big Tree and Caimitillo are closed too. For Baño de Oro access, check the forest's alerts page before you go. |
| Towers and falls | the roadside Yokahú Tower is at PR-191 km 8.8, with La Coca Falls farther downhill. Mount Britton Tower requires a hike. |
Car or tour
- By car Your car lets you choose the trails and roadside stops along the free corridor. Parking can fill, so aim to arrive before 8 a.m.
- With a tour Tours suit a day when you need a driver and a guide. The lowest starting price doesn't always include transport.
- On a cruise day The two pier tours take 5 to 6 hours. Leave enough time for your return before the ship's boarding deadline.
Map
Where the forest is
El Portal: 18.3396° N, 65.7619° W Directions in Google Maps Apple Maps OpenStreetMap
How to get there
- By car from San Juan El Portal is 48.8 km by road from Muelle 1 in Old San Juan, or 30.3 miles. Enter PR-191 from PR-3 at Palmer in Río Grande.
- With a tour The El Yunque list compares 14 tours from $25 per adult. San Juan pickup is included on some options. Read the booking page for the meeting point and transport on your chosen option.
- From the Luquillo side The Luquillo kiosks sit on PR-3 east of the PR-191 turn. Luquillo Beach is next to the food stalls, which makes lunch an easy stop after the forest.
- From a cruise ship Two El Yunque tours on the cruise tour list leave from the San Juan piers. Compare their 5 to 6 hours with your ship's boarding deadline before booking.
Inside
What you find at El Yunque
The waterfalls
The river pools
Juan Diego and Las Damas are swimming spots reached on forest trails. Angelito leads to Las Damas on Río Mameyes. Your swim depends on river conditions; flash floods can rise without warning.
The forest canopy
Palms rise through the canopy below the mountain, with views from the towers. Yokahú needs no trail hike; Mount Britton takes you uphill on foot.
Luquillo Beach
Palms line Luquillo Beach below the forest, with the food kiosks next door. The beach isn't part of every tour, so check the stops before booking.
With a guide
El Yunque with a guide: six ways to visit
Six guided ways to visit El Yunque run from the lowest starting price upward. Each row pairs a starting price with the transport and meal conditions.
| Waterslides with your own car | $25 per adult | Half-Day Yunque Rainforest Waterslide & rope swing Guided Tour 8,127 reviews, 4.8 · You drive from Fajardo; transport isn't included. Bring your own lunch and water. Participants must be swimmers ages 5 to 59. · dates and prices ↗ |
| Waterslides with San Juan transport | $45 per adult | Top Rated El Yunque Rainforest & Waterslide, SmallGroup Tour 16,741 reviews, 4.9 · You meet at Norte Shopping Center; hotel pickup and meals aren't included. The 1 p.m. trip has no food stop. · dates and prices ↗ |
| Forest and Luquillo Beach | $49.99 per adult | San Juan to El Yunque Rainforest Waterslides and Luquillo Beach 5,991 reviews, 4.7 · You meet at Frutera Flores in Luquillo at 10:30 a.m. with your own transport. San Juan pickup starts at $74.99 per adult; food is extra. · dates and prices ↗ |
| Small group with hotel pickup | $70 per person | Small-Group El Yunque Waterfall & Waterslides with Pickup 3,048 reviews, 4.8 · San Juan pickup is included, with limited pickup areas along the road east. Groups have at most 13 people; Saturday takes a steeper route. · dates and prices ↗ |
| Small group with Luquillo lunch stop | $95 per person | El Yunque Tour with Luquillo Lunch Stop and Transport: 6 ppl Max 2,387 reviews, 4.9 · Pickup covers selected areas, with a group of at most six guests. Lunch costs extra, and the Luquillo stop depends on the group's plans. · dates and prices ↗ |
| Full day with a guided hike | $100.17 per adult | El Yunque Rainforest and Waterfall Guided Tour 1,209 reviews, 4.8 · The tour takes 8 hours, with pickup in selected San Juan areas. Lunch is extra; your route depends on weather and river conditions. · dates and prices ↗ |
The catch: River conditions can change the route and cancel swimming stops. On the forest and Luquillo Beach trip, a forest closure means extra time at the beach.
Before you go
- Aim to reach the entrance before 8 a.m. if you're driving. Your bag needs rain gear and shoes with grip. Start leaving by 4:45 p.m.; La Mina Falls isn't an available stop.
Tours
El Yunque tours and nearby alternatives
El Yunque rainforest tours
14 tours · from $25
Forest hikes and waterslide trips vary in how you get there. Your option uses hotel pickup or a meeting point.
Caves, rivers and waterfalls 14 tours · from $79Cave and river trips offer alternatives to a forest day. You can compare their walks and starting points before choosing a route.
Short tours from the San Juan piers 14 tours · from $25The pier list pairs its two El Yunque trips with shorter outings. You can choose by the time available before your ship leaves.
Know before you go
Know before you go
The entrance gate
PR-191 opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m.; entry doesn't reserve a parking space. When lots fill, cars wait until others leave. Park only in designated areas.
El Portal
El Portal runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with exhibits and an accessible trail. Holiday closures include Thanksgiving and Christmas; there's also an annual September maintenance closure.
Trail closures
El Yunque Trail is open only to the Los Picachos junction. The stretch toward the summit remains closed. The summit is reached on foot via Road 10; check the forest's alerts page before choosing your walk.
Rain and shoes
Rain falls in every month, and wet roots need shoes with grip. River tours can leave your shoes soaked and muddy. Bring a rain jacket and drinking water even if you skip the pools.
The towers
Yokahú is beside PR-191, so you don't need a trail hike to reach it. Mount Britton takes a climb on foot, which needs more time in your forest day.
Hurricane season
June 1 through November 30 is the Atlantic hurricane season. Rain can change your river tour. All six tours allow free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; read the terms for your chosen option.
Good to know
People also ask
- Do you need a reservation for El Yunque?
No reservation is needed for the PR-191 recreation corridor. Entry is first come, first served; you may wait when parking fills. Arrive early to use more of the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. window.
- How much does it cost to visit El Yunque?
The PR-191 corridor is free. El Portal costs $8 per person age 16 and up; ages 15 and under enter free. Interagency pass holders pay $4 per person. You don't need to buy El Portal entry to visit the corridor.
- Which El Yunque trails are open?
El Portal and Angelito are open. Juan Diego and Mount Britton are open too. El Yunque Trail is open to Los Picachos, with the summit section closed. Check the forest's alerts page before choosing your route.
- Can you visit El Yunque without a tour?
Yes, you can drive yourself and walk the open trails without a guide. Rideshare apps can't pick you up at El Portal or the corridor. Arrange your return ride before you reach the forest.
- How far is El Yunque from San Juan?
El Portal is 48.8 km by road from Muelle 1 in Old San Juan. That's 30.3 miles to the visitor center; your distance depends on the exact starting point and forest stop.
- What should you wear to El Yunque?
Shoes with grip and a rain jacket suit the wet trails. For a river tour, wear a swimsuit under your clothes and bring a dry change. Flip-flops aren't allowed on several waterslide tours.