La Piedra Escrita

Location: Jayuya

Getting there: From San Juan, drive 2 hours to the center of the island, in the municipality of Jayuya. Park in a large lot in front of the La Escrita restaurant for free. Walk away from the road to find a long wooden boardwalk suffering from the elements and termites. It’s in desperate need of repair and it’s condition doesn’t inspire confidence as you are walking over it. Walking down its switchbacks will take you to the river, right in front of the boulder. The walk takes 5 – 10 minutes.

Things to do: Petroglyphs – The main reason to come to this location is to see some of the clearest and most easily accessible petroglyphs on the island. There are images all over the rock, some more visible than others. The famous coqui image is clearly visible on the top right side of the photo. When you climb up the rock you will find even more. I find that petroglyphs are more visible in photos, for whatever reason. So, don’t forget to bring a camera. Get in the river – You can slide off the rock into the warm water below, float in the water, or sit in the more shallow areas.

Heads up: Always check the depth before jumping in the water. I jumped off the rock too far out and hit the bottom slightly. The raised wooden boardwalk is in seriously bad shape, it’s only a matter of time before it comes down unless the government repairs it.