Charco El Mangó

 3.5/5

Getting there: From San Juan, drive 2 hours west and south to the interior of the island. Turn off the Ruta Panorámica onto a dirt road. Follow it until you see an old satellite dish leaned against a tree with a mango painted on it. You’ll be able to look down from the road to see the pool below.

Things to do: Get in the water – There is a rope swing hanging from the overhanging limb of a tree, but I was not able to reach it. This charco is a great place to relax. The surrounding trees were full of blooming flowers when I went, like the Maga, Puerto Rico’s national flower. Birds were singing and flying from tree to tree.

Heads up: The water is a little cold, so be prepared. This charco is relatively small so it won’t take many people to make it feel crowded, but because of its remote location, that is unlikely to happen.

Pros

Very relaxing environment.
Clean and clear water.
Rope swing.

Cons

Its remote location means it is not close to much else.
The water is as cold as I have ever felt river water in Puerto Rico be.
You’ll need a long stick to grab the rope swing.