Hiking
These are the best hikes in Puerto Rico. From arid cliff sides to rainforest, the hiking landscape is varied. Most of the hikes I have listed are relatively mild, a couple are pretty intense! There are a lot of hikes I still want to do.
The best hiking on the island is in El Yunque National Forest. There are many trails through this beautiful, lush rainforest. Of the ones I have done, my favorite is the Britton Tower trail which will take an hour or less round trip. You can pick any of the trails and have a great time. Check out my El Yunque travel itinerary for the best hikes there.
The best hiking on the island is in El Yunque National Forest. There are many trails through this beautiful, lush rainforest. Of the ones I have done, my favorite is the Britton Tower trail which will take an hour or less round trip. You can pick any of the trails and have a great time. Check out my El Yunque travel itinerary for the best hikes there.
The best hiking on the island is in El Yunque National Forest. There are many trails through this beautiful, lush rainforest. Of the ones I have done, my favorite is the Britton Tower trail which will take an hour or less round trip. You can pick any of the trails and have a great time. Check out my El Yunque travel itinerary for the best hikes there.
You’ll know you are at the trailhead for Charco Prieto Waterfall when you see a small wooden Puerto Rican flag with “Bienvenidos, Welcome” painted below it. The hike will take around 20-30 min each way. Prepare to get wet as there is a river crossing right at the start that is unavoidable. There are a couple of spots that are very muddy as well. Be cautious if it has been raining a lot and consider leaving if you notice the water increasing in volume and intensity as flash floods can happen here.
This park contains one of the largest cave systems in the world and attracts thousands of visitors each year. The caves were formed over millions of years by the Camuy River, which has carved out a network of underground caves and passageways. To access the main part, you’ll need to pay for a tour on-site. The tour includes a video introducing the cave’s ecology and history, a walk down to the mouth of the cave through the forest on a paved road where the tour guide will point out local flora and fauna (the tram that used to run here no longer runs), and a headset that plays information on the different areas of the tour when arriving at numbered locations. The part of the caves you can see on a guided tour is relatively small. The coolest part is a large chamber called the Cathedral, which is over 200 feet high and 600 feet wide.
This is easily the most difficult hike I have done in Puerto Rico. Leave from a trailhead in Canóvanas into what must be the least used entrance to El Yunque. The hike up took me three hours and the hike down took 2.5 hours. The trail is uneven, overgrown, and extremely muddy for almost the entire way. Bring plenty of water, I was not ready for how difficult this hike was. Once you reach the peak, you’ll be rewarded with what I think might be the most spectacular view on the island. You’ll have just about a 360-degree view of the east coast with the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea both visible – the full 30-mile width of the island. I did this hike with a very fit 73-year-old friend, we sat on rocks at the top for an hour to recover from the trek up and to take in the view. Avid hikers will love this hike, more casual hikers should look elsewhere.
The best hiking on the island is in El Yunque National Forest. There are many trails through this beautiful, lush rainforest. Of the ones I have done, my favorite is the Britton Tower trail which will take an hour or less round trip. You can pick any of the trails and have a great time. Check out my El Yunque travel itinerary for the best hikes there.
The best hiking on the island is in El Yunque National Forest. There are many trails through this beautiful, lush rainforest. Of the ones I have done, my favorite is the Britton Tower trail which will take an hour or less round trip. You can pick any of the trails and have a great time. Check out my El Yunque travel itinerary for the best hikes there.
Start at the disused Sabana River Recreational Area. Hike for 2 hours through dense, verdant forest to a waterfall. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you find a ladder going straight up. I suggest you stop your hike at the top of the ladder. To get to to the pools in the sloping waterfall, you must scramble up, and then back down, the extremely slick rock next to the waterfall. It is smooth enough that I had to take my shoes off for more grip and getting down was scary. We learned that two weeks after we went, a couple of people died on that rock face. Never attempt if there are any clouds in the sky. It is already dangerous when dry, if you get caught in the rain here, you’ll be in serious trouble. Please be careful and have fun!
This particular mountain in Jayuya has the highest peak in Puerto Rico at 4398 ft or 1338 meters. You could drive up, but the road is really bad. It’s gotten much worse in the year of 2023. If you don’t have 4-wheel drive you won’t make it. The hike up the road isn’t too bad, but it is steep. It will take you 20-30min. If you are lucky enough to visit on a clear day you’ll have 360º views of the island. You can see the ocean on either side, though this peak is closer to the Caribbean Sea. I have done much tougher hikes for worse views, this one is worth it!
The road to get to this trailhead passes through the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge and is not well maintained. A car with some clearance will come in handy. Park here, to the right of the gate is the trailhead for the full scenic loop. The trail winds along the cliffs of this “Y” shaped peninsula ornamented with scrubby desert flora. A notable stop is at the rock bridge. Next, you’ll arrive at the Morrillos Lighthouse (pictured). Once you’re done taking in the views, you can descend to Sucia Beach to cool off in the turquoise water, assuming there isn’t too much seaweed. There is no shade and it gets extremely hot so be prepared. If you want to take a shorter walk directly to the lighthouse, park here.
The hike to this long, skinny waterfall is a moderate – easy walk through a beautiful forest. You’ll see all kinds of different birds and trees loaded with mangos during the right season. You’ll pass a grove of tall flamboyan trees and a natural spring pumping water into a hose running down the hill. There is a tough section where you need to climb up a rope towards the end. Cooling off in the water once you arrive feels amazing.
Para La Naturaleza manages the flat, well-kept land you’ll walk through. Much of the trail is a wide grass road with a good view of the other side of the canyon. The last 3rd or so of the trail is a much more narrow trail through the forest until you reach the lookout spot. This area is likely to be more muddy if it has been raining recently. The view of the El Ancón Waterfall is well worth the 3-mile hike.
The way to Cueva de las Golondrinas is a nice, but very short hike in a nature reserve, it should take about 10 min each way. On the way, you’ll see a sign detailing this and other nearby trails. Park here, walk along the beach until you get to rocks, and follow the stairs up and into a forested section. At any fork go right until you get there. You want to get to the rocky section you can see jutting out in the distance from the first beach. Or, walk behind the houses and follow that trail to get to the cave or Boquillas Beach.
To get to this small lookout tower in Guánica, you’ll need to drive to this trailhead. If you follow the other pin on Google Maps it will take you the wrong way – into the state forest. This is a short and mild hike taking about 20min to reach the top of the hill. When you arrive at the top you’ll be rewarded with an excellent view of the Guánica Bay and the Caribbean Sea. There are some beaches worth visiting nearby.
The sand at Puerto Hermina Beach recedes far back into the forest. If you follow it, you’ll find a pleasant hiking trail lined by snake grass amongst mature trees. If you go left at the 1st fork, then right at the next, you’ll arrive at a long bridge spanning the canyon with great views of the canopy below and the surrounding limestone cliffs. It’s an easy 25-minute hike out and back with a slight incline on the way there.
Angelito Trailhead is near the main recreation area. You’ll be walking a very similar trail to what you find there. This is a mellow hike leading to the Mameyes River where you can get in the water. It’s best to go when it has not been raining recently so the river is clear and the trail not overly muddy.
To get to the trails here you’ll need to enter the Palmas del Mar gated community, and tell them you are going to the beach. Park here. Many trails snake through this forest and there may be other and better ways to enter but this is the one I know. I enjoyed hiking to Punta Icacos (pictured) and swimming to the nearby Secret Beach. There is an observation tower and another beach you can access on these trails.
In Bayamón tucked behind an industrial park and right next to a women’s detention center sits a relatively large protected forest area. There is a lot of space for day use, mountain biking trails, hiking trails, and rock climbing. This is one of the most developed, well-maintained, and popular climbing spots on the island. There is an observation tower that you can hike to that is sadly closed due to disrepair. But, standing at the foot of the tower is still a good view. There are plenty of trails snaking through this forest. It gets hot and humid here but the trails are mellow. Parking costs $4.00.
20. Segunda Laguna Maccutto Trail
An easy hike through the forest in Manatí that can take you to a lagoon (stay right at the first fork) or to a small natural spring (left). This is a common spot for mountain biking and a decent place for birding. If you choose to go to the spring, you can pass it and find another fork in the road. The left takes you through the forest along a mountain biking trail, right takes you to some caves (pictured). If you go to the lagoon, keep your eyes open, I hear there are caiman.
Honorable Mentions
This hike explores some ruins being reclaimed by the forest. The interior of Vieques is rarely explored by visitors, this is a good option if you are looking for an adventure off the beaten path. There are a lot of spiderwebs so grab a stick unless you want to use your face to clear the trail of webs. I did a short loop that took no longer than 20min total but I believe you can go further.
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