Las Tinajas

Location: Fajardo

Getting there: From San Juan, drive 1 hour 15 minutes east around El Yunque to the rainforest’s southern side. Park here, you’ll need to pay $5.00 per car. Then, hike along the trail (ask around if you are unsure where that is) until you reach a swimming hole with a rope swing. You’ll need to pay $2 per person to cross private property, a man will be waiting to collect. Alternatively, you can follow the river directly until you arrive for free, though I have not tried this. 

Things to do: Water slides – What makes this location so unique is two natural water slides. The first is the largest (pictured above). You can go head or feet first. The next is barely visible in the top left of the photo above. It is much smaller and harder to navigate. You’ll need to carefully enter the water, and move to the far side of the pool. Go down feet first. Do not attempt this if the water is very brown and the river is rough. When you drop to the pool below it’s a kind of whirlpool that can be hard to get out of if the water is very strong. When you drop in, follow it around in a circle under the falls and push off the wall to make it out, if you are having a hard time. Rope swing – When you arrive at Las Tinajas and you’re looking at the main pool, you’ll see a rope swing on the other side of the pool. You’ll need a branch to grab it. Cliff jump – Always check the depth before you jump, water levels change and make sure no debris has become lodged in that area. There are at least two spots where you can jump into the water. Walk past the rope swing and walk along the rock keeping the water on your left until you get to the area where the pool gets more narrow. Jump there. The next is at the highest point to the left of the big water slide. Swim – There are at least two pools with enough room to swim around. The first is the best – the area with the rope swing. The other is the pool with the large water slide.

Heads up: Do not use the smaller slide if the water is very strong. Do depth tests before jumping. As you hike to the slides, you’ll climb through a mini cave using a rope. Just before you go in there is a rock wall on the right with water dripping down that is apparently pure and good to drink. I drank some and I didn’t get sick so seems legit.