El Yunque National Forest
El Yunque is a short drive from where I am staying in Fajardo. I only had a half-day to explore, so I will return during my next trip to Puerto Rico. I went with my local “guide” Robb (aka in-case-of-emergency family member to contact for iguana situations and anything else). As always having someone to share a bit of history and point out all of the surrounding natural elements made my short hike that much more enjoyable.
A bit of history
The island of Puerto Rico was formed by a volcano eruption. Robb pointed out the sand mixed in with the dirt as we hiked up into the forest. The US bought the land in order to use it for testing Agent Orange (gotta love American history), as well as other unpleasantries after that.
The UFO
One of the coolest things we came across is referred to as The UFO. I’m guessing you can imagine why. The rain slowly erodes what is left of the base of is huge disk-shaped boulder. It will fall one day. It actually looked like it could have fallen on this day.
Trees and Plants – the good and the bad
My favorite discovery is the leaves of this tree that Robb called the cupe. Its large, fanciful leaves carpet the floor of the forest. One side is brown, and the other is a bright white, making an ever-changing artful pattern along the trail. When the leaves are up in the trees and a strong breeze blows through, you see the white side of the leaves. So many people would take these leaves as souvenirs that it is now illegal because the decomposition is important for the ecosystem.
Another interesting discovery is something about a tree I have seen many times in many places. This is the first time I realized palm trees have incredibly long, reddish-orange roots.
The plant you need to be careful with is the razor grass. This stuff is EVERYWHERE, and it is incredibly sharp. It can easily draw blood (Robb unfortunately proved this), so it is best to wear long sleeves and pants when hiking in El Yunque.
Critters
The most famous critter in this rainforest is the coqui, cute little frogs that Puerto Ricans love. While I did not see one in El Yunque, I certainly heard them. Robb pointed out the call of the coqui and explained the many different species and how their calls differ.
Views
While a lot of the trail is in the depths of the forest (which provides great protection from the sun), there were a few spots where I could see the landscapes and sweeping views of the Caribbean.
I could make out the beaches of Luquillo to the left and the beaches of Fajardo to the right.
Great photos!! i never been in Puerto Rico , but this post makes me think that i should go there some day.
You definitely should!
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..PHOTO ESSAY: El Yunque National Forest
Amazing macro photos. I love your slug!
Thanks, Katie. I borrowed a macro lens for this trip but struggled a bit because I don’t really know how to use it. Maybe I’ll take a class.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Adventures in Dog Sitting in Puerto Rico
Breathtaking views; I love the art trail created by the dual color of the leaves.
Arti recently posted..Planning Melbourne Itinerary >> 72 Hours in Melbourne: A Guide!
It is a simple, yet beautiful area.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Eat Street: A mecca for street food lovers in Bengaluru
Robb would be so pumped that you spelled his name correctly! I’m so glad you got to go hiking with him since Pedro and I are the worst hikers haha. I love your photos though. It ALMOST makes me want to try, but then you started talking about razor grass and I was like, nah, I’m good. Beaches forever.
Rease recently posted..Volunteering: Saving the Sea Turtles in Puerto Rico
I will definitely go again to see more of El Yunque the next time I visit.
The beaches are pretty damn nice.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Eat Street: A mecca for street food lovers in Bengaluru
Nature is beautiful and scary at times … who knew grass could cut you open?!
Penny recently posted..What to see in Vietnam
Such photo sharing post helps non-travelers person to see the world, great job
Jhon Lingkon recently posted..5 of the most fascinating historical sites in southeast Asia
fantastic article, thanks for sharing.
Your photos made me realize I didn’t take enough time to really explore El Yunque! Were you on a guided tour?
I was with a local who knows a lot about El Yunque, so it felt like a guided tour
Hi Stephanie,
Enjoyed your page and photography of El Yunque National Forest. I visited Puerto Rico and El Yunque for the first time this past spring. But, please check on your history of Puerto Rico as you describe it in “A Bit of History.” The U.S. did not “buy the land in order to use it for testing Agent Orange (gotta love American history), as well as other unpleasantries after that.”
Here is the history: On July 25, 1898, during the Spanish–American War, the U.S. invaded Puerto Rico with a landing at Guánica. As an outcome of the war, Spain ceded Puerto Rico, along with the Philippines and Guam, then under Spanish sovereignty, to the U.S. under the Treaty of Paris. Later in 1906 El Yunque National Forest was established through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
You may be correct, Doug. I was repeating something I was told by my local guide who had a significant amount of knowledge of Puerto Rico. However, there are many sources, including the US government itself, that talk about the US testing Agent Orange in Puerto Rico. The cities/ regions listed are all around El Yunque.
I loved the pictures, so beautiful!!!
And about this place… oh My God, I love the nature, I love travel, it´s so great!
Thanks for sharing all of those pictures with us.