Puerto rico yunque tours: El Yunque Tours | Puerto Rico Rainforest Tours

El Yunque Tours | Puerto Rico Rainforest Tours

Top Rated on TripAdvisor!

El Yunque Tours has been awarded Certificates Of Excellence every year since 2013

• Most Popular!

$55

Enter the forest just about one hour before the sun sets on a guided nature walk tour to learn about El Yunque’s flora and fauna and enjoy the sights as twilight falls.

• Tags
  Beginner – Intermediate
  Fitness Level Beginner – Intermediate
• Clock
  Evening
  Time of Day Evening
• Hour Glass
  3 Hours
  Duration 3 Hours

El Yunque Tours Welcomes you to Puerto Rico’s Rainforest!

El Yunque Tours (legal outfitter since 2006) is driven to bring guests into the El Yunque National Forest in such a way that gets them out of buses and cars, off the roadside attractions and main touristic corridors and immerses them in the sights, sounds, smells, and natural wonders that are truly the El Yunque National Forest! The adventure begins under the canopy, via guided nature walks and hiking tours. Our guides add color via commentary on flora, fauna, history, culture, and outdoor ethics while keeping our goal of smaller groups, better guide-to-guest ratios and quality equipment to enhance each guest’s experience with a fun, safe, memorable adventure every time! So come join our award-winning guide team for day or night guided tours into the El Yunque Rainforest.

Rated Among the Top 5 Outdoor Activities in Rio Grande

Amazing Hike and Swim!

What an AMAZING tour and tour operator! We took the Scenic Drive and Rain Forrest Hike through Royal Caribbean on board Harmony of the Seas. We were initially a little nervous about the ride to the Rain Forrest, but there was NO REASON for that. This is a grade A++ tour company and would recommend them to ANYONE!!! This is A MUST DO when in San Juan, and there is no better tour operator than El Yunque Tours!

– TravelRN15, TripAdvisor

El Yunque Tours Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

Our tour was wonderful. Our guides were very knowledgeable about the rainforest and Puerto Rico. They took us on a great hike and explained so much about the area, flora, and fauna. We liked how they explained how to prepare in situations of flash flooding and taking care of the land. Micheal gave special attention to our son which meant a lot to our family. Each guide was awesome and we would highly recommend this tour.

– bjminier, TripAdvisor

Awesome!

We loved every bit of the tour. I lived in Puerto Rico for 17 years and I was impressed by the Team’s knowledge. I fell in love with our Island once again. My two boys loved it! You need to come and experience El Yunque at nightfall . ..words cannot describe the beauty! The Team treated us with the utmost kindness and superb professionalism!
Thank you El Yunque Tours, thank you Michael and family!

– adriano7rofeh, TripAdvisor

Great Tour

I really enjoyed the tour. The tour is definitely doable without a tour guide, but Dan was very knowledgeable about the rainforest. I learned a lot and Dan and Jonathan took the time to even show us wildlife we encountered on the way to the waterfall. There are some steep areas and it is a workout on the way back, especially since it is hot. However, nothing extremely hard.

– Nissi_Vee, TripAdvisor

Eco-Friendly Tour Operator

11 Best El Yunque Tours in 2022 (By a Local)

Vanessa Ramos

Hours

Updated onNovember 5, 2022

Puerto Rico, USA

Taking one of the fabulous El Yunque tours will guarantee that you don’t miss out on this natural wonder while visiting Puerto Rico. Whether you’re planning a big deep-dive trip around the island, or want to stop by while you’re cruise ship is docked, there is a perfect El Yunque tour for you.

I’m a Puerto Rico local who has been to El Yunque tons of times. In fact, I’ve written an entire El Yunque visitors guide because I love it so much.

With my first-hand knowledge, I’ve put together this list of the best tours to take to El Yunque. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

• 11 Best Tours in/to El Yunque 
  • Day Tour in El Yunque Rain Forest with Transportation
  • El Yunque Rainforest & Waterfalls Half-Day Tour
  • El Yunque Natural Waterslide & Rainforest Hiking
  • El Yunque Rainforest Experience
  • Puerto Rico Guided Adventure in El Yunque Rainforest
  • Multi-Stop San Juan and El Yunque Tours
  • El Yunque Rainforest and Bio Bay Combo Tour
  • El Yunque Twilight Rainforest Tour
  • El Yunque Rainforest, Waterslide, Beach, Dine, and Shop
  • El Yunque Rainforest ATV Ride Experience
  • Rainforest Zipline, Luquillo Beach & Natural Springs
• FAQs About El Yunque Tours
  • Do I Need to Book a Tour for El Yunque?
  • How Much Time do You Need in El Yunque?
  • Can You Self Tour El Yunque?
  • How Long is an El Yunque Tour?

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11 Best Tours in/to El Yunque 

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🚢 Note for Cruise Ship Passengers: If you want to take an El Yunque cruise excursion from San Juan during a port call, then double check if the pick-up and drop-off times work with your schedule. Many of the tours listed below leave from very close to the San Juan port, but El Yunque is an hour’s drive away and you may need some wiggle room.

Day Tour in El Yunque Rain Forest with Transportation

Bathe in a mineral pool in the heart of El Yunque 

(Photo courtesy Viator / Casa Venturas)

• ⌚ Length: 6 Hours
• 🌟 Guest Reviews: 5/5 Stars
• 🗺️ Highlights: El Yunque, rope swinging, cliff diving, natural water slide 
• ✅ Includes: Life jackets, hotel pickup, local guide
• 👉 Check prices & availability here

There are many reasons why El Yunque is one of the best things to do in Puerto Rico, and mineral pools are one of them. Leaving from San Juan, this tour gets you from your hotel to the hidden gems on the east side of the El Yunque Rainforest with roundtrip transportation.

The tour starts by walking through trails until you reach one of the beautiful natural swimming pools of El Yunque. From there, you’ll hike more to another natural pool where you can dive in the water with a rope swing or slide over a waterfall.

On this tour, you’ll learn about El Yunque, its biodiversity, and why the only tropical rainforest in the United States forest system plays a vital role in Puerto Rico’s geography. 

El Yunque Rainforest & Waterfalls Half-Day Tour

Swing over swimming holes and slide through natural waterslides with this tour 

• ⌚ Length: 4 Hours
• 🌟 Guest Reviews: 5/5 Stars
• 🗺️ Highlights: El Yunque, rope jumping, waterfalls, waterslides 
• ✅ Includes: Pictures, local guide, fruit refreshments, lifeguard
• 👉 Check prices & availability here

El Yunque National Forest is one of the top places to visit in Puerto Rico regardless of what type of traveler you are.  

But outdoor enthusiasts will specifically love this guided tour – it takes you through the heart of the rainforest and gives you in-depth knowledge of the flora and fauna. Plus, kids and thrill-seekers will enjoy sliding through the natural water slides and bathing in the waterfalls.

This is a great way to enjoy the natural landscape while eating fresh local fruit and snacking on some refreshments provided by your tour guide.

👉 Pro Tip: For this tour, you need a rental car to reach the meeting point in Luquillo. You can use Discover Cars to find a rental car that fits your needs for a cheap fare.

El Yunque Natural Waterslide & Rainforest Hiking

Spend your day cliff jumping and swimming in the mountains of the rainforest

(Photo courtesy Viator / Spotin Tours)

• ⌚ Length: 7 Hours
• 🌟 Guest Reviews: 4.5/5 Stars
• 🗺️ Highlights: El Yunque, swimming, waterslides, waterfalls 
• ✅ Includes: Hotel pickup, snacks, tour guide
• 👉 Check prices & availability here

If you’re looking for a more off-the-beaten-path experience that’s still luxurious, then this tour is a great choice. Though you’ll be traveling in a comfortable van from San Juan, this tour takes you to the swimming pools hidden on the east side of El Yunque.

Wear your swimsuit so you can cliff jump in the swimming pool, and bring hiking shoes to explore the muddy trails. The knowledgeable guide will explain everything about the rainforest while you adventure around.

After spending a few hours in El Yunque, you will visit a local restaurant to finish your day with a dish of Puerto Rican food.

El Yunque Rainforest Experience

See and explore the main highlights of El Yunque

(Photo courtesy Viator / Rico Sun Tours)

• ⌚ Length: 6 Hours
• 🌟 Guest Reviews: 4.5/5 Stars
• 🗺️ Highlights: Angelito Trail, Yokahu Tower, hiking 
• ✅ Includes: Hotel pickup, entrance to El Yunque’s PR 191
• 👉 Check prices & availability here

Most of the El Yunque tours visit sites in Naguabo or Luquillo,  but this tour takes you to the popular highlights of the rain forest in Rio Grande.

You will go from San Juan to PR 191 in El Yunque, where nature enthusiasts can visit La Coca Waterfall, the Yokahu Tower, and the Juan Diego Waterfall. 

Families will love visiting El Angelito Trail, where it’s possible to swim in the Mameyes River. Just make sure to pack your hiking boots too, as the hiking trails are slippery and muddy. 

👉 Need Water Shoes? Exploring El Yunque will require shoes that have a grip and can get wet. The Columbia hiking boots are waterproof, breathable, and lightweight enough to explore the only tropical rainforest in the United States.

Puerto Rico Guided Adventure in El Yunque Rainforest

A 4-hour tour that’s perfect if you’re short on time, yet long enough to still immerse yourself in the natural world of El Yunque 

(Photo courtesy Viator / Spotin Tours)

• ⌚ Length: 4 Hours
• 🌟 Guest Reviews: 4.5/5 Stars
• 🗺️ Highlights: El Yunque, natural waterslides, hiking
• ✅ Includes: Guided tour
• 👉 Check prices & availability here

If you’re short on time, then you’ll love this 4-hour trip to El Yunque. You’ll enjoy natural water slides, waterfalls, and natural pools in a single trip.  

Your tour guides will explain the natural wonders of El Yunque National Forest during an interpretive hike to the waterfalls. You’ll learn about the beautiful flora and fauna in the rainforest while experiencing them firsthand. 

👉 Pro Tip: Make sure your tennis shoes have a good grip and avoid flip-flops. You’ll be walking on muddy trails and climbing large rocks to get to the main attractions. A basic physical fitness level is also recommended.

Multi-Stop San Juan and El Yunque Tours

Visit Puerto Rico’s main attractions including El Morro, Piñones, and El Yunque

• ⌚ Length: 6-7 Hours
• 🌟 Guest Reviews: 5/5 Stars
• 🗺️ Highlights: San Juan, El Morro, Piñones, El Yunque Rainforest
• ✅ Includes: Hotel pickup, local guide, transportation between attractions
• 👉 Check prices & availability here

For families looking to explore multiple Puerto Rico landmarks at once, including El Yunque National Forest, then this tour is a must-do.

This multi-stop San Juan and El Yunque Rainforest tour is a complete day trip that starts out in El Morro, continues in Piñones, and heads out to El Yunque.

Once in El Yunque, you’ll visit one of the easiest hiking trails in the forest that leads to the river, where you won’t resist taking a dip.

El Yunque Rainforest and Bio Bay Combo Tour

This 2-in-1 tour takes you to the top highlights of the east coast – El Yunque and a bioluminescent bay

Laguna Grande Bio Bay in Fajardo

• ⌚ Length: 12 Hours
• 🌟 Guest Reviews: 5/5 Stars
• 🗺️ Highlights: El Yunque, Laguna Grande Bio Bay, swimming, hiking 
• ✅ Includes: Hotel pickup, snacks, rainforest entry fee
• 👉 Check prices & availability here

If you’re an adventurer who loves pretty sites, then you will love this El Yunque tour combined with a bio bay tour. You’ll start your day at a hidden gem found in El Yunque Rainforest. During your visit, you’ll get to do river wading, hiking, and light climbing.

Make sure to pack your bathing suit to free dive in a natural pool with the help of a rope swing.

If diving isn’t your thing, then you can choose to relax while looking at the beautiful scenery while your tour guides explain the wonders of El Yunque. 

At night, you’ll head to Laguna Grande in Fajardo for a bio bay tour, one of the three bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico. Kids will enjoy kayaking through the red mangrove forest before reaching the bay where the glowing water will amaze everyone in the family.

👉 Local Tip: Before heading out on day trips to El Yunque Rainforest, have a solid and good breakfast and plan ahead for your next meal. Hiking in the tropical rainforest is physically demanding so it’s best to carry snacks with you.

El Yunque Twilight Rainforest Tour

See the rainforest come to life as the sun sets behind the horizon

River at the end of Angelito Trail

• ⌚ Length: 2. 5 Hours
• 🌟 Guest Reviews: 5/5 Stars
• 🗺️ Highlights: El Yunque, Angelito trail, hiking, swimming 
• ✅ Includes: Snacks, towels, bottled water, local guide
• 👉 Check prices & availability here

El Yunque Rainforest is completely different at night, and this tour is a great way to witness how the rainforest comes alive after the sun sets. From the traditional coqui to bats, El Yunque is home to hundreds of nocturnal species you’ll see and hear during this tour.

The hike takes you through natural trails lined with flora and fauna until you reach the Mameyes River, where you can bathe in the cold mineral waters of the forest.

👉 Local Tip: When visiting the rivers and waterfalls of El Yunque Rainforest, always pay attention to possible flash flooding. Due to the frequent rains in Rio Grande, even if it isn’t raining in your area, the river can grow rapidly. Always be attentive to your guide’s instructions.

El Yunque Rainforest, Waterslide, Beach, Dine, and Shop

Scratch a few of Puerto Rico’s popular activities off your list on this day trip

You’ll also visit Luquillo Beach

• ⌚ Length: 6-8 Hours
• 🌟 Guest Reviews: 4. 5/5 Stars
• 🗺️ Highlights: El Yunque, Las Paylas, Luquillo Beach, Food kiosks 
• ✅ Includes: Hotel pickup, transportation, local guide
• 👉 Check prices & availability here

This tour is a great way to save time and see a bunch of sites if you’re on a short trip. Not only will you get to visit El Yunque National Forest in Rio Grande, but you’ll also visit other popular attractions in the nearby cities.

Adventurers will love sliding down the natural waterslides in Las Paylas in Luquillo, a breathtaking segment of the forest.

But, after enjoying nature, you’ll head to the famous Luquillo food kiosks, where you can enjoy some of the best Puerto Rico drinks. Shopaholics can hop between the local shops and buy crafts and souvenirs.

You will also enjoy Luquillo Beach, known for its turquoise waters, golden sand, and watersports. Best of all, the tour provider offers transportation from all major hotels in San Juan.

El Yunque Rainforest ATV Ride Experience

Live the thrill of riding an ATV in the foothills of a rainforest

• ⌚ Length: 1-2 Hours
• 🌟 Guest Reviews: 4.5/5 Stars
• 🗺️ Highlights: El Yunque, ATV, rainforest, river 
• ✅ Includes: Hotel pickup, safety equipment, local guide
• 👉 Check prices & availability here

If hiking is too boring for you, then explore the only tropical rainforest in the United States on an ATV.

This tour takes you to Hacienda Carabali, one of the most popular things to do in Rio Grande. Visitors can choose to take a 1 or 2-hour tour through the foothills of the mountains while crossing muddy paths, rivers, and green fields.

Groups are small, so through this excursion, you will make friends with an entire group of adventurers like yourself.

If you’re interested in a slower-paced adventure, try their horseback riding tour that takes you off the beaten path to the rainforest.

Rainforest Zipline, Luquillo Beach & Natural Springs

Fly over El Yunque trees and slide down its natural waterslides

• ⌚ Length: 8 Hours
• 🌟 Guest Reviews: 4.5/5 Stars
• 🗺️ Highlights: Zipline, Luquillo Beach, waterslides, natural pool 
• ✅ Includes: Hotel pickup, zipline equipment, local guide
• 👉 Check prices & availability here

Another unique way to see El Yunque Rainforest is from above. This combo tour allows adventure fans to fly over the green scenery of El Yunque with a bird’s point of view of the forest.

You’ll also get to visit Las Paylas, an off-the-beaten-path waterfall of El Yunque, and one of the top Luquillo attractions.

While this is overall a family-friendly tour, it’s physically demanding, so it’s best to opt out if you don’t usually have an active lifestyle. The tour operator also establishes a maximum weight limit of 250 pounds.

FAQs About El Yunque Tours

Do I Need to Book a Tour for El Yunque?

Travelers don’t necessarily need to book a tour to visit El Yunque. Most of the places in El Yunque are easy to access and it is possible to drive yourself there from San Juan. However, visiting El Yunque with tours is helpful if you don’t want to drive yourself. Helpful guides can also help you find hidden gems in El Yunque like waterfalls, natural pools, infinity pools, and waterslides that only locals know about. 

How Much Time do You Need in El Yunque?

Visitors could spend anywhere between two and seven days exploring the main sites of El Yunque. Just the main attractions at PR 191, the principal route of El Yunque, can occupy a few days of an itinerary. 

Can You Self Tour El Yunque?

Tourists can self-tour El Yunque if they wish to. Although access to PR 191 after La Mina Recreation Area requires a previous booking, visitors are free to explore on their own. Other popular attractions in El Yunque like Las Paylas waterfall, Puente Roto, and Rio Mameyes are open to the public and visitors can self-tour them.  

How Long is an El Yunque Tour?

Most El Yunque tours take between 4 and 8 hours. Some tours are half-day tours and others are full-day tours and how long they are will depend on the areas covered in the tour. 

Also, some El Yunque tours mix stops in El Yunque National Forest with other popular destinations such as Luquillo Beach and the Fajardo bioluminescent lagoon. Those that include transportation services with pick up and drop off tend to be a little longer.

***

Thanks for reading my guide to the best El Yunque tours and excursions! El Yunque is one of the best outdoorsy things to see in Puerto Rico, and fun is guaranteed. If you’re looking for more fun excursions, check out the top excursions to do in Puerto Rico. 

Have fun on your El Yunque tour!

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Vanessa Ramos

Vanessa Ramos is a lifestyle writer from Puerto Rico with a goal of traveling the world. She started traveling back in 2018 and so far, she’s done international work exchange, backpacking, and solo traveling in three continents. When she’s not writing, she’s hunting airplane tickets for her next trip.

Reviews of Hotels Puerto Rico 2022

Find Hotel Reviews

Irina

01/16/2021

Puerto Rico

San Juan

Acacia Boutique Hotel 3*

Terrible hotel service

I’ll start with the good. The hotel is very cozy, well located (close to the beach, not far from the airport, from pleasant cafes for evening gatherings), bed linen, clean white towels, enough towels per person, excellent shower, silent ceiling fan in the room. We
lived in a room with a private balcony overlooking the Pool and partial sea views. The hotel allows pets. The hotel staff is polite IF you contact them (IF you succeed). Maybe the listing in the “liked” section is enough if you come for the weekend. BUT we rested for 8 days. Yes, I can assume that coronovirus is to blame, however, if the goal of your organization is to provide services, then it should be set up to maintain a level of service. So, everything is in order. Firstly, when checking in, it was not agreed on how our stay would be organized for such a long period. We learned about all the inconvenient moments as they appeared. And in general, for 8 days, NO ONE from the representatives of the hotel NEVER asked us about anything, either in writing or orally. administrator additionally; drinking water is not provided, bed linen and towels are not cleaned and replaced due to the pandemic, as staff cannot enter the room. That is, if you want to have your bed linen cleaned and replaced, one option is to change the room (this also imposes its own inconvenience: the hotel simply does not have an elevator so that I can move freely with all my things, and why should I during the rest, either live with a packed suitcase, or pack / unpack it at some frequency?), another option is to do it yourself. We chose the second option, but then an additional quest began. The administrator first asked questions about the size of our bed instead of looking at our accommodation, then she gave out only sheets, pillowcases gave out 2 pieces, in general, for a complete change of linen, I had to go to the reception 3 times. There were also two options for changing towels. First: leave dirty towels near the room, then new ones will be brought in a bag, left on the door handle of the room, second: ask the administrator.
nine0003

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Andrei

Puerto Rico

San Juan

Best Western Plus Condado Palm Inn & Suites 3*

Staff Yes, Hotel No

I liked the area where this hotel is located. Near restaurants and cafes, shops, the ocean. Specifically, what I liked about the hotel is the staff. Awesome guys!!!!! Super responsive and helpful, attentive, professionals in their field. Only thanks to the staff can I give 1 star
this hotel, but otherwise, demolish everything and build a new hotel First of all, the price. $300 per night for this old hotel is too much. Although we lived in a room of 70 sq.m, this did not improve the impression. Everything is tired, plumbing is prehistoric, the smell of junk in the room. We lived on the 18th floor, but still smelled from the restaurant downstairs. Noisy to sleep at night. Bad memories of the room.
nine0003

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Larisa

Puerto Rico

San Juan

Sandy Beach Hotel 2*

Good

Right on the beach, close to convenience stores and the main street with restaurants. good breakfast, helpful staff. The building is being renovated! The window in the room was hung with a rag and there was a smell. Rubbish from renovation.

Irina

01/25/2019

Anonymous

01/22/2019

3.0

Puerto Rico

San Juan

Marriott Resort & Stellaris 4*

Frustrated by a missed beach holiday

Very spacious room, daily cleaning. We went on an excursion to El Yunque, booked at the hotel, we liked it very much. Throughout the hotel, in the restaurant for breakfast, air conditioning is at maximum. This is very uncomfortable and unpleasant.. As we noticed, this is typical of Puerto Rico, everything around
they sneeze and cough, but in all establishments, taxis, shops, air conditioners are turned on to the maximum. We chose this hotel for the purpose of relaxing on the beach. In January, it turned out to be unrealistic – cold and dirty water, huge waves. The pool is not heated.
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3.0

Mikhail

01/13/2019

Puerto Rico

San Juan

Marriott Resort & Stellaris 4*

Vanderbilt hotel nearby, of course, better, but more expensive

Beautiful beach next to sunbeds and umbrellas, hot Jacuzzi until 11 pm by the pool, sometimes a quartet played in the evenings We often felt an unpleasant smell in the rooms – if the air conditioner does not work, on the entire floor and in the rooms – the smell of mold

ᐉ Puerto Rico Island

Puerto Rico is blessed with fabulous beaches, year round sunshine and plenty of opportunities for deep sea fishing, diving and surfing. However, in addition to water sports, here is the coast of San Juan, which is a pristine area with miles of white and sparkling sand. If you explore the island deeper, you can see a rich mixture of African and European cultures in the form of festivals, where the famous salsa was born. Despite its connection to the United States, Puerto Rico is identical to Cuba, remaining exclusively a Latin locality. nine0003

The island has an astonishing variety of landscapes, from El Yunque’s cloudy rainforest to reef-encrusted desert islands and withering dry forests in the southwest. Puerto Rico is home to impenetrable mangrove swamps, one of nature’s most stunning sights. If you rent a car, you can easily avoid the tourist areas, zipping between cool mountain forests and sun-bleached beaches in a matter of minutes. The island is surprisingly safe, and while it can be pricey for budget travelers, Puerto Rico sets itself apart from other areas in the region. nine0003

Many of the beaches here remain wild. However, there are a small number of resorts that can offer the vacationer a comfortable stay. Thus, Vieques and Culebra have some of the most idyllic coastlines in the Caribbean.

Nothing in the Caribbean compares to San Juan. It is one of the largest urban areas in the region. Here is a highway filled with SUVs, the largest shopping centers and the only subway that resembles one of the US metropolitan areas. Indeed, San Juan locals like to compare with Miami. But while San Juan owes much to its ties to the US mainland, it’s the city’s roots, rich racial culture, that provide real appeal. nine0003

The historic heart of the city, Old San Juan has a seductive blend of Spanish colonial charm. Its cobbled streets are filled with brightly colored houses and balconies decorated with tropical plants. For a city this size, San Juan’s beaches are pretty good for swimming, sunbathing, and a variety of water sports. The best beach is Isla Verde, which is located to the east of the old city, where resorts and boutique hotels are located near a thin strip of sand and clear, turquoise water.