El Yunque National Forest and Luquillo Beach

Typical rain forest scene

After the hike

El Yunque National Forest in eastern Puerto Rico is the only tropical national forest in the United States. It only took us an hour to drive there, but the worst part was driving up a steep, narrow, and windy road to the visitors center in the rain. It was so crowded that we had to park by a picnic area, and some cars were just parking on the side of the road. While the grandparents hung around the area, we hiked down to see an impressive waterfall called La Mina Falls, where people were swimming in the pool below it. When we hiked back up, the sun came out for just enough time for us to finish the hike and eat our picnic lunch. We then drove all the way down the mountains to Luquillo Beach, which is supposedly the nicest beach in mainland Puerto Rico. The day was topped off by a chicken and ribs dinner near the airport. 

La Mina Falls

Luquillo Beach

On the hike