Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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El Yunque Trail
For the best views
over the park (weather
permitting), take this
2½-mile (4-km) trail
(left)
from the Palo
Colorado Visitor
Center. It climbs
steeply through
various eco-
systems to El
Yunque's summit,
Cerro El Toro.
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Dwarf Forest
Found at elevations
above 3,280 ft (1,000 m),
this elfin woodland is
sodden by mists. The
stunted trees rarely exceed
12 ft (3.5 m) in height.
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Sierra Palm
Visitor Center
This center displays a
video introduction to the
local ecosystems. Endemic
Puerto Rican parrots are
often seen outside the El
Yunque Restaurant
(above)
.
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La Mina Trail
*
Birds
A fabulous venue for
bird-watchers
(see p36)
,
El Yunque is home to
many endemic bird
species, including the
endangered Puerto
Rican parrot
(right)
, the
Puerto Rican lizard
cuckoo, and the elusive
elfin wood warbler.
Follow the river along
this downhill trail from
the Palo Colorado Visitor
Center to reach La Mina
waterfall. It is one-way,
but links with other trails.
What's in a
Name?
The region was originally
called
yuque
, after the
Taíno god, Yuquiyu.
Spanish conquistadores
confused this with
yunque
, their word for
anvil, and understandably
so - the park's tallest
peak, Cerro El Toro,
is flat-topped and
resembles an anvil when
seen from a distance.
(
Picnics
)
Coquís
Local families flock
here on weekends and
holidays to hike and
picnic. Shaded benches,
potable water, and
rest rooms are
located at the
Palo Colorado
and Sierra Palm
Visitor Centers.
These little frogs
(below)
are the national
emblem and are named
for their two-note chirp -
“ko-KEE” -
heard here at
night. Puerto
Rico has
16 species
(see p54)
.
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