Puerto Rico's gorgeous El Yunque Forest: lush acres and a special frog

The El Yunque Rain Forest is one of the smallest, yet with a most diverse "repertoire" to behold.

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."

Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers at El Yunque Visitor Center.

--Henry David Thoreau

WHERE NATURE IS REVERED: El YUNQUE

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

FORESTS HAVE for centuries have captivated writers and poets.  The beauty,  enchantment, tranquility, and ecological richness of forests is a soothing balm for the traveler and local alike.

The unique coqui frog does not have webbed
feet, like most frogs. The males have an
enchanting song they sing all day.

Puerto Rico's famous El Yunque Rain Forest weaves lush foliage, unusual wildlife and a beautiful modern visitor's center  to create a symphony of nature. We admired waterfalls, beautiful flowers and century-old trees, with background music of a unique frog, taking a page from Thoreau's book, if only for a day. It was, in a word, captivating.

The showy heliconia, or lobster flower,
has a place of honor in the rain forest and
in the garden of El Yunque's visitor center.

We had a wonderful day in this magical place.

Various snails make their home
in the rain forest. Guides take
guests around for close-up views.

THE 29,000 acre rain forest is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. Although it is one of the smallest national forests, it is also one of the most biologically diverse with a charming and unique frog, the coqui. The small tree frog is Puerto Rico's national animal and has a  charming if persistent  song.  Choruses of male coquis can be heard from dusk until dawn all over the island. The  coqui (pronounced ko-kee) is a small arboreal frog that can be brown, yellow, or green. Its scientific genus name --  try pronouncing eleutherodactylus -- means “free toes” because, unlike many frogs, the coqui doesn't have webbed feet.
 THE PARK's diverse ecosystem also boasts hundreds of unique plant species. These are described at the impressive El Portal de El Yunque, the main visitor and information center in the forest.

After the feeling of ancient wonders as we drove through the forest, a striking modern building comes into view to welcome visitors.

Bruce Keller admiring the fan ferns in the rain forest.

Our guide was proud of the trees whose roots
spread out hundreds of feet in the forest.

It features an elevated walkway through the tree tops, educational displays, a short wheelchair-friendly interpretive walking trail through the lower forest, a counter-service restaurant with tasty Puerto Rican sandwiches, some beautiful “selfie spots,” and a small gift shop.  We recommend a stop at this modern, interesting visitor center which besides its beauty and eye-catching architecture, gives an informative grounding for first-time visitors to El Yunque.

YOU'LL LEARN that the island's national flower is thespesia grandiflora, a hibiscus like beauty known as maga, also referred to as Maga Colorada ("Red Maga") and Puerto Rican hibiscus. It is a tree in the family Malvaceae of the rosids clade endemic to Puerto Rico, where its flower is celebrated as the national flower
of the archipelago. You'll also see gorgeous orchids, ginger plants, plumeria, anthurium, birds of paradise, and the showy heliconia, 

also known as lobster flower.
THE PEOPLE of Puerto Rico have long 
had a deep-rooted connection with its native flora. 

From the indigenous Taíno people to the country's modern-day inhabitants, native plants have played a significant role in shaping Puerto Rican culture, traditions, and even spirituality. The unique relationship Puerto Ricans have with their native plants goes beyond aesthetics or ecological conservation.

A reverence for plants and growing things is an integral aspect of their identity. Medicinal plants and botanical remedies can be widely found in herbal displays and health stores. I replenished a few of my favorites.

A climb up Yokahu Tower is a fine way to view the rain forest from above.

 WHILE YOU are so near a spectacular place, don't miss the opportunity to stop at Yokahu Tower, and climb to the top.

It is right off the road, with a large parking lot.  The view is worth the climb. There are 96 steps to get to the top, but don't be intimidated. The steps are wide and you can go at your own pace to reach a marvelous view of the woods below.

We stopped several times to gaze out the windows and let others pass us.

The 69-foor concrete tower leads to an observation deck where you can literally see the forest for the trees. We had a remarkably clear day so we could even see the ocean beyond the tree-top canopy.

Cookie strolls one of the charming
walking paths at the El Yunque
Visitor Center, a lovely new space.

Constructed in 1963, the tower was built by forest supervisor and director of IITF, Frank H. Wadsworth. The tower is one of the two observation towers located in the park and sits at an elevation of 1,575 feet (480 m). The other tower in the El Yunque is the Mount Britton Tower, which friends say is equally engaging. We've vowed to see it on our next visit.
Many tour companies offer everything from food to nature excursions. We had good luck with Bespoke, which we booked when we reserved our week with Hilton. We used Bespoke for several tours. They have a relationship with Hilton, are pleasant and accommodating to work with in the booking process, and they picked us up at the hotel.

More information:   

 https://bespokeconcierge.com/

 www.viator.com

 www.fs.usda.gov/elyunque

www.discoverpuertorico.com

www.puertorico.com

San Juan offers a blend of old and new, relaxation and high
energy activity and touring, beaches, Old Town and a lovely bay.

UP NEXT:

From rain forest wonders, to seductive San Juan as we cap our Puerto Rico series. Fortresses, parks, sculpture, night life, street food, glitzy casinos, elegant resorts and a lively old town mix with live music and sunshine for an intoxicating time. Old San Juan offers history and beautiful architecture. The beaches are among the best in the Caribbean and there's a historic site in the fortresses. We also recommend a cruise along San Juan Bay. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly.