Forest road tourEl Yunque Rainforest Hike with Transport from San Juan
4.95 166 reviews 96% five stars
- 6 hours
- Up to 12
- English, Spanish
- Hotel pickup
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
from $125 per person
El Yunque Peak and El Yunque Trail
El Yunque Trail climbs 2.6 miles one way toward El Yunque Peak. You reach the peak on foot; Forest Road 10 excludes public vehicles.
The upper El Yunque Trail and the Mt. Britton Spur close November 6, 2026 to April 30, 2027, from mile 0.63 up to Los Picachos. Forest Service notice
Caimitillo Trail and picnic area are closed during construction. Forest Service notice
2.6 milesOne way, by the Forest Service
1,378 ftElevation gain
3,494 ftEl Yunque Peak, by the Forest Service
El Yunque Trail at a glance
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Access
- By Caimitillo Trail or Mt. Britton Spur
- Shelter
- One rain shelter on the first half
- Surface
- Asphalt, gravel and native stone; muddy in places
- At the top
- A CCC tower and radio towers; Los Picachos nearby
- Hours
- PR-191 hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How to get to El Yunque Trail
For El Yunque Trail, follow PR-191 to km 12.0 in the Palo Colorado area. Access trails include Caimitillo Trail and Mt. Britton Spur. Check the trail notices before choosing your approach.
On the road: km 12.0 is the trail's road reference; parking is permitted only in designated areas.
El Yunque Peak3,494 ft
Today in El YunqueSaturday, November 7
8–5PR-191 hours, entry free
80%Chance of rain
2.03 ftRío Mameyes, steady
El Yunque Trail today
Part closed Status as the Forest Service lists it, read on November 7, 2026.
If it rains: allow for muddy sections on El Yunque Trail. One rain shelter sits midway through the first half of the full trail.
What to expect on El Yunque Trail
El Yunque Trail climbs 1,378 feet through palo colorado forest, sierra palms and cloud forest. The full climb is challenging. Underfoot, the surface changes between asphalt, gravel and native stone, with mud in places.
The concrete observation tower marks the destination at El Yunque Peak. The full trail runs from 2,067 feet to an upper end of 3,445 feet. One rain shelter sits midway along the first half of the trail.
How to reach El Yunque Peak
Forest Road 10 excludes public vehicles, so you reach El Yunque Peak on foot. The Forest Service names the Mt. Britton trailhead as access to the peak structure during the Mt. Britton Tower closure.
Our pick: the Mt. Britton trailhead if your goal is the peak structure and current notices permit access. The 2.6 miles measure El Yunque Trail itself. Your total walking distance depends on the starting point.
Los Picachos
Los Picachos is a spur of 0.2 miles off El Yunque Trail. The stone platform has views in every direction. You reach the platform by an extremely steep stone staircase.
From the lower end of El Yunque Trail, the approach to Los Picachos is about 2 miles. The 0.2 miles cover the spur alone. Carry enough water for the approach and return; Los Picachos has no drinking water.
El Yunque tours
We compared all 162 El Yunque tours and kept 71 on reviews and ratings. How we pick tours
Forest road tour
Waterslide tourExplore El Yunque: Hiking, Swings & Waterslide (Small Group)
4.95 279 reviews 97% five stars
- 3 hours
- Up to 28
- English, Spanish
- Hotel pickup or meeting point
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
from $40 per person
Guided hikeEl Yunque for Everyone: Natural Pool & Easy Rainforest Hike
4.97 91 reviews 97% five stars
- 5 to 5.5 hours
- Up to 14
- English, French, Spanish
- Meeting point
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
from $91 per person
More stops in El Yunque
People also ask
Is El Yunque Trail open?
The label at the top of this page shows the status of El Yunque Trail for today, from Forest Service data refreshed every hour. Any dated closure notice appears beside it.
How long is the hike to El Yunque Peak?
The Forest Service lists El Yunque Trail as 2.6 miles one way. Your route to the summit depends on the access notices. Walking the full trail out and back totals about 5.2 miles. Access trails add to your walking distance. Your route must follow the trail notices.
How high is El Yunque Peak?
El Yunque Peak stands 3,494 feet above sea level, the second-highest peak in the forest by the Forest Service. El Yunque Trail reaches 3,445 feet at the upper end of its elevation range. The full trail starts at 2,067 feet. Your climb gains 1,378 feet over the full 2.6 miles one way.
Can you drive to the top of El Yunque?
You cannot drive to the top of El Yunque; Forest Road 10 excludes public vehicles. The road serves administrative traffic. Your trip to the peak tower requires a walk. The Forest Service names the Mt. Britton trailhead for access to the peak structure during the Mt. Britton Tower closure.
How long does it take to hike El Yunque?
Hiking to El Yunque Peak takes about 1 hour uphill from the Mt. Britton Trail junction. The estimate applies only to the climb beyond that junction. Your approach and descent add time. You should begin leaving the PR-191 corridor at least 15 minutes before 5 p.m.