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El Yunque Rain Forest Puerto Rico Travel
El Yunque Rain Forest is the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest System. More than 100 billion gallons of rain fall each year on the 28,000 acres of El Yunque, and some of that precipitation is falling on this day, in stops and starts. By now the creeks are engorged.
Thirteen hiking trails crisscross the terrain, which is home to more than 240 kinds of trees, as well as orchids, the tiny coqui (tree frog) and the cotorra, the endangered green parrot of Puerto Rico.
Despite our guide's best efforts on the two-hour walk, we scatter shotgun style from the falls to the gift shop before climbing over the guard rail to take a peek at Iggy the iguana, one of El Yunque's mascots. Tiny lizards careen across the tangle of tropical flowers, the color of Kansas prairie sunsets.
From the top of the 1,575-foot Yokahu Tower, there is a 360- degree view of this section of the forest. When the sun breaks through the rain clouds, one can see the ocean breaking and the spires and cathedrals of Old San Juan.
Ahorre September 4, 2005 08:31 PM | Huatulco Travel