by Frances Stanford

Created on: March 30, 2010

Hiking through the countryside, the mountains and along the coast is the best way to get to know any part of the world and Puerto Rico is no different. When you decide to vacation in this Caribbean paradise, you need to do more than spend your time around the pool at the resort or lounging on the beach soaking up the sun’s rays. Get out into the real Puerto Rico to see the sights, amazing scenery and the flora and fauna of the island to provide you with the experience of a lifetime. You don’t have to be a veteran hiker to enjoy hiking on Puerto Rico. This article will provide you with suggestions of where you can find the best hikes on the island.

The El Yunque National Forest is, without a doubt, the best location for hiking on Puerto Rico. This is the only natural rainforest in the US and contains a large number of hiking and walking trails for hikers of all levels. The trails are rugged and will take you through four different forest systems. If you take the full hike, you will be able to make it to the top of Pico El Toro, the highest mountain peak in the forest at a height of over 3500 feet. Even if you are not up to this strenuous hike, you can take in glorious scenery from several other scenic lookout points along the trails. The Big Tree Trail is the best one to choose if you are not used to hiking. This trail takes you to La Mina Falls, where you can stop and have a picnic.

The Guanica State Forest is dry and arid, but it does offer fantastic hiking opportunities to visitors to Puerto Rico. This is the best hiking destination on the island for birdwatchers as it is home to over half of the island’s native birds. It is here that you just might catch a glimpse of the Puerto Rican nightjar that was once believed to be extinct. There are 36 miles of hiking trails in this destination that will take you through several different types of landscapes.

Mona Island is a favourite destination for scuba divers, but it is also a prime hiking destination on Puerto Rico. This island is home to unique wildlife and you will probably get a chance to see some of the endangered species of animals that are native to the island. Mona Island has a mangrove forest and unique species of trees that are considered rare or endangered. A day trip to Mona Island can be part of your itinerary, but if you want to stay longer on the island there are camping facilities that charge a very low fee.

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