Published on Aug, 2022
Where do I start? We are the luckiest people in the world!! First, I booked this tour after I got rejected by another tour company because I wasn’t staying at a specific hotel on the East of the island. The description matched what I was looking for: adventure, jaw dropping views, spectacular waterfalls that you can actually be “in” and very knowledgeable and helpful tour guides. Also, we were the luckiest people as in my mind I thought it was going to be a group tour. Well, to my pleasant surprise, it wasn’t. The tour was just for the 2 of us!!! We we’re picked up at the hotel on time by Danny our main tour guide. Very knowledgeable, funny and he made us feel very comfortable all the time. We drove to sort of a base camp with a house/shed that stored all the equipment and you can change clothes if need to. There we met Miguel, the hiking tour guide. Appearances can be deceiving: Miguel arrived in a small car, looked relatively thin but this guy was so strong that could easily carry a big back pack plus helps us ALL the way to go through all trails with vegetation, rocks, climbing in between rocks, walking on cables, making sure we did it safely and on a comfortable pace. This is NOT for overweight/obese or without some sort of physical fitness. I would NOT recommend it for small children either.
We basically climbed the South face of El Yunque through a private “finca” (land). This is not the common tour rout that uses the North face of El Yunque. This side was just for us, no other tour guides or groups.
On the way up at the start we passed the “charca del hippie” (Hippie’s pond) that is known to people/locals to get to “La chorrera” (the slide), a relatively small drop of about 15-20 feet that you glide while flat on your back on smooth river rock into a pond. Very safe and nothing to be scared off. Then we kept climbing through rivers “Rio Prieto”, “Rio Cugui” and “Rio Icacos” to reach an area called “Nectora”. The views, the water, the contact with nature were just breathtaking! On the top we reached a placed that had a huge stone that was engraved by aborigines “Taínos” that we were told lived there escaping the “Conquistador” Spanish. There was also a tear-shaped carving on the stone thought to be used by the Taino mothers to bathe the babies. All of this with the incredible views all the way to the ocean.
We were blessed that even in the summer, the temperature was acceptable, the visibility was great and the water was very refreshing!
There is a spot that you can jump from a very small stone down to a pond splashed by the waterfall. Its about 20’+ feet drop. It can be scary but I did it!!! Amazing experience!!! Of course, jumping in free air 20+ feet is optional and you will not be coerced or pushed to jump. To me, even when I’m scared if heights, I did it. I said to myself: if I got this far in this unique experience, might as well, do as much as possible and make it an amazing experience and adventure!!
The way down is less hard but still to be careful.
Will you get rained on? Yes! It’s a rain forest. But as I always say: it’s just water!. Will there be mosquitoes/bugs? Well, yes, it’s a forest. They didn’t bother me or attacked me mercilessly but its good practice to use some bug spray before you climb.
Sandals? Nooo! Closed shoes (if you can get hiking boots better) with socks as some areas in the slippery rocks is “grippier” on socks. I did it in running shoes.
Bring some water and perhaps a snack/bar. Yes, you can drink the water on the top areas as this is running, clean river water that has been untouched by humans or their creations. I didn’t bring as snack as I can be long time w/o eating but my was was starving at one point.
In summary, a lifetime experience that I will never forget!!
After, the 4 hours climbing/nature tour (my Garmin watch said it was 1.6 miles), we reached the base camp were I found a faucet and water myself down and changed clothes. We then drove to Luquillo beach were there are about 60 small food shops. All different, all with local food favorites, all with music, drinks and different levels. Ask your tour guide what would you like and they will take you to one that suits your like. This is locals combined with tourists placed. It has been featured in food TV specials in US. Some are sit down, some are not, some have loud music, some not as loud, all have drinks/alcohol. Yes, there’s even souvenirs shops as well. Then behind them….the beach!! Very beautiful!! We eat, went into the water till basically the end of the day when we drove back to our hotel in San Juan.
Would I recommend this tour with Danny and Miguel to my friends? ABSOLUTELY!! 200%!!.
Again, not for small kids, zero fitness people (don’t have to be an olympic hicker/swimmer either. Just the ability to go up and through small trails).
All in all was about 8-9 hours including the drive to-from San Juan.
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