Feel like a true Puerto Rican explorer during this day of discovery in El Yunque rainforest. Blaze a trail to this lush tropical Eden. Admire gorgeous orchids, exotic birds, and wildlife like the Coquí (tree frog) as you hike to waterfalls and swimming spots, enjoying your adventure amidst the fresh air and beautiful scenery of this Puerto Rican paradise. National park fees plus round-trip hotel transport are included.

Feel like an explorer during visits to waterfalls and swimming spots
Great excursion for the adventurous

What's Included

Park fees.
Bottled water and light snacks.
USCG certified Lifejackets.
Pick-up and drop-off (within touristic zone and selected San Juan areas only)
Certified helmet

Lunch
Gratuities
Pick up/ drop off in towns outside of San Juan (ex Rio Grande, Dorado). Meeting location available.

Meeting And Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

07:00 AM

Pickup details

Complimentary pick up in selected areas of San Juan: Old San Juan, Condado, Isla Verde, Miramar and Ocean Park and Calle Loiza. Meeting point available by PR-3 in Rio Grade, Luquillo and Fajardo. Exact pick up time will be provided the day prior to the tour.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Please dress appropriately: Wear hiking shoes (tennis with a good grip also works). Can also bring water shoes for when you go into the river . Please note: shoes will get wet and very muddy
Wear comfortable clothing, swimsuit underneath, bring a towel and change of clothes. Wear sunscreen and mosquito repellent.
You must have a good breakfast before departing on this tour.
Pregnant women, persons with knee and/or back injuries or recent surgeries, those with walking disabilities or physical impairments, or other serious medical conditions cannot participate on this tour.
Children must be accompanied by an adult (not suitable for children under 7 years).
Due to safety reasons participants must be able to understand English or Spanish. Legally blind or deaf persons are not able to participate due to the same. A Private tour would be the most appropriate option on these cases.
Bus will wait only 5 minutes after your assigned pick up time. No refunds will be issued if you miss your pick up.
On Saturdays the hike is longer and more challenging since we depart from a different point.
Once you begin the tour, you must finish it all the way up to the second stop and return back with the group.
Use of lifejacket and helmet is mandatory. $100 fee will apply for each piece of equipment if not returned.
Failure to provide hotel/lodging information upon booking may result in bus not being able to pick you at your location or close to it. No refunds will be issued if you miss your pick up.

At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers MUST provide the following information: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and/or re-boarding time.
Complimentary pick up in Old San Juan, Condado, Isla Verde, Miramar and Calle Loiza areas (contact us for additional assistance).
Please travel light and only bring the necessary to the tour. Leave behind electronic devices, any important documentation like passport, large sums of cash or credit cards. Cell phones require waterproof case and can be brought under your own risk..
Not wheelchair accessible
Operates based on weather and river conditions, there is a possibility of cancellation if conditions are not found safe during rainy days.
Estimated tour duration of 8 hours includes: 3.5 - 4hours at the forest, 1.5 hr driving each way, pick ups and lunch time. Subject to traffic conditions.
Published starting time is only an estimate. Exact pick up time will be provided the DAY PRIOR to your tour.
Bespoke LM Reserves the Right of Admission - If a person appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, not following instructions, being disruptive or not dressed appropriately (due safety) the Guide has the right to Cancel their reservation at any moment, and No Refunds will be issued due to this.
Persons with the previously listed health restrictions cannot participate on the tour. No refunds will be authorized if a person neglects to read complete description and does not meet the safety requirements and limitations on the day of the tour.
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 28 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

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Q:What should I wear during the El Yunque Off the Beaten Path Hiking Tour?

A:Wear a bathing suit and comfortable clothes. Bring a towel and extra pair of clothing. Hiking and water shoes are strongly recommended, tennis with a good grip also work.

Feb 2021

Q:Should I eat before the El Yunque Off the Beaten Path Hiking Tour?

A:Yes, be sure to have a good breakfast before we depart as we will be having a late lunch stop.

Feb 2021

Q:How strenuous is the El Yunque Off the Beaten Path Hiking Tour?

A:Participants must be physically capable of walking thru steep, rocky, muddy trails, and have balance to walk by uneven surfaces without assistance.

Feb 2021

Q:Can pregnant women participate in the El Yunque Off the Beaten Path Hiking Tour?

A:Due to safety concerns, it is not recommended for pregnant women past their first trimester to participate.

Feb 2021

Q:Can I bring my children on the El Yunque Off the Beaten Path Hiking Tour?

A:Children must be 7 years or older to participate.

Feb 2021

Q:Will I get wet during the El Yunque Off the Beaten Path Hiking Tour?

A:Yes, the initial hike/walk is a 25-30 minute journey up a dirt/rock path with some river wading. We will visit a collecting pool that forms at the base of a waterfall as well as another pool area where you will have the opportunity to swim.

Feb 2021

Q:Is lunch included during the El Yunque Off the Beaten Path Hiking Tour?

A:Lunch is not included.

Feb 2021

Q:What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my El Yunque Off the Beaten Path Hiking Tour?

A:This tour is subject to weather and river conditions. In the event of cancellation, we will offer other options, to reschedule or provide a refund.

Feb 2021

Traveler Photos

Traveler Tips

Bring good hiking shoes that you don't mind getting wet, what's most important is that you have good footing underneath you!

I do NOT recommend you hike with water shoes because you will be climbing rocks and will slip.

Pay attention to the “ what to expect” section of tour.

Reviews

5.0

523 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 523 reviews

Great hike through water falls and the rain forest

Noam_S, Mar 2023

Beautiful hike through the lesser travelled paths of El Yunke with a great tour guide (writing this years later, sorry I forgot his name…)

Ariana was an excellent...

BettyAnn_K, Mar 2023

Ariana was an excellent guide. Try to get in a small group...some tours had too many people. Beware, this is more rock climbing than hiking!

Amazing!

Julia_P, Mar 2023

We had a great time seeing the beauty the rainforest had to offer. Adriana and Luis were amazing guides!

Overcrowded (slow) uneventful

Ben_Z, Feb 2023

It was terrible. We were picked up at our hotel at 8am and didn’t arrive at the rainforest until 10:45. Our group had 33 people in it!!! This is NOT OFF THE BEATEN PATH! And you are not avoiding large groups as advertised! You are in a large group! Because of this the hike which was only 1.3 miles round trip should have taken 1-2 hours and took 3-4. It was the worst vacation trip I’ve ever taken. If you’re looking at this and thinking is this a fun hike to get out in the rainforest and explore it is not. What it is however is a hike on a path with 200 other tourists that takes you to 1 water spot to jump off 1 cliff. I added a picture so you can see how large our group was and the ridiculous vest and helmet we had to wear the whole time. Most of our time was spent standing and waiting for our huge group to stay together.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Dear Ben, This is the second negative review you have left in recent days with the same situation, different account. We can understand your frustration, but please be honest and fair too. As I had previously responded: We are sorry to learn you found the tour to be terrible. This excursion used to be away from the crowds prior to Hurricane Maria in 2017. Since then many tour operators have adopted this trail, turning it into more of an adventurous experience. We no longer advertise this tour as away or to beat the crowds. We are aware the spot has become very popular in recent times and any reference to small groups has been removed . I will look further into this. Please know, the "ridiculous vest and helmet" have saved lives. See past reviews of customers expressing how glad they were we use protective equipment, as they saw accidents happen to others who didnt. I can understand your frustration , but please be grateful you went with one of the few responsible companies who take safety seriously.

Terrific El Yunque Adventure

Gregory_S, Feb 2023

Fun and informative tour of the magnificent El Yunque. The water slide and pool at the top were great bonuses. Best of all was our guide, Adriana’s passion and good nature. She also had perfect recommendations mofongo and mojitoes at the end of the tour.

Very fun, teen enjoyed and I got a challenge

sarahkwilsonca, Feb 2023

Fun experience we would not have found or been able to do on our own. The guides were great, explained everything thoroughly and were supportive and encouraging. The scenery is gorgeous. The hiking and rock scrambling can be challenging, but I’m over 40 with arthritis and I managed okay. The details say you’ll hike in bathing suits, but you can wear swimming shorts or inexpensive leggings over your suit - which I’d recommend for comfort. Wear shoes with laces and at least a little grip. Shoes without laces will get sucked off in the mud, and the rocks and trail are frequently slippery. My athletic teen loved it!

The guides made all the difference!

Jennifer_F, Feb 2023

This tour was amazing! We got picked up and dropped off, our guides contacted us ahead of time so we knew exactly how to prepare. And during the drive to the forest they gave us detailed descriptions of what to expect. From the start Jamie took the time to connect with each of us and tried to ensure we had a great time. Elias drove and Mitchelle joined us at the forest. All our guides helped us navigate safely through the forest; they physically helped anyone who needed help and also encouraged everyone to push themselves to their individual comfort levels. Additionally, our guides were all local and knew the history and value of the rainforest. They wanted us to enjoy and respect the forest. Along with everything else, our guides also took awesome videos and pictures for all participants. And putting a great cap on the day, after hiking, our guides shared a meal with us and even ordered ahead so we wouldn’t have to wait long for our food. Excellent guides, Excellent tour, Excellent day!

Overall fun time, could use more actual hiking

Sarina_K, Feb 2023

I had an enjoyable trip going into El Yunque. I was a solo traveler so I wanted to be able to go on an excursion in a group, and without renting a car. Overall I had fun, but there were a few negatives. The tour bus was almost 45 minutes late to pick me up from our stop, and there was no explanation. It seemed like they just missed the stop and then had to circle back. Secondly, I was a little disappointed with the lack of hiking. In total it was about 30 minutes (to and from the water hole). The rest of the time was spent waiting in lines (there were a lot of crowds) to do the water slide, then cliff jump, then rope swing. If you weren't interested in those activities, you just had to sit around. Based on the description I thought there would be more overall hiking, like from activity to activity, so I became a bit bored.

Where are the pics

RICHARD_M, Feb 2023

Adriana was a perfect tour guide. She's knowledgeable and has a great sense of humor. The only issue I have is I was promised pictures and they weren't delivered. She couldn’t do it because we had a samsung phone. All the other people with an apple phone got there pics. She promised to send them later but that never happened. Contacted them a few times via text to no avail.

A fine family outing

Theodore_S, Feb 2023

We really enjoyed the muddy walk to the water activities at the falls. The stop at the beach on the return leg of the bus trip was great and the food was wonderful.

Awesome hike and water adventure

Brian_M, Feb 2023

Great experience! Challenging, but fun. Our guide Adriana and her team were awesome! Would definitely recommend. But beware - you will get muddy and wet!

A muddy, physical, experience!

Laura_H, Jan 2023

Amazing adventure! Quite muddy and some strenuous and treacherous rock scrabbling, but thoroughly enjoyable if you like a bit of a challenge w a sprinkling of fear. Once you submit to the mud it gets even better.

Worth it!

Sarah_J, Jan 2023

We had a great time. When you’re with Jaime and Elias, you’re “Family.” They took great care of us and were super nice!

I recommend this...

LJ_K, Dec 2022

I recommend this particular tour because the timing is perfect to beat the crowds. This was through Bespoke Lifestyle Management and the guides were great. Bring shoes that you don’t care about turning orange. Highly recommend Keenes or similar style foot wear. You should be ok with physical activity as well. Climbing up rocks and through mud chutes, etc.

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Appreciate your recommendation! Yes, this tour is better appreciated on the earlier side. Even more if it's during the Holidays.

Julian was outstanding!

Vance_H, Dec 2022

The best part of the tour was our guide Julian. He was informative, funny, and had our group eating out of his hand. At the same time, he laser focused on ensuring that every group member had fun even as each person’s safety was his paramount concern. I’ve traveled a lot and taken a lot of these excursions and he’s the best I’ve experienced. Treasure him and pay him well. He would be impossible to replace. Sincerely, Vance Hinch

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Dear Vance, We are glad you enjoyed this adventure! Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with Julian, he is indeed a very special asset to our Bespoke Family.

Fun in the Rain Forest

MaryLou_L, Dec 2022

Our guide George was very enthusiastic and encouraging. He made the trip really fun. We had a great time

Great adventure with great guides

Veronica_L, Dec 2022

Our tour guides Julian and Luis really went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time. Julian is extremely knowledgeable, He gave us some history along the trek. Highly recommend.

Outstanding Hike

samantha_l, Dec 2022

The entire hike was excellent. We enjoyed the level of difficulty the hike provided. The water slide, cliff jump and rope swing added a nice touch of adrenalin. Jason and team provided an overall amazing day.

Great Tour!

Stephen_W, Dec 2022

Tour was really great. Our guides were amazing! Super friendly and knowledgeable. It was a blast. Would recommend.

Great experience and...

Nanette_F, Nov 2022

Great experience and wonderful guides! Definitely a must do in San Juan! You won’t regret it! 5 stars!

...

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