As the fading light slipped through the spectrum of golden-yellow to cool-blue, the coquís began their daily symphony, starting with just a few chips and croaks that grew to a roar as darkness filled the corners in the rainforest. This is the heart of El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest that is a part of the U.S. Forest Service and one if the oldest forest reserves in the Western hemisphere.
History of El Yunque
The history of El Yunque National Forest goes back to before Puerto Rico was a part of the United States, when the island was still claimed by Spain.
Much of the area that is now protected was cleared for farming, until the slopes got you steep for farming to be worthwhile. After seeing the loss of natural lands in Spain, the crown set aside the forest region in 1876, and officially established the Luquillo Forest Reserve on January 17, 1903.
When Puerto Rico was ceded to the U.S., President Roosevelt signed the order that incorporated the reserve into the National Forest system and renamed it the Caribbean National Forest.
The native Taino people, who populated the island before the arrival of the Spaniards, have left their own marks on this area in the form of petroglyphs.
Ecology of El Yunque
The forest has four different zones: the Tabonuco Forest, the Palo Colorado forest, the Sierra Palm forest and the Cloud Forest, each named for what is predominantly found there.
In addition to those major species, the forest has over 225 species of trees, which is more than all the other National Forests combined. Twenty-three of those species are only found in El Yunque.
This wide variety of tree species supports a wide variety of birds, reptiles and amphibians, including a handful of endemic species. The most famous animals are of course the coquís, which are small frogs, and the Puerto Rican parrot, which is listed as an endangered species and had been the focus of a strong rehabilitation effort.
Planning Your Visit
These features of the forest combine to make El Yunque National Forest one of the most studied rainforests in the world.
On a visit to El Yunque National Forest, you can check out the Yokahú Tower, Coca Falls, La Mina Falls, summit El Yunque and explore a variety of trails.
Make sure to stop by the visitor center and watch the short film there. If you would like to camp in the forest, you must email the staff 10 days in advance to obtain a free permit; you can find the forms on the Web site.
