the forest’s biodiversity has garnered global scientific interest
The forest uniquely offers as much to experience by day as it does after dark, says El Yunque National Forest biologist and park ranger, Victor Cuevas. “Life in El Yunque has two shifts,” he explains. “During the day, you can observe and listen to the singing and fluttering of birds and see all the greenery and color a tropical rainforest has.” “Come evening time, the night shift takes over,” Cuevas says. “It is mostly insects and our favorite amphibian, the coqui, who play the music in the forest. We can hear only nocturnal birds, such as the Puerto Rican screech owl or mucarito, the bats fluttering and cricket sounds. But it’s the coqui’s singing which stands out.” During the daytime, hiking is a popular pastime. Trails range from easy to extremely challenging and reward visitors with spectacular lookouts and sublime places to swim. The natural pools at La Coca Falls, with its 85-foot cascade, can be reached via a challenging trail (1.8 miles one way) through the lower montane forest. For something far easier, hit the Angelito trailhead to walk less than a mile to a natural swimming area within the Río Mameyes, one of Puerto Rico’s most scenic and wild rivers that flows in a northerly direction. Visitors who love plants — and orchids in particular — find wonders at every turn in El Yunque. It’s estimated that the national forest harbors 70 species of orchids, says the park’s public affairs officer, Brenda Peña López.
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