El Yunque National Forest - A 45-minute drive from San Juan, this 28,000-acre tropical forest is one of Puerto Rico’s natural wonders. Set in the Luquillo Mountains and named for anvilshaped El Yunque peak, the park contains 240 species of tropical trees, flowers and wildlife, including ferns, orchids, parrots and tiny tree frogs called coqui. Cool and often rainy, the park’s verdant forest contains a dozen hiking trails and a lookout tower. its highest peak is 3,532-foot-high El Toro. A popular restaurant at the entrance to the park is Las Vegas where both Puerto Rican and American cuisine is served.

Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve - This peninsula at the northeastern tip of the island is often referred to as El Faro, which is the name of the 1882 lighthouse located here. Beautifully restored, El Faro now houses a scientific research center with an observation deck added to the building’s exterior. The reserve, situated on land acquired by the island’s Conservation Trust, encompasses a dry forest, mangroves, lagoons, beaches, reefs and offshore cays. Guided tours, by reservation only, are conducted in safari buses and include informative walks along trails and boardwalks to observe the various species supported by this diverse habitat.

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