If you’re the outdoorsy type, then you won’t run out of things to do with the variety of parks in Puerto Rico.
This unincorporated territory in the Caribbean is home to national forests, nature reserves, and a single national park in Old San Juan that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I’m a Puerto Rico local and I can guarantee you’ll find Puerto Rico parks to be some of the best sites to see in Puerto Rico.
In this article, I’ll dive into the best parks in Puerto Rico you can’t miss!
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17 Best Puerto Rico Parks
San Juan National Historic Site
A former Spanish colony with fortresses and historical buildings.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 National Park Service
You’d expect it to be a local nature reserve, but the only national park in Puerto Rico is actually a historical site filled with forts, cobblestone streets, colonial houses, and some of the top San Juan attractions.
The San Juan National Historic Site in Old San Juan includes Spanish colonial structures like the city walls, El Morro, Castillo San Cristóbal, and El Cañuelo.
Since they are managed by the National Park Service, you need to pay $10 to visit Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristóbal
The San Juan National Historic Site is also one of the best areas to stay in Puerto Rico.
🌳 Local Trivia: Before the Spanish-American War, Puerto Rico was ruled by the Spanish empire. Nowadays, it’s an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the US.
Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve
A nature reserve with top-notch beaches, mangroves, and a bio bay.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Para La Naturaleza
Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve is a popular reserve to spend a day hiking, birdwatching, or beach bumming.
You can choose between the best Fajardo beaches to spend the day on, including Seven Seas Beach, Playa Colorá, and Playa Escondida.
Of course, the highlight of the nature reserve for adults and kids is the Laguna Grande Bioluminescent Lagoon, one of the three Puerto Rico bioluminescent bays and one of the top attractions in Fajardo.
There are bathrooms, rentals, showers, and even camping sites in some areas of the Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve.
Vieques National Wildlife Refuge
A nature reserve that houses the brightest bio bay in the world.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 US Fish and Wildlife Service
Getting to Vieques might be a hassle, but visiting its nature reserve is worth it if you’re a nature lover.
The Vieques National Wildlife Refuge covers half of Vieques, and it’s home to some of the top beaches in Vieques for swimming and snorkeling around coral reefs.
But, what attracts most visitors to the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge is Mosquito Bioluminescent Bay, the brightest bio bay in the world.
Vieques isn’t part of Puerto Rico national parks, but it’s a great place to explore, with lots of things to do, and far less crowded than the other Virgin Islands.
👉 Pro Tip: On-site facilities are scarce, you’ll need a 4×4 to reach the refuge’s remote areas, and phone signal is non-existent. Prepare accordingly!
Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge
One of the best places for birdwatching, swimming, and hiking in Puerto Rico.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 US Fish and Wildlife Service
Located on the west coast, the Cabo Rojo Wildlife Refuge is a paradise for birdwatchers and hiking lovers.
Although it lacks facilities, and you will need to pack everything for a day trip, this wildlife refuge houses some of Cabo Rojo’s top beaches, including Playuela.
During your visit, you can’t miss some of the best sites to visit in Cabo Rojo, including the Pink Salt Lakes and Los Morrillos Lighthouse.
👉 Pro Tip: The road to the lighthouse and Playuela is full of potholes. It’s possible to visit by car, but an SUV is recommended.
El Yunque National Forest
A popular Puerto Rico landmark and the only tropical rainforest in the US.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 USDA Forest Service | Camping Near El Yunque
El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the National Forest System, which allows visitors to see unique flora and fauna endemic to Puerto Rico.
Even if you’re not visiting for the birds and trees, El Yunque is home to famous Puerto Rico waterfalls, natural pools, and observation towers you can enjoy with your family.
While not an official national park (more like a national forest), El Yunque promises to be one of your best adventures in Puerto Rico.
If you’re visiting La Mina Recreative Area in PR 191, you might find a queue to get in, as parking is limited. You’ll also find food kiosks and bathrooms in this area of El Yunque.
🌳 Looking for a Tour? Without local insight, you’ll hardly find some of the best-hidden gems inside the forest. Book an El Yunque tour with a local to explore the best of El Yunque.
Guanica State Forest
One of the largest dry coastal forests in the world.
The Guanica State Forest is one of the world’s largest dry coastal forests and you’ll find it on Puerto Rico’s south coast.
Aside from being the largest dry forest on the island, The Guanica State Forest is famous for siding with the Caribbean Sea, and being home to some of the .
It also hosts challenging hiking trails that run through the coast, with the most popular leading to the small fort of Fuerte Capron, one of Guanica’s main attractions.
It sports on-site parking and bathrooms, but you won’t come across any facilities once deep inside the dry forest, so prepare your packing list accordingly.
Toro Negro State Forest
A state forest with beautiful waterfalls and 18 km of hiking trails.
Toro Negro State Forest is one of the most popular stops in the central mountain range in Puerto Rico. Hiking fans will love exploring 18 km of land with some of the best Puerto Rico hiking trails.
In Toro Negro, you’ll find multiple tidal pools and rivers like Charco de Los Suspiros to bathe and enjoy nature. Nearby the forest you’ll find food kiosks, haciendas, and great Puerto Rico waterfalls.
If you’re looking for a place to camp in Puerto Rico, you can camp in Toro Negro’s campground which has gazebos and places for BBQ and bonfires.
Camuy River Cave Park
The largest underground cave system in Puerto Rico and one of the largest in the world.
The Camuy River Cave Park is the only park on this list whose beauty is underground.
This park is home to the most renowned Puerto Rico caves and one of my favorite day trips from San Juan, the Camuy Caves.
The Clara Cave, the most visited cave in the park, sports a unique ecosystem formed by bats, an underground river, stalactites, and stalagmites.
The park includes facilities like souvenir shops, on-site parking, and bathrooms. The Camuy River Park has an entrance fee of $18 for adults, $13 for kids, and $9 for seniors.
👉 Pro Tip: The trolley isn’t running, so visitors must walk down to the caves. If you have mobility limitations, you might want to skip this park for now.
Guajataca State Forest
This state forest hides one of the best caves on the island, and it’s free.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Ven a Isabela
The Guajataca State Forest is one of my favorite sites to visit in Isabela, in the northwest region.
The Guajataca State Forest boasts the largest trail network in the country. Hiking lovers could spend an entire day exploring it.
Besides the ranger’s office, the gazebos, and the viewing towers, there aren’t any facilities on site.
If you don’t want to limit your adventure to daylight, you can choose to stay camping for a few days by soliciting a permit from the DRNA.
👉 Pro Tip: As of March 2024, the stairs to get into Cueva del Viento are unsafe to use. Ask the park ranger to alternate routes to other caves in the forest.
Humacao Nature Reserve
Kayak through the channels and lagoons of this nature reserve.
The Humacao Nature Reserve is a 3,000-acre nature reserve located between the towns of Humacao and Naguabo. Also known as Punta Santiago Nature Reserve, this protected area houses a Pterocarpus forest, wetlands, lagoons, mangrove forests, and the river’s mouth.
The publicly-accessed recreation area has kayak rentals, bicycle rentals, and picnic tables. You can also explore the reserve through its hiking trails.
Parque Nacional Julio Enrique Monagas
Have a family picnic day in this hidden national park.
Hidden in Bayamon’s industrial area, Parque Nacional Julio Enrique Monagas is a national park with 200 acres of trails, playgrounds, and picnic tables.
Although it is located in the middle of the city, you can see endemic bird and flora species in this park. Visit with your family and spend the day in the pavilions or cycle on the park’s MTB trails for an adventure.
You can also go rock climbing in the site’s limestone walls by yourself if you have equipment or with a local tour company.
Keep in mind the park is open only during daylight hours. There is a $4 parking fee.
Isla de Cabras National Park
Bathe on this park’s beach with a view of Old San Juan.
Isla de Cabras National Park is an islet in the town of Toa Baja that houses multiple historical structures as well as a great beach to visit with kids.
Located on the opposite side of El Morro, and at the entrance of San Juan Bay, this park was originally used by the Spaniards as a strategic point to protect the bay, which is why the Fortín San Juan de la Cruz was built in 1610.
The park has picnic tables, gazebos, and bathrooms. There is a police shooting range and a fishing area on site.
Bosque Estatal de Piñones
Kayak, swim or hike in this nature reserve near San Juan’s airport.
The Piñones State Forest is a 1560-acre coastal forest located on a coastal plain in Loiza.
The forest is known for having multiple endemic species and housing multiple ecosystems including beaches, mangroves, reefs, sand dunes, and even a seasonal bioluminescent lagoon.
A boardwalk crosses through the Piñones State Forest that families can use for cycling, hiking, and birdwatching. But you can also go hiking and kayaking in the reserve’s beaches and lagoons.
👉 Pro Tip:COPI rents kayaks and bicycles in Loiza.
San Patricio State Forest
Escape to a nature reserve in San Juan.
The San Patricio State Forest is one of the last remaining green oases in the city of San Juan.
This 68-acre forest is the smallest one of Puerto Rico’s protected forests, but it still offers nature enthusiasts enough space for birdwatching, biking, and hiking.
In the San Patricio State Forest, you’ll find parking, gazebos, picnic tables, and bathrooms. The forest also has a visitor’s center and a plant nursery you should check out too.
Reserva Medio Mundo y Daguao
Sunbathe on remote beaches in this reserve in Ceiba.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Para La Naturaleza
Medio Mundo y Daguao is located in Ceiba on Puerto Rico’s east coast. Managed by Para La Naturaleza, this reserve houses the second-largest mangrove forest in Puerto Rico, estuary, and reefs.
You can kayak, bike, or hike in this reserve. Don’t miss out on its remote and tranquil beaches but keep in mind you won’t find any facilities on site.
Bosque Estatal de Maricao
Hike to this forest’s mesmerizing waterfalls.
Maricao State Forest is a state forest located between Maricao, Sabana Grande, and San Germán in Puerto Rico’s mountainous region.
Considered the largest forest in Puerto Rico’s forest system, the Maricao State Forest spans 10,803 acres.
The forest has popular Puerto Rico waterfalls including Charco El Pilon and Salto Curet. You can also hike through the forest’s trails to see Puerto Rico’s flora and fauna.
Don’t miss the chance to take a picture at Torre de Piedra (Rock Tower), and if you’re up for the adventure, camp in the forest.
Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Hike and kayak in the second biggest estuary in Puerto Rico.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Jobos Bay NERR
Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is the second largest estuary in Puerto Rico and it covers 2,883 acres between Guayama and Salinas.
The reserve has numerous ecosystems where nature fans can spot local, endemic, and even endangered species such as the hawksbill turtle.
Hike any of the six interpretative trails in Jobos Bay to birdwatch or kayak in the unique Mar Negro Lagoon.
The Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve has multiple access points, but you can find the visitor center on PR 705 in Salinas.
FAQs About Parks in Puerto Rico
How many national parks are in Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico has only one national park and it’s the San Juan National Historic Site. This national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it includes landmarks like El Morro, La Fortaleza, Castillo San Cristóbal, and the city walls in Old San Juan.
What is the name of the most famous National Park in Puerto Rico?
The most famous and only national park in Puerto Rico is the San Juan National Historic Site. This park includes historical structures built under the Spanish colonial government. Although locals refer to nature reserves as Puerto Rico national parks, the only official national park is the San Juan National Historic Site.
Does Puerto Rico have state parks?
Puerto Rico has nineteen state parks and forests which include the Guanica, Monte del Estado, Guilarte, Boqueron, Guajataca, and Toro Negro State Forests.El Yunque is classified as a national forest, as it’s under the protection of the federal government.
What is the most visited area in Puerto Rico?
The most visited areas in Puerto Rico include Old San Juan, El Yunque National Forest,Vieques, Culebra, and Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve. The sandy beaches and local nature reserves are also some of the most visited areas on the island.
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Those are the best parks in Puerto Rico you can’t miss! Read our guide to Puerto Rico’s top things to doto find more fun activities in the archipelago. Safe travels!
