We came here at the recommendation of a local. Mostly, we've heard that not only is El Yunque far away, it's also always crowded with tourists. This recommendation was for a rainforest that was closer and more isolated, so we'd essentially have the whole forest to ourself. The drive itself was rather frightening because the forest is on top of a mountain, so the drive though beautiful was winding and hard on the driver.
Once we got to the forest, it was clear why it wasn't popular. There are really no spectacular views once you get into the forest. The trees hide what you'd expect to see at such heights, which makes the hiking even more tedious and less enjoyable. There are also an abundance of both rocks and slippery leaves, so you really should wear some hiking friendly shoes. In terms of the trails themselves, they were rather fun and enjoyable. There were some tricky climbs and some peaceful strolls.
Our goal was the cave that was at the other side of the forest. It was maybe an hour trek (assuming timely pacing) to get from the entrance to the cave. There is a rickety wooden staircase that takes you down. It's a little dank down there and you definitely need a flashlight, but it's pretty cool to see the rock formations in the cave. There are also sleeping bats if you go in the daytime, and you can see and hear them. However, for me, it definitely wasn't cool enough to warrant the hike. There are no gems and no real interesting features. It paled in comparison to the caves you can find the US (e.g. San Antonio caves)
All in all. It's a good place for a jog or to hike for the sake of hiking. It's also good for outdoorsy people who would like a more quiet and personal experience. But it's definitely not rewarding for beginners. read more