El Yunque is the name for Puerto Rico’s National Rain Forest, and where,
according to Taino Indian legend, the spirit Yuquiyu sits atop a mountaintop throne, protecting Puerto Rico and its
people. The rain forest is also the site of some fine hiking, as
this article suggests, saying
too, that one can venture to the park’s “other” side, where the waterfall mist cools the air and giant ferns make you
think you’ve just walked onto the set of Jurassic Park. For those interested in heading there, the northern half of the
park is easily accessible from San Juan.