A Town In Puerto Rico Chosen As One Of The World's Greatest Places

 For 2023, the town of Ro Grande, Puerto Rico was chosen as one of the world's greatest places by Time Magazine.  Rio Grande is located on the east coast of Puerto Rico.

Time Magazine highlights the El Yunque Rain Forest, located in Rio Grande.  El Yunque is one of the main tourist attractions and it is home to the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest.  

El Yunque has undergone an $18 million dollar renovation.  The renovations include: A new visiting center, El Portal, a new introductory video narrated by Benicio Del Toro, and ranger demonstrations to learn about 240-plus plants species and 18 bird species endemic to Puerto Rico.

                                                                            

                                                           puertoricoistheplace

Puerto Rico In Recovery Phase After Hurricane Maria

Isla Verde, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is in the recovery phase after category 5 Hurricane Maria, with 155 miles per hour winds, made landfall on Puerto Rico, on September 20, destroying everything on its path and decimating the island's already crumbling power grid.  The official death toll stands at 64.

The good news:

The Luis Munoz Marin International Airport is fully operational, and the San Juan Harbor is open and cruise ships are operating.  Many hotels are open with most taking new reservations.  The Mall of San Juan and Plaza Las Americas are open for shoppers, and the Museum of Art in Santurce and the Ponce Museum of Art are open for visitors.  Bacardi tours, El Morro and other San Juan historic sites are open.

Outside of San Juan, the news is not so good and El Yunque National Forest sustained a lot of damage and will remain closed until further notice.

To continue to help Puerto Rico through the recovery phase, please donate  to United for Puerto Rico. 

                                                                           

Isla Verde, Puerto Rico

                                                                           

Isla Verde, Puerto Rico

                 

                                                                               

Isla Verde, Puerto Rico

                                                                         

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El Yunque, Puerto Rico

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Top Three State Forests of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has 20 State Forests and 28 Nature Reserves and most of them are open to the public for hiking, bird watching, and camping.  Here are a few to visit:


El Yunque National Forest - Located in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, 45 minutes east of San Juan, El Yunque is the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest System, and is well-known for its incredible biodiversity.  El Yunque has 28,000 acres, four forest types, and is a great place for hiking.   El Yunque has many hiking trails, and picnic facilities.  From the trails visitors can see lush foliage, waterfalls and rivers.  El Yunque is home to the endangered Puerto Rican parrot and to thousands of native plants, and small wild life species.     


Guajataca State Forest -  Located in the town of Isabela, about two hours from San Juan, has a great recreational area, 27 miles of trails, and 70 species of birds.  Camping is availaibe for a fee, and you need a permit from the Department of Natural Resources.  Guajataca has a lookout tower, canyons, waterfalls, and caves.


Maricao State Forest - Located in the town of Maricao, is often referred to as Monte del Estado.  Maricao has 10,490 acres, and visitors do not need a permit for hiking.  From the forest you can get great views of the island of Puerto Rico.  It gets cooler in Maricao, so make sure you bring a jacket.   There are 60 species of fauna and 1,141 species of plants.  Maricao has many birds including the Puerto Rican Emerald Hummingbird.  Maricao has wide trails, and a lookout tower near the campgrounds and cabins that are run by the Puerto Rican National Parks Company.  


Enjoy the forests of Puerto Rico.  Take a look at this video of Guajataca Forest:




                                                            

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Enjoy this timelapse video of El Yunque:





                                                             

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El Yunque National Forest In Puerto Rico May Become One Of The New 7 Wonders Of Nature

There is only 7 days left to vote for El Yunque to become one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.  Voting for El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico, to become, one of the seven most unique natural attractions in the world, ends November 11, 2011. 


Each year, more than 600,000 people visit El Yunque National Forest, in Puero Rico.  Visitors to El Yunque get to enjoy the waterfalls, flora and El Yunque's natural beauty.  El Yunque's unique biodiversity is what makes it a place of natural wonder.  In El Yunque one can find a variety of ecological zones.  This eco-diversity is what sets El Yunque apart from other rain forests.  El Yunque is home to 150 types of ferns, 50 native orchids, and 240 native tree species of which 88 are found only in Puerto Rico.


El Yunque is currently one of the 28 finalists in the competition to become one of the seven most impressive and unique natural attractions in the world.  Some of the natural locations competing for a spot in the final 7 are the Galapagos in Ecuador, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the Igauzu Waterfalls between Argentina and Brazil, and the Vesuvius Volcano in Italy.

The voting results will be announced on November 11, 2011.  Each of the final seven locations will officially become a New Natural Wonder in a ceremony, where an engraved plaque will be presented,  recognizing the location as one of the final 7.  Then, the 7 winning natural sites, will officially become one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.  


Go to: http://www.new7wonders.com/vote-2 and vote for El Yunque to become one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature!


                                                              

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Trip To El Yunque Rain Forest In Puerto Rico

El Yunque Rain Forest, Puerto Rico

El Yunque Rain Forest, Puerto Rico

I decided to travel from San Juan to visit El Yunque Rain Forest in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.  Upon arrival, I stopped at the El Portal Exhibit Hall to get maps of the area and view a multimedia display.  It was sunny, but I noticed that it was raining at the top of the mountain.  Of course, El Yunque is a rain forest, with an average of over 100 inches of rainfall a year.  Even though I knew there are plenty of shelters located throughout the park, I was prepared.  I took along my rain gear, water, and wore good walking shoes.

Looking at El Yunque from a distance, there appears to be a shape on the mountaintop which, according to folklore, was believed to be the deity Yuquiyu sleeping.  According to legend, the good spirit "Yuquiyu" reigned on his mighty mountain-top throne, protecting the Taino people.

El Yunque is part of the Luquillo mountain range and is divided into four different forests: Tabonuco, Palo Colorado, Palma Sierra and En Las Nubes, which is often shrouded in fog and a remarkably beautiful part of El Yunque Forest with its twisted, stunted trunks and giant ferns.

In El Yunque Rain Forest there are 8 types of lizards, 13 types of Coquis(Puerto Rican tree frogs that sing), 50 types of birds, including the native Puerto Rican Parrot, which is an endangered species.  There are 11 types of bats, the only one type of mammal natural to El Yunque.  Also found, but very rare, are nonpoisonous snakes.  Among them, the Puerto Rican Boa can reach a length of 90 inches.

El Yunque also has abundant flora including: 240 native tree species, 23 of them found only in El Yunque, 88 rare tree species, 50 native orchids, and 150 types of ferns.

I walked along the paved forest paths down to the most beautiful waterfall.  On the way I could see native ferns and wild orchids, while listening to the birds and of course, the one and only Coqui.  I also walked down the steps below the Palo Colorado Ranger Station to the little gazebos below, which have roofs, picnic tables and BBQ grills. I took one of the gazebos next to a calming, rushing stream and enjoyed a picnic lunch.

The tranquility experienced during my visit to El Yunque Rain Forest was nourishing to my soul, and will long be remembered.

El Yunque Rain Forest, Puerto Rico

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Trump Residences in Puerto Rico

Trump International Golf Club & Residences in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, is the first development in Puerto Rico to combine, residences world class golf and a beach resort in one location.  Covering 1,000 acres on the Atlantic Ocean, the property is located on a private penninsula, between beautiful beaches and the El Yunque National Forest.

All residents will have memberships to two 18 hole PGA Tournament level golf courses, designed by Tom Kite and access to the Trump clubhouse.

For more detailed information about the residences, here is their site:

http://www.trumppuertoricoresidences.com/  

Isla Verde Beach... El Yunque National Forest... San Juan, Puerto Rico

                                                                   

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