La Mina Falls

La Mina Falls, Puerto Rico

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La Mina Falls in March 2010

Note: It seems the road to La Mina Falls might not be open currently (as of July 2018) due to the 2017 hurricanes. Once more info is available, I’ll try to update this…

It’s been a rather long time since I’ve posted a Puerto Rico waterfall, so I’m going to have to dig deep into the memory bank for this waterfall. I’m going to start by saying that Puerto Rico is one of those intriguing places that you should visit if you have the chance. If you live in the US, there’s no passport needed. It’s a unique mix of American, Spanish, and Caribbean, and I wasn’t always sure how to process what I was experiencing. One of the most enjoyable experiences on the island was visiting El Yunque, the spectacular rain forest on the eastern side of the island. (For the exact opposite experience, consider visiting the Guanica Dry Forest on the western side of the island).

El Yunque probably has more waterfalls than are advertised, though I’m guessing many of them might be hidden. La Coca Falls is found directly off the road, and is therefore very easy to visit. Juan Diego Falls is near the road, but since it is hidden from view, I found it to be the most enjoyable since I was the only one there. La Mina Falls is the furthest along the main road snaking through the rain forest, and requires the most hiking.

The hike to the falls starts at a parking area, and begins to head downhill. My father and I wore rain ponchos, which were useful for keeping us dry, but also had a tendency to make us feel sticky because of the high humidity. The 0.7 mile hike (one-way) was rather enjoyable, though you are climbing almost completely uphill on the way back.  It’s not extremely strenuous, though. The falls are very busy, though, as there will likely be people swimming in the pool below the falls. For peace and quiet, your best bet is probably early in the morning.

Directions:

  1. Head into El Yunque National Forest on Rte 191 (which is not very obvious from Rte 3).
  2. At km 12.2, you’ll find the Palo Colorado Ranger Station. The trail starts at this ranger station.

Accessibility: 6/10 (moderate)
Height: 35′
Length of Hike: 1.4 miles round-trip
(For a number of other suggestions on what to do in Puerto Rico, check out http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/)

Where in the World is La Mina Falls?

La Coca Falls, Puerto Rico

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La Coca Falls in El Yunque National Forest (March 2010)

Of the major waterfalls in El Yunque National Forest, La Coca Falls is by far the easiest to visit. The falls are right off the road and are the first waterfall as you drive up Rte 191.

La Coca Falls is probably best described as a slide falls. The water slides down a 60′ rock face, after which the creek narrows down significantly. It’s a very pretty waterfall, and the tropical rain forest surrounding it is just stunning. If you want to see a waterfall on Puerto Rico, this is your best bet, especially if you’re not interesting in hiking up and down hills. If you’re interested in hiking to a waterfall in El Yunque, check out La Mina Falls or the wonderfully hidden Juan Diego Falls. All three can be very easily visited in a couple of hours time.

Directions:

  1. Head into El Yunque National Forest on Rte 191 (which is not very obvious from Rte 3).
  2. La Coca Falls will be on the right side as you’re heading down Rte 191. It’s extremely obvious, and there is parking both before and after the falls.

Accessibility: 10/10 (easy, roadside)
Height: 85′
Length of Hike: not applicable

Where in the World is La Coca Falls?