Saturday February 6: El Yunque - Rainforest

It was an early up and out again yesterday as the plan was to stop at El Yunque - the only rainforest in the US.

First was the visitor center (included a movie!). Once again our senior pass into the National Parks enabled us to enter free. Best $10 we ever spent!! There really ARE some advantages to being over 65 :-)

The center was very well done and blended in perfectly with the surroundings. Very open and informative. Had some nice interactive things for kids (or adults who acted like kids!). The roads up to and through the mountains were small and winding but Steve again did a great job driving.

Next stop on the way to the top was the observation tower. Quite the views from the top as you could see the ocean.

And you could also see how the cloud cover was heading towards where we were on the mountain.

Who would expect it to rain? The skies were clear with big puffy white clouds. But clearly something was building and headed our way.

As we continued up the mountain, the clouds continued to descend. Then the misty rain started. And then the downpour came - as Steve was in the middle of his walk to the most popular waterfall in the park.

He came back soaking wet! Good thing I didn't go - he said I'd have never made it - very small path - lots of slippery areas.

Yes - good decision! Besides I was sitting in the parking lot jockeying for a parking place for the first half hour he was gone. All worked out though. For more info on the rainforest, click here.

Next stop was our stay at Casa Cubuy - an ecolodge on the south side of the mountain - just outside the park boundaries.



We had stayed at this place 13 years ago with friends Paul and Miriam (from Cleveland). First drive back down the north side, around the east side and back up the south side to end up less than a mile from where we were at the end of the road on the north side! Convoluted for sure.

Steve is standing on the balcony outside our room - 3rd floor. Perfect.

A view from below the lodge looking up toward our room.

There were an incredible number of flowering plants. I can't remember the number of types of orchids that grow here but it was lots! The vase of flowers in the dining area was a great example of the variety of plants in the area.










A walk down to the waterfall which is below the lodge was in order. Of course Steve had already been down there and back as well as checking out the trail that led to a couple of other small waterfalls.
Beautiful area.

Coffee in the morning was a do it yourself and served at 8 am. So we started the day sitting on the veranda (2nd floor).

Breakfast was included - seating was at 9 am - on the dot! It was like a big family by the time breakfast was finished - especially when folks were staying for more than one day.

It's amazing how many of the people we met are from the northern US and Canada  :-) Of course they laugh when we say we're from Florida and it was too cold there so we came to Puerto Rico ...

We were staying tonight yet and then the plan was to fly back to Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow (Sunday). But when we checked the weather in Marathon, the question was why? High's in the mid- to low 60's. Winds from the NW at 20 - 30 mph (so cold winds). Should we just stay a few more days? As my Dad would say, why not?

So tomorrow (Sunday) we'll return the rental car as scheduled back to San Juan and catch a short 30 minute flight to Culebra - a beautiful island off of Puerto Rico and stay until Wednesday. Why not? :-)