Bosque Estatal de Guánica


The immense 10,000-acre expanse of the Guánica Biosphere Reserve is one of the island's great natural treasures. Located in two wonderfully untrammeled sections just east and west of Guánica, this remote desert forest is among the world's best examples of subtropical dry-forest vegetation, containing extraordinary flora and fauna as a result. In the larger, more tourist-friendly eastern portion, numerous trails intersect this astonishing ecosystem, lending themselves well to mountain biking, birdwatching and hiking.

Scientists estimate that only 1% of the Earth's original spread of dry forests of this kind remain, and the fact that there is such a vast acreage here renders this a rare sanctuary.

More than 700 varieties of plants, many near extinction, thrive in the reserve. Some of the unusual species here include the squat melon cactus with its brilliant pink flowers that attract hummingbirds. Another plant, with the unseemly name of the Spanish dildo cactus, grows into huge treelike shapes near the coast and attracts bullfinches and bats. Of the fauna, nine of Puerto Rico's 14 endemic bird species can be found here, including the Puerto Rican woodpecker, the Puerto Rican emerald hummingbird and – the ultimate prize for birdwatchers – the exceedingly rare ‘prehistoric’ Puerto Rican nightjar, of which there are estimated to be as few as 1500.

When out hiking or biking, the 30-odd miles of trails hammer you with contrasts at every turn, alternating between arid, rocky, scrub-covered highlands and almost 12 miles of remote, wholly untouched coast.

Several trails sally forth from the Bosque Estatal de Guánica's ranger station and are of varying lengths and difficulty. Camino Ballena perhaps best demonstrates the contrasting topography of the reserve, while the most exhilarating route of all is the reserve's coastal hike, the Vereda Meseta. Most of the trails here are wide and at least a little metaled, making for great mountain biking as well. Nothing technical, but superb scenery and deserted routes.

There are two main routes into the eastern section of the reserve: Hwy 334 climbs from Guánica to the reserve's ranger station and the nexus of the majority of the trails, while Hwy 333 traverses the eastern reserve's coast to Bahía de la Ballena and further hikes.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Playa Ballena

1.46 MILES

The lovely Bahía de la Ballena represents the end of the road (Hwy 333) and a rare opportunity to park your car and rely on two legs rather than four…

2. Playa Tamarindo

1.69 MILES

Follow Hwy 333 to its conclusion at Bahía de la Ballena and you'll find that the charming little access route to Playa Tamarindo is blocked off from…

3. Gilligan’s Island

2.22 MILES

Gilligan’s Island and nearby Isla Ballena (Whale Island) are all part of the same set of small mangrove islands off the tip of the Caña Gorda peninsula…

4. Centro de Arte Alejandro Franceschi

4.28 MILES

Yauco’s immaculate little art museum is housed in a 1907 building chock-full of Victorian oil paintings and gilded frescoes. It's on the eastern side of…

5. Casa Museo de la Música

4.31 MILES

Musicians might find a bit of diversion in this former home of local composer Amaury Veray Torregrosa, though the wilting Creole house has little inside…

6. Plaza de Recreo

4.39 MILES

On the laid-back Plaza de Recreo, the massive Iglesia Católica Nuestra Señora del Rosario casts a long shadow over domino players and strolling couples…

7. Bosque Estatal de Susúa

7.36 MILES

This mysterious, mist-shrouded forest strewn across hills north of Yauco is just 3300 acres and practically deserted year-round. Ambitious hikers and…

8. Lago Luchetti

8.28 MILES

This artificial lake extends its tentacled inlets deep into the surrounding hills around 5.5 miles north of Yauco at the end of Rte 128. The lake is…