Private - El Yunque Rainforest Puerto Rico Tour
Description
Why settle for a big, crowded tours when you can have a Private exclusive adventure tailored for your group. Leave behind the long line waits, and jump into an unforgettable half-day express tour of El Yunque of Puerto Rico—the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. But here's the unexpected twist: after exploring the popular spots—sliding down the exhilarating 20-foot natural water slide, swinging from a rope into a jungle pool, and cliff jumping from daring heights—your guide will lead you to a hidden part of the jungle, a secret path known only to locals. This path takes you to a secluded lagoon surrounded by lush greenery, with cascading waterfalls that look like they belong in a postcard. You'll have time to relax, swim, and even explore a hidden cave behind the falls—a true Caribbean paradise that feels like it’s just for you. It’s not just a tour; it’s an exclusive adventure with unexpected surprises waiting at every turn. Join us for an experience that’s anything but ordinary!
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will pick up our customer's group in the agreed area and make our way out of San Juan toward El Yunque Rainforest
On our way to the Rainforest, we will drive into the Rainforest countryside entering through the city of Fajardo.
Live an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience inside the only National rainforest in the United States and Puerto Rico where you can walk through the rainforest in the company of an expert local guide, slide down the incredible 20-foot natural water slide, swing from the rope like Tarzan into the natural pool, jump over cliffs at different heights and discover wonderful secret waterfalls while exploring the tropical jungle landscape. • PERFECT SCHEDULES (to beat the crowds) • Includes life jacket, helmet, photos, videos water and snacks • Round-trip transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle • Excellent service from our guides who will make you feel like you have known them for years * 5 persons minimum
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
*Pick Up Included on most Hotels Condado and Isla Verde hotels areas* Participants must be at the agreed pick-up point 15 minutes prior to the scheduled tour time. Hotels listing: Caribe Hilton, LA Concha, Ocean club, Condado Vanderbilt, Marriott Sellaris, Tryst hotel, Holliday inn express, Sheraton convention hotel, El Canario, Fairmont hotel, Villa del Sol hotel, Ivy hotel, Sandy beach hotel, Condado plaza, San Juan water and beach club, Miramar hotel, Double three hotel, Embassy suites, Royal Sonesta Hotel, Verdasco hotel, Hampton Inn hotel, Courtyard Marriott hotel, Tryp by Wyndham hotel: *Customers staying in Old San Juan City will be picked up at Plaza Colon* If you are not staying in Old San Juan City or a hotel within our pick-up area, you must meet us at The Condado Plaza Hotel*
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- This tour requires good physical condition. If you have any health condition please inform us at booking.
- Maximum recommend weigh 275 pounds
- Sometime some activities are not available because weather conditions
- Wear comfortable clothing and closed toe shoes that you wouldn't mind getting dirty or wet. Water shoes, sneakers or hiking shoes are recommended.
- Participants must be physically capable of walking thru steep, rocky, muddy and uneven surfaces without assistance
- Use of lifejacket and helmet is mandatory.
- This tour operates based weather and river conditions.
- On Saturdays the hike is longer and more challenging since we depart from a different point.
- Back problems and pregnant women cannot participate on the tour.
- San Juan Tours reserves the right of admission - If a person appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, not following instructions or causing disruptions the guide has the right to cancel their reservation at any moment, and no refunds will be issued due to this. Persons with the previously listed health restrictions cannot participate on the tour. No refunds will be authorized if a person neglects to read complete description and does not meet the safety requirements and limitations on the day of the tour. Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Maximum age recommended 65 on good health conditions
Reviews(32)
Total disappointment… Booked 5 hour tour to start at ten. They showed up ovee an hour kate which took time that we want to se the street with the umbrellas! We barely made our dinner reservations back on ship. Driver drove way slow seems like he was burning our hours. And very much interested in their music. The guide who took us to waterfall hike was very informative and helpful. When we booked tour they said we would see things we didn’t see. Good luck if you choose this company
Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations, but we would like to clarify several important inaccuracies in your review. First, your reservation was scheduled for 11:00 AM, not 10:00 AM. Our driver arrived at your pickup location at approximately 10:50 AM, ahead of the scheduled departure time. Therefore, there was no delay in pickup. Second, our tour does not include a visit to Old San Juan or the famous "Umbrella Street" at Calle Fortaleza. The itinerary, as clearly stated in the tour description, focuses on the southeastern region of Puerto Rico and the rainforest area. Expectations of visiting locations outside of the advertised itinerary are unfortunately not something we can accommodate during this experience. Regarding timing, your group was returned to the cruise port area at approximately 4:30 PM, which was the scheduled return time for the tour. We understand the importance of cruise schedules and always operate with those time constraints in mind. As for the driving, our drivers are required to follow strict safety policies and typically drive below the posted speed limit when operating passenger vehicles. Safety will always take priority over speed. Additionally, the driver offered to play any music or media preferred by the group, but no requests were made, so a general playlist was played instead. Finally, your group was taken to the exact locations listed in the tour details, including the Las Tinajas Trail at Charco Azul in the southeastern section of the rainforest. This experience includes waterfall viewing and optional activities such as natural waterslides, small cliff jumps, and rope swings. Participation in these activities is entirely optional, and your group chose to remain at the river pool area rather than continue to the adventure sections. We fully respect that decision, but it does not mean the advertised locations or activities were not provided. We strive to provide accurate descriptions so guests know exactly what to expect before booking. While we understand this tour may not have aligned with your personal preferences, we believe future travelers deserve the full context of what actually occurred.
Dj and Alan were awesome. We did the private el gunnies forest waterfall tour with a family of four, a family of two, and grandparents. Everyone had a fantastic time.
Thank you for the great review! 😊 We’re so glad to hear your group had a fantastic time—sounds like an awesome mix of families and generations enjoying the adventure together! Just to clarify, DJ and Alan are actually the same guide (DJ is his nickname), so it sounds like you may also be referring to Angel—both are incredible and we’ll make sure your kind words get passed along to them! We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to see you all again for another unforgettable adventure! 🌿🙌
I would have given this 4 stars if it weren’t for our guide losing our photos. So we don’t have photos of my family since he said it would be easier to take from his phone. The first part of the tour was doable; there’s a path that you follow. The second part is much more challenging. Note that the climb up to the cliff to do the jump is very slippery.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re glad to hear the first part of the tour felt manageable and that you were able to enjoy the more adventurous second section as well. We also truly appreciate you pointing out the slippery climb up to the cliff jump—that’s very helpful for future guests, as that section is definitely the most physically challenging and requires extra caution. We’re especially sorry to hear about the issue with the photos. We understand how disappointing it is to complete such a memorable family adventure and not have those moments captured. While our guides are happy to help guests with photos as a courtesy, we know how important those memories are, and we’ll be addressing this with our team so we can improve how photos are handled and avoid another situation like yours. Thank you again for your honest feedback, and we hope the adventure itself still gave your family unforgettable memories in El Yunque National Forest. 🌿💦
I highly recommend this private tour. Communication with our guide Misael started the day before. He picked us up from our VRBO and gave us some good info about what to bring with us (like shoes that can get wet and muddy). Ultimately we took very little with us on the hike to the water, so it would be helpful if the instructions on the website were more specific (I wore my sneakers and would have preferred to wear my water shoes - a picture of a recommended style would be helpful). We had assumed we could bring some items on the hike, but it really isn't practical because of the need to use your hands at times during the hike. It is a beautiful place, some spots are more challenging than other, but I was able to do it all. I'm just over 5 feet tall so some spots were a stretch for me to climb up or down, but Miseal was there to spot me and was always encouraging of my efforts. Be prepared for lots of rock climbing. The water slides are fun, the cliff jump offer 3 heights to pick from, and the rope swing can be funny for the crowd to watch. Check your helmets to be sure they fit well before starting. Mine stayed on ok, but was too loose and sometimes blocked my ability to see ahead of me. Not dangerous, just annoying.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience — and for the recommendation! We’re glad Misael made your tour safe, encouraging, and fun. We appreciate the helpful suggestions: We’ll update our website with clearer packing guidance (including recommended shoe style and a photo) and emphasize that hands-free packing is best for parts of the hike. We’ll add a reminder to check helmet fit before the tour and make adjustments available if needed. It’s great to hear you enjoyed the water slides, cliff jump options, rope swing, and that Misael’s spotting helped you through the trickier spots. If you have any photos you’d like to share or additional feedback, please email us at [your contact email] — we’d love to hear more and hope to welcome you back soon!
Amazing trip! Heavy on the adventure, and Alan/DJ was a great guide.
Thank you for the awesome review! We’re glad you enjoyed the adventure and that Alan (DJ) helped make it such a great experience. We really appreciate you taking the time to share—and we’d love to have you join us again for another adventure! 🙌🌿
Our tour in El Yunque National Forest was an enjoyable way to experience the rainforest with a bit of adventure mixed in. Our guide Misael was very nice, welcoming and made everyone feel safe and comfortable. He maintained a friendly, relaxed atmosphere throughout the tour. We were a small group of four in our 60's and all in good shape. Taking the private tour was well worth it due to the personalized attention that we received. The first part of the hike wasn’t too strenuous and is manageable for active adults. However, the second part of the hike — leading to the natural slide, cliff jump, and rope swing — is significantly steeper, muddier, and very slippery in spots. So after hiking the first section I chose to sit on the rocks watching folks cliff jump while my three companions continued hiking to the top. It was a 45 minute wait, but sitting in the shade with my feet in the water was extremely enjoyable. It’s important for others (especially older adults) to know that this section requires good balance and comfort navigating uneven terrain.
Thank you so much for sharing such a thoughtful and detailed review of your experience in El Yunque National Forest. We truly appreciate you taking the time to highlight both the enjoyable aspects and the important considerations for future guests. We’re delighted to hear that Misael made you feel welcomed, safe, and comfortable, and that the private tour provided the personalized attention you were looking for. It’s wonderful to know that the first portion of the hike felt manageable and that you still found the experience relaxing and enjoyable—even while opting out of the more challenging section. You’re absolutely right in pointing out that the upper portion of the hike (leading to the natural slide, cliff jump, and rope swing) is steeper, muddier, and requires good balance and confidence on uneven terrain. We appreciate you emphasizing this, as it helps set realistic expectations—especially for older adults or guests who may prefer a lighter level of physical activity. We’re glad you were able to enjoy the scenery, shade, and water while waiting, and that your companions were able to continue safely. Thank you again for your honesty, perspective, and kind words. We hope to welcome you back anytime for another rainforest adventure 🌿😊
Yamil was an awesome guide! My entire family enjoyed it. All the water activities were great. Appreciated Yamil having life vests and helmets for safety. Saw many other tours without. Yamil also recommended some great spots for lunch and dinner.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 🌿💦 We’re thrilled to hear that your entire family had such a great time and that Yamil made the experience even better. Safety is a top priority for us, so we’re glad you appreciated the life vests and helmets—it’s something we take very seriously. It’s also great to know Yamil’s local recommendations helped round out your day! We truly appreciate you choosing us and hope to welcome you and your family back for another adventure soon! 🙌✨
We paid for a private tour, but this was basically a semi-private shuttle to the same location as other tour groups and then a "private" group that walked the same trail as other guides and large tour groups. We expected the guide to point out and explain more points of interest during the hour-long ride and during the hike into the rainforest, and a more unique experience (possibly a less-traveled/quieter trail, different waterfall location(s), etc.) than all the other large tour groups. Our guide, who formerly worked for the tour company, also indicated that the tour company didn't have enough staff for our tour that day so he was called and asked to do "one last job". And he brought two other people with him.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re truly sorry to hear the experience did not feel as private or unique as you expected. Our private tours are designed to provide a dedicated guide, flexible pacing, more personal attention, and additional support throughout the experience — but because El Yunque is a protected national forest, all licensed operators are required to use designated trails and areas. For safety and conservation reasons, guides are not permitted to take guests to unauthorized or “off-the-path” locations, which is why you may have seen other groups along the way. We also appreciate your comments about narration and expectations during the drive and hike. Feedback like this helps us continue improving training and communication so future guests feel fully engaged and informed. Regarding the guide joining us that day: when needed, we work with experienced, fully certified guides who have previously worked with our team to ensure tours are never canceled and remain safe and compliant. However, they should not bring unrelated guests along, and we are reviewing this internally. Thank you again for sharing — and for giving us the chance to improve.
Great day at EL Yunque ... It was my very first visit and it did not disappoint! After a nice hike the fun started with amazing natural waterslides, rock jumps and a rope swing. A great mix of adrenaline and natural beauty. Fantastic day with our guide Miseal ... He was great company and it felt like we were exploring with a friend.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! 🌿💦 We’re thrilled that your first visit to El Yunque was such a memorable one! The combination of hiking, natural waterslides, rock jumps, and the rope swing really does make for the perfect mix of adrenaline and pure rainforest magic. Huge shoutout to Miseal for making the day feel fun, relaxed, and like an adventure with a friend — that’s exactly the vibe we aim for. We truly appreciate you choosing us and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience in Puerto Rico! 🌴✨
Rainforest was gorgeous with the waterfall so fun. Definitely need a sure foot. Misa - our guide was amazing! Esp when my two girls were very cranky to start. Private was worth it,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the beauty of the rainforest and had a blast at the waterfall. It definitely takes a sure foot out there, and we’re glad you felt supported every step of the way. Huge shoutout to Misa — he’s fantastic at turning cranky moments into great memories, and we’re happy your girls ended up enjoying the adventure. We’re also glad to hear the private tour felt worth it! We hope to welcome you back for even more rainforest fun soon! 🌿✨
