El Yunque National Forrest

Thankfully day two went a little better than day one.  I guess technically this would be day three, but that’s too painful to think about.  We slept in and that was much needed, although it ruined our big plans to beat the crowds.  We threw some juice and donuts at the girls and packed up for the day.  Naturally we forgot things like ponchos and national park passport books, but at least we remembered the kids and sunscreen. 

Every time we want to go somewhere we need to take a ferry.  Funny that a person who doesn’t like water or boats would book a vacation rental on an island that requires a lot of time on both.  I also hate driving on mountain roads and that also seems to be part of every trip.  And then there’s bugs, which are a recurring theme:(

El Yunque National Forest was the closest must see activity so we headed there for the day.  The dark cloud we’d seen in the distance from the ferry was apparently sitting right over the forest.  We were a little sad about those missing ponchos once we got up the trail to a higher elevation.  More judgement of our parenting or lack there of was coming from the people who tried to make us take their towel to warm up our poor children who we dragged up the mountainside in the rain.  Clearly they were unaware that this is a standard vacation activity for us and it was far warmer here than most places we’ve made them hike in torrential downpour. 

El Yunque is beautiful.  We hiked up a small part of the El Yunque trail until it became more of a river in the down pour.  We then headed further up the road in our rental car and found the La Mina trail, which was recommended on many travel websites.  We made it to the falls before it started pouring.  I suggested we press on, but that was a losing battle.  We turned back and ran until we got stuck behind the slowest family in the world.  Dan finally pushed his way in front and passed them.  The girls were rewarded with postcards at the end.  

Since we were running behind schedule, we didn’t have time to go hang out at Luquillo beach, but we did make time for the Kioskos.  Bernardo, our AirBNB landlord had given us recommendations, and we went with Coral Seafood.  We basically ordered one of every fried item they had and a couple of virgin pina coladas.  Everyone found something they liked.  Vacation was redeemed!!!!

Pictures of signs are always a requirement. 

I was a little surprised you are actually allowed up in this thing.

They never seem to get that you have to put money in these to make them work.  And even when we waste the quarters they can't figure out how to see through them. 

A view from the top.

We forgot to count the steps, but the woman in front of us let us know there were 98.

Having a blast as always.

They said these were like the Ireland "caves"

This was the least crowded this trail was.

La Mina Falls was packed.

Hooray for a fried food reward at the kioskos!!!!

Grown-up capri suns as a reward!!!!