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The best places to see wildlife in Puerto Rico

Ordered by the Wildlife profile · 20 places

Puerto Rico's wildlife is mostly small and endemic: the coquí frogs that sing at night, the Puerto Rican parrot of El Yunque and Río Abajo, lizards, and birds that live nowhere else. Lagoons and salt flats in the southwest gather waterbirds, and the dry forest of Guánica is one of the richest bird habitats on the island.

This ranking orders the nature spots by how rich and how quiet their ecosystems are. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to watch; bring binoculars, keep your distance and never feed the animals.

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  1. 1

    Laguna Cartagena

    92/100
    Lake or lagoon · Lajas · West coastNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    A freshwater lagoon in the Lajas valley, one of the best places in Puerto Rico to see waterbirds, with a flat trail and an observation tower.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  2. 2

    Pico El Yunque

    92/100
    Peak · Río Grande · East coastNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    The summit of the forest, at over 1,000 m, reached by the El Yunque Trail through palm and cloud forest. A demanding half-day hike with a lookout tower at the top.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  3. 3

    Mirador de las Salinas

    88/100
    Viewpoint · Cabo Rojo · West coastNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    An observation tower over the pink salt ponds of Cabo Rojo, next to the interpretive center, ideal for watching shorebirds.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  4. 4

    Monte Resaca

    88/100
    Peak · CulebraNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    The highest hill of Culebra, a rough scramble through dry forest and huge boulders to a summit with views over the whole archipelago.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  5. 5

    Camino Ballena y Guayacán Centenario

    83/100
    Trail · Guánica · South coastNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    An easy old dirt road through the dry forest that passes a guaiacum tree several centuries old and continues down to Bahía Ballena.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  6. 6

    Los Tres Picachos

    83/100
    Peak · Jayuya · Central mountainsNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    The three peaks (almost 1,200 m) that give the forest its name, between Ciales and Jayuya, on a steep, unmarked climb with very few people.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  7. 7

    Cascada El Ancón

    79/100
    Waterfall · Aibonito · Central mountainsNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    A waterfall deep inside the San Cristóbal Canyon, reached on a steep guided descent with river crossings.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  8. 8

    Puerto Mosquito

    79/100
    Bioluminescent bay · ViequesNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    The brightest bioluminescent bay in the world: on dark nights the water glows blue-green around kayaks and fish. Visited only on licensed tours, and swimming is not allowed.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  9. 9

    Torre de Los Picachos

    79/100
    Viewpoint · Río Grande · East coastNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    A small stone observation tower on one of the peaks of El Yunque, at the end of a steep trail, with views over the rainforest when the clouds allow.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  10. 10

    Torre de Observación de Doña Juana

    79/100
    Viewpoint · Orocovis · Central mountainsNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    An observation tower on Cerro Doña Juana, reached by a forest trail from the recreation area, with views over the Cordillera Central.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  11. 11

    Torre de Piedra de Maricao

    79/100
    Viewpoint · Maricao · West coastNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    A stone observation tower from the 1930s next to the road through the Maricao forest, with one of the widest views of western Puerto Rico.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  12. 12

    Charco La Confesora

    75/100
    Swimming hole · Orocovis · Central mountainsNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    A cold natural pool in a mountain stream near the Doña Juana recreation area of Toro Negro.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  13. 13

    Cueva del Viento

    75/100
    Cave · Isabela · West coastNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    A cave with stalactites and stalagmites at the end of a marked forest trail in Guajataca, entered down a set of steps.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  14. 14

    Lago El Guineo

    71/100
    Lake or lagoon · Ciales · Central mountainsNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    The highest reservoir in Puerto Rico, a quiet mountain lake surrounded by forest in Toro Negro.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  15. 15

    Laguna Tortuguero

    71/100
    Lake or lagoon · Manatí · North coastNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    The only natural freshwater lagoon in Puerto Rico, a calm place for kayaking, fishing and watching water birds.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  16. 16

    Torre de Observación de Guajataca

    71/100
    Viewpoint · Isabela · West coastNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    An observation tower next to the ranger office of the Guajataca forest, where several trails start, with views over the karst hills.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  17. 17

    Torre Mount Britton

    71/100
    Viewpoint · Río Grande · East coastNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    A 1930s stone tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps on a peak covered in dwarf cloud forest, reached by a short but steep paved trail.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  18. 18

    Vereda Interpretativa Bosque de Jagüeyes

    71/100
    Trail · Salinas · South coastNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    An easy interpretive trail with boardwalks through mangroves and coastal forest in the Jobos Bay reserve, near the visitor centre.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  19. 19

    Cerro de Punta

    67/100
    Peak · Ponce · Central mountainsNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    The highest point of Puerto Rico (1,338 m), crowned by antennas. A very steep concrete road leads almost to the top, with views of both coasts on clear days.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery
  20. 20

    Cerro Maravilla

    67/100
    Viewpoint · Ponce · Central mountainsNot verified: Scores estimated from public sources, pending an on-site check: they may change.

    One of the highest peaks of the island (1,170 m), with a road to the top, sweeping views and a memorial to the two young independence activists killed here in 1978.

    • Wildlife
    • Tranquility
    • Scenery

How this ranking is made

Every place has a score from 1 to 5 for each criterion, following a public rubric, and the score out of 100 combines them with the weights of the profile. Most scores are estimates from public sources; places marked “Verified” have been checked in person.

Read the methodology