El Yunque waterfall hike and swim: Private guide, Tinajas pools

Jump from rocks and slide into crystal-clear pools on a secret El Yunque trail

A private guided hike to Las Tinajas waterfall in El Yunque rainforest, where you swim in natural pools, swing on ropes, and jump from rocks up to 15 feet high before sliding down a 20-foot waterslide at a second pool. After the rainforest adventure, lunch waits at a beachfront restaurant on Luquillo Beach. The guide speaks English or Spanish and provides life jackets on request. The whole experience runs about five and a half hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

El Yunque hike and Luquillo lunch

• Meet guide for short hike
• Explore Tinajas waterfall
• Learn about flora and fauna
• Swim and enjoy natural pools
• Try rope swinging and rock jumping
• Visit waterslide and optional jump
• Have lunch at Luquillo Beach restaurant

Stops and time spent at each 2 stops

1. El Yunque National Forest 5h
2. Luquillo Beach passing by

What’s included

• Private guide in English or Spanish.
• life jackets upon request.
• access to both natural pools and the waterslide.

Times

• Every day 08:00 09:00 12:00

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Before you book

Group Private 8 group tours ›

Live guide English and Spanish Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. 2 with pickup ›

Book up to 10h before

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Pets welcome Not recommended during pregnancy Not recommended with heart problems Not recommended with back problems

Operated by Bestours - Outdoors Adventures Puerto Rico

Prices and times updated today

Traveler reviews

5.00 ★★★★★ Exceptional 10 verified traveler reviews

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The experience

Las Tinajas sits on the southeast side of El Yunque National Forest, reachable by a 20- to 30-minute hike through trails lined with exotic plants and birds. Your guide walks the route with you, pointing out the flora and fauna along the way. The hike itself is what makes this work for families: short enough that younger kids stay engaged, clear enough that you don't need rock-climbing skills to get there.

At the Tinajas natural pool and waterfalls, you swim in water fed straight from the forest. The setup lets you choose how much you want to do: swing on a rope if you like, jump from rocks up to 15 feet high if you're comfortable with it, or just float and cool off. Then the group moves to a second natural pool downstream, where a 20-foot waterslide drops into deeper water and an optional 3-foot rock jump sits nearby for anyone who wants it. Life jackets are available if you ask.

After the rainforest part winds down, you head to a beachfront restaurant on Luquillo Beach for lunch. The operator lists this as an extra charge, so you'll pay separately for the meal, but the setting (eating with the ocean in front of you after a morning in the forest) is built into how the day is shaped. The whole outing takes about five and a half hours from start to finish.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Do I need to be fit to hike to Tinajas waterfall?

The hike to Tinajas runs 20 to 30 minutes on clear trails, and the operator notes it's suitable for all physical fitness levels. It's not a steep or technical climb. The main thing is being comfortable walking through the rainforest on an uneven path.

What can I do at the natural pools once I get there?

At Tinajas you can swim in the clear water, swing on a rope, or jump from rocks up to 15 feet high. At the second pool downstream, a 20-foot waterslide lets you slide into deeper water, and there's an optional 3-foot rock jump as well. You choose what appeals to you.

What's included in the price and what costs extra?

The guide, the hike, access to both pools, and the waterslide are all included. Lunch at the beachfront restaurant on Luquillo Beach is available at an extra charge. Life jackets are provided on request. Tips and parking fees are not included.

How do I get to the starting point if I don't have a rental car?

You need your own rental car to reach Las Tinajas. Cabs and rideshare services won't arrive at the location. If you're staying in a hotel without a car, you'll need to arrange a rental before booking this tour.

What's the difference between the two pools on this hike?

Tinajas, the first pool, is fed by the waterfall and surrounded by rainforest. The second pool downstream has the 20-foot waterslide built into it and sits lower on the river. Both are natural pools with clear water. The second one is where the slide and the optional rock jump are located.