After getting your supplies and checking in, it's time to get out and enjoy what you came here for. Grab your picnic lunch, pack towels and bathing suits, and head to El Yunque. Once you get in the rainforest, your first stop, directly off Route 191 at the entrance to the forest, should be the beautiful El Portal Visitors Center. The center is architecturally very impressive, and is also a good place to pick up maps, browse the gift shop, and learn more about this unique and sacred mountain.
From here, you'll want to get hiking and experience the wonder of El Yunque. As its your first day, I recommend taking the La Mina Trail, an easy hour-long trek into the forest that has the supreme advantage of bringing you to La Mina Falls. This gushing cataract is one of the few places where swimming is permitted and encouraged, so dive right in and enjoy! There are plenty of other trails in the rainforest, and depending on how active you want to be on your first day, you can explore one or two more before you head back for the day.
For dinner, drive back down to Route 3 and head east. You'll quickly come to a very long string of roadside eateries. These are the famed kiosks of Luquillo, and they're a can't miss culinary tradition. Feel free to kiosk-hop and sample as much finger-licking Puerto Rican fast food as you can. The kiosks are a fun, casual destination, with many patrons blaring music and attracting a lively crowd. Here are some of the things you'll find on the menus:
- Cuchifrito
- Frituras
- Tacos de jueye
