El Yunque National Forest (☞ reservation required) has the tropical magic: rainforest, fast moving low clouds, fog, passing drizzles and green vegetation. On the way from Fajardo, we took really local road (google map challenge): narrow, winding, with potholes, but luckily no traffic. We drove to the last parking lot on PR 191. Trail status was not clear, what was closed, what had been opened. We started on the El Yunque Peak trail only to learn at the junction that the last section was closed. We walked to Los Picachos instead – very nice trail with a good viewpoint – and returned the same way with a short detour to Mt Britton Tower. We stopped a few times along PR 191 on the way back to visit historic pools/baths (long closed) and observation towers (open) constructed by Civilian Conservation Corps in 1930s and some small waterfalls. We arrived at Luquillo at what looked like serious rush hour – of course, we wanted to check out Kioskos. We had dinner there and a quick swim at a very popular beach, and then beating heavy local traffic we came back to Fajardo.
It was now time to go back and visit San Juan old town. Prep work paid off – we quickly found our way to paid parking lot near the harbor ($3 per day), just where we wanted to be. Street parking may be permitted in this part of town, but looked impossible. And we walked – first outside city walls on a lovely path along the bay, via San Juan gate near La Fortaleza and to Castillo San Felipe del Morro. After exploring the fortress we wandered through the old town, visiting beautiful gardens of Casa Blanca and to Castillo San Cristobal, another fortress on the oposite side of old town, both with great views of town and sea. We drove to Caguas in the evening to be closer to Ruta Panoramica next morning.
