El Hippie Charco (Waterfall and swimming hole)

Although we have been to El Yunque a few times we had never visited the other side of the park. El Hippie Charco is located in the little town of Naguabo, Puerto Rico. It's a swimming hole with waterfalls, swings, trails, and Caves. Plenty to see and do and a nice break from the big city.

El Hippie is Nestled up in the mountains of El Yunque National Park and accessible by public Road. Parking can be difficult and on the day we went, it was crowded.  This is a spot where many of the locals enjoy jumping off the rocks and performing for the crowds gathered below. The water is cool and refreshing and the sound of the rushing water fills the air with music.

The monolithic rock formations are great for climbing and exploring.  One can only imagine the first people to discover this location may have never wanted to leave with all the fresh water and vegetation all around. Legend has that's exactly what happened in the '70s when some hippies arrived and lived here. Hence the name.

What we enjoyed most about this waterfall fall was its room to swim and jump off the cliffs. Its had plenty of space for people to spread out and claim their little spot in this paradise.

The area is said to have pre-Columbian era Taino petroglyphs. They are located in the lower section of the river down from the main falls on the far side of the bank. If you're in San Juan Puerto Rico and looking for a day trip, this is a great idea. Bring plenty of snacks, water and sunscreen!


El Hippie and La Canoa Falls, parking: 18.247747, -65.786351

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Coamo Hot Sulfer Springs

Always looking for new things my sister found this neat little spot in Coamo, Puerto Rico. It's about a 90-minute commute from San Juan but is a great day trip if you're looking to just relax near a Hot pool nestled in the mountains.

The Springs are heated by crevices deep in the mountain which contain magma. The superheated water mixes with the earth's natural minerals, coming to the surface as hot sulfurous, mineral water.

For hundreds of years, the healing properties of these water have been enjoyed by the Taino Indians who inhabited the area. When the Taino's told the Spaniards about these healing waters, they misunderstood its location, and Ponce de Leon head out in search of these "Fountains of youth".

Locals swear by these waters and its healing properties. The day we went there were many older people and it felt like a scene out of the movie cacoon. They all looked healthier and happier in a way and everyone was in Jovial sprits.

Today it's a Public pool with a 3 dollar admission. Its 2 pools vary in temperatures. The first pool maintains a tepid 98 degrees while the other pool tops out at 105 degrees. It was difficult to do more than 10 or 15 minutes at a time.

Amenities include a snack bar and a dollar a minute massages. For 25 dollars it was like a day at the spa. Considering all the beaches and activities to do in Puerto Rico this was one of the most relaxing spots on the island. Not because of its magnificent Vista but because of the Natural hot baths soothing properties.  After a few days of snorkeling, hiking and biking this is a great place to recover!

We highly recommend visiting here and enjoy the stops along the way! We stopped and had a Piragua, Puerto Ricos version os a snow cone. It was a cool and refreshing way to conclude our day trip to the mineral springs!

Coamo Thermal Springs: (18.037930, -66.374336)

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