Unplug and recharge at La Marquesa Forest Park

A hidden gem in the heart of the metropolitan area

Up for an escape to reenergize your soul and reconnect with the essence of nature? Look no further than La Marquesa Forest Park, a lush tropical rainforest reserve soaring above the metropolitan area that breathes new life into the heart, body and mind.

La Marquesa straddles the highest reaches of Guaynabo, a cosmopolitan town within quick reach of the major San Juan tourism zones that is known for its upscale shopping and eateries. Sitting at more than 1,600 feet above sea level, this emerald oasis provides a plethora of opportunities for both adventure and reflection for visitors of all ages. 

La Marquesa packs an elemental punch over its 600-plus acres of verdant mountain terrain. Trekking through this living laboratory of biodiversity is to step into an unspoiled realm where a feast for the senses awaits. Breathtaking views. A symphony of birdsongs. The swoosh and sway of flora. And there are multiple ways to soak it all in.

Hop aboard an open-air train for a breezy tour that hits the many highlights including a cascading waterfall below the observation tower that crowns La Marquesa, providing a panoramic vantage point over mist-shrouded mountains across the breadth of the metropolitan area to the sea. Stunning in its natural state, the park is also home to added attractions including a butterfly garden, an aviary and arboretum all within a short distance of a mountaintop restaurant. Shaded playgrounds provide another source of diversion for the young ones and a welcome chance for the rest of the crew to sit back and kick up their feet.

All of these must-see areas are also accessible on foot along the well-marked and well-maintained trails and walkways that wind through the rocky crags and myriad of greens that color the forest, providing an intimate connection for those who choose to pass this way. Keep your eyes open for the wildlife that calls La Marquesa home including an array of birds, lizards and even mongoose. 

After years of work, the park is back and better than ever with clean, secure and well-run facilities with courteous and informed staff.

While hiking may be well known for its grounding effects, no visit to La Marquesa is complete without a trip – or several – up and down the flanks of the park in the modern cable cars that traverse well above the dense forest canopy. The runs take less than 10 minutes in each direction so you may just find yourself hopping on for multiple passes. And for good reason. It is rare air up there. Catch a glimpse down on parrots perched high on treetops and scan the horizon for sweeping views into the neighboring mountains and over urban areas in the distance on the march to the Atlantic Ocean. Just remember to keep your camera at the ready.

Managed by the municipal government of Guaynabo, La Marquesa evidences Puerto Rico’s recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Maria, which slashed across the island as a powerful Category 5 cyclone in September 2017. As the forest healed itself, plans were put in motion to rebuild and reopen La Marquesa Forest Park to the public. After years of work, the park is back and better than ever with clean, secure and well-run facilities with courteous and informed staff. Reasonably priced entrance passes can be purchased online in advance via La Marquesa’s website https://boletos.marquesapr.com/tickets/eventList or onsite at the park’s entrance.

A roughly 20 minute drive from San Juan’s tourism hubs ends in an ample, guarded parking lot that serves as the base for shuttle buses that make continual runs along the short route to and from the park proper. The frequent shuttle service means you can stay as long, or as little, as you like. The park is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed Monday and Tuesday for maintenance and it is clear that those to off days are put to good use as the facilities and the grounds are very well kept. 

Exploration is encouraged at La Marquesa as is participation in conservation-minded initiatives. The tropical forest averages 72 inches of rainfall per year, which is roughly a foot above the lower-lying surrounding areas. The average temperature is 77 degrees Fahrenheit and the park is generally cooler than the lows measured in nearby San Juan. The park’s three drainage basins, or quebradas in Spanish, are Limones Creek, Damiana Creek and Central Creek. The geologic makeup includes Santa Olaya lava dating to the cretaceous period, quartz diorite dating to the Paleogene and Neogene periods and formations from the Pleistocene epoch.