Puerto Rico is a lush, tropical island with dramatic topography. The central mountain range that runs across the center of the island is conducive for making moist clouds, which produces lots of rain up in the mountains. This creates an ideal setting for lots of natural wonders like beautiful waterfalls and swimming holes. And we love them!

From cascading falls in the tropical rain forest to rocky river-slides surrounded by lush vegetation, Puerto Rico’s waterfalls offer visitors a chance to experience the island’s natural beauty. In this post, we will highlight the “easier to get to” waterfalls around the island that you should add to your itinerary.

You can find waterfalls all over Puerto Rico, so no matter which area of the island you choose to visit, you should be able to get to at least one of these beauties. But realize, since the rivers start way up in the mountains, if you are staying on the coasts, you will have to drive off the coast and up the mountains a bit to find most waterfalls. Some are super remote and require hours of river trekking to get to. But not everyone can do this, so those ones are not on this list.

If you have kids in tow, or can’t (or don’t want to) walk or hike much, Puerto Rico does offer a number of waterfalls that are more easily reachable — some you can see without even getting out of your car! Here is our list of easy-to-see waterfalls.

In the East

La Coca Falls — Located in the town of Rio Grande, inside El Yunque National Forest, right on Road 191. This is a roadside waterfall, so everyone can enjoy this one from the car, or park in the lot there and walk over to it. Sometimes this is a very sparse waterfall, but it is tall and the area is lush. Always pretty. Free to access. Get more info here.

Juan Diego Falls — Also located inside El Yunque National Forest, just up the road from La Coca Falls. This is actually a smaller waterfall that is only a few hundred yards from the road. There are some rock “steps” you need to go up, but most people can get here without much issue. There is another waterfall that requires a tricky uphill scramble, but it is visible from the lower falls, and you can enjoy it from the lower area area without any further effort. There is a small pool at the base you can go in. Free to access. Get more info and location/directions here.

Rio Espiritu Santo Waterfall — Also located in the town of Rio Grande on Road 186. Parts of the road are in bad shape, but it is usable. It is roadside, but this waterfall is a bit harder to see as it is sort of hidden behind a rock. If you stand on tip toes on the right side of the bridge, you can see it. There are little pools and cascades closer to the bridge. Free to access. Get more info and location/directions here.

Las Paylas (Las Pailas) Located in Luquillo, this is a rock slide type waterfall. You need to pay a small fee to a local resident to park/walk on his property down to the falls. It does requires steps down and obviously, the rocks are slippery! You can slide down the upper slide into a pool, or on the lower smaller slide into a smaller pool. Get more info and location/directions here.

Toward the Center of the North Coast

Charco la Planta — Located in Arecibo, there are 2 waterfalls, but they were actually man-made for hydroelectricity. The first waterfall is not hard to get to, just a little walk from the end of the road. You can play in the river. To get to the next river, you do need to walk upstream a bit, so it is not easy, but it isn’t crazy hard. You park on the road, where there is limited parking. Free to access. Get more info and location/directions here.

In the Northwest Toward the Center of the Island

Gozalandia Waterfalls — Located in San Sebastian. Here, you pay to enter the property and park.There are 2 waterfalls. The more impressive lower falls requires a walk down a path, then some steps at the end, and then walk on slippery rocks in river to get to pool at base of waterfalls. It is popular, and is can get crowded. But you can stay on the path and view the falls easily from above. The upper waterfall is upriver, along a path. It is easy right up until the end, where you have to get over a rock to get down into the pool at base of waterfall. But the path goes along the river and is pretty. Get more info and location/directions here.

Collazo Waterfall — Also located in the town of San Sebastian, right on the road. Parking is on the side of road, and viewing is from the bridge. Free to access. Get more info and location/directions here.

In the West

El Ultimo Brinco Waterfall — Located in the town of Rincon, on the side of the road. Free to access. Get more info and location/directions here.

In the South Central of the Island

La Soplaera Waterfall — In the town of Peñuelas, up a long drive! The town has made a short concrete walkway, but after that, you do need to do a very little rock scrambling to get to the waterfall. Your feet will get wet, but it is lovely. Free to access. Get more info and location/directions here.

Doña Juana Waterfall — Located in Orocovis, this is also a roadside waterfall. This one is tall, a series of 3 different falls. Limited roadside parking but super pretty! Free to access. Get more info and location/directions here.

Salto Collores — Located in Juana Diaz. This is also a road side waterfall. You can stand on the bridge and see it, or you can walk to the left end of the bridge and take a very short walk to the waterfall. Very pretty! Free to access. Get more info and location/directions here.

In the Center of the Island

Cascada las Delicias — Located in Ciales, while it is not large, it is one of my favorite waterfalls in Puerto Rico just because it is so pretty! You need to follow a dirt path, and cross the little stream and walk on some rocks, but it is not too difficult to do. You first come to a little waterfall and further up, you will come to the beauty and pool. You can easily see both waterfalls just a very short walk from the road if you don’t want to go further. Limited roadside parking. Free to access. Get more info and location/directions here.

Represas de Comerio — Located in Comerio, these are also man-made by damming the river for hydroelectricity plants. There is an observation deck that is roadside to see them from a distance. The town also had made a walkway down to them, but that has been closed last few times we have gone (though one probably could sneak in if they wanted, not that we we recommend doing that). Free to access. Get more info and location/directions here.

In the South East Center

Siete Chorros — Located in San Lorenzo, behind the Colmado Bar Gonzalez. The owner has opened his back gate for people to walk down cement path and steps to get to the bunch of little waterfalls. At the bottom, you can walk on the rocks to get closer. Accessible Wednesday to Sunday. Free to access, but consider buying something from their store. Get more info and location/directions here.

Of course, if you are going to go in the rivers/waterfalls or on the rocks, you need to take precautions. Be aware of the weather (we get flash floods very easily when it rains), and keep an eye on the surrounding water level or flow. Rocks in the rivers and near the falls will be slippery, wear appropriate shoes. Wearing a life vest and helmet is recommended when exploring rivers and waterfalls.

PuertoRicoDayTrips.com assumes no responsibility regarding your safety when participating in the activities described in this article. Please use common sense! If your mother or that little voice in your head tells you that you are about to do something stupid … then don't do it! Read more about Safety →