Charco Prieto Waterfall in Bayamón
When I think of Bayamón, I picture a suburb of San Juan, with lots of people, stores, and general congestion. One thing that I didn’t expect to find in Bayamón is the Poza Prieta or Charco Prieto waterfall. This hidden gem in the back-country of Bayamón is one of the biggest surprises because of its size — probably one of the highest waterfalls in Puerto Rico (at least out of the waterfalls I have seen here).
This waterfall is more than just a little off the beaten path!
There are countless waterfalls in Puerto Rico, some of which we have explored and many we have yet to explore. There are many that are less well known or publicized because some people like to “keep secret” about these natural wonders.
We are members of a Facebook group of local nature lovers who get together and explore the island’s natural beauty. They are dedicated to sharing their knowledge about the island, and cleaning up these beautiful areas. We met up with some members of this group to go explore the falls at Prieto.
I don’t think this is a place for the average tourist to day trip. You need to be able to follow an unmarked path along a river (climbing slippery rocks) and you need to have proper clothing & closed toe footware (no Teva or flip flops- shoe that tie onto your feet are really needed!) , water & snacks, and first aid (just in case) (we did not have cell reception much of the way). You need to be able to “read” the river for signs of possible flash floods, and be prepared if that situation should arise. The trail is not always obvious.
Our Trek to the Falls
We started at the bridge and walked up stream until I was able to find the real trail. It is best to start by walking up the road until you see the welcome sign just to the left of the fence and go down there.. Once you get to the trail, just enjoy. We scrambled up, down, over and around slippery rocks, we crossed the river a few times. Each time, we stopped to rest, cool down, and enjoy the water.
There is a thin, worn path that leads to the falls, but it’s not always obvious and you will be doing a lot of river trekking (which is fun in its own right, just more time consuming). Our goal was seeing the falls, and they were a prize!
This route is not for the timid, but everyone in our group made it at their own pace with a little help.
Details
From the San Juan area, take Route 22 west to Route 167. Take 167 South to KM 10.1. Turn left onto Road 812 (there is a bus stop). Pass a big church on right, bear right at the tee, then at the Y go left into Camino de Jesus Hernandez, then right at Camino la Camandula. Follow road down by concrete wall on left. Park at the bridge over little stream. Easiest entrance to the trail (on the right) is just to the left (up hill) of the fenced little brown house as you walk back up the road. Cross the river, and there will be a trail on other side. You need to watch … sometimes the trail is on dry land, but most of the way a river trek is required. After about a 20-30 minute trek up-river, you will see the large waterfall. There are a few smaller falls and pools along the way.
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