La Marquesa Forest Park (Guaynabo)

 park, forest

A 600-acre forest reserve located in the industrious and populous municipality of Guaynabo, the Parque Forestal La Marquesa is a welcomed green lung for town residents, also enjoyed by visitors from all around the island and the rest of the world.

A short 20 minute drive from the more tourist-centric San Juan area, La Marquesa – named after Guaynabo’s highest peak – offers its visitors a great opportunity to relax in a more natural environment while surrounded by the numerous plant and bird species that populate its tropical humid forest.

A trolley takes you around the park and up a hill to a 70-foot-tall observation tower. It makes its first stop at a man-made waterfall and rest area with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and nearby urban areas. The train then stops at a children’s playground and from there you can make your way up to the top of the observation tower – some 1066 feet above sea level.

From up above the tree tops you can enjoy views of San Juan and other adjacent municipalities, as well as cool down with the refreshing breeze. Afterwards, you can take the trolley back to the park’s entrance or make your way along the forest trails.

La Marquesa Forest Park is one of Guaynabo’s hidden gems, well worth a visit if communing with nature is right up your alley.