Guánica State Forest (Bosque Seco de Guánica)

Parks & Nature · Guánica, Puerto Rico

A rare subtropical dry forest on the arid southwest coast, so ecologically important that UNESCO named it an International Biosphere Reserve. Around a dozen trails wind through cactus, gnarled gumbo-limbo trees and coastal scrub to quiet coves and hilltop ruins, and the forest is one of the island's best places to spot native birds. It is a striking contrast to the rainforest side of Puerto Rico, and the light is beautiful in the early morning before the heat builds.