Riding ATVs in El Yunque National Park

The second of our three planned excursions for our first day in Puerto Rico was riding ATVs in El Yunque National Forest as part of the 2-hour Carabalí Rainforest Adventure Park's ATV Puerto Rico tour. Carabalí Rainforest Adventure Park is located near Luquillo, which is fairly close to where we were staying in Fajardo. Driving to Luquillo also provided us the opportunity to see the famous Luquillo kiosks.

COVID-19 protocols were in place when we arrived. We had our temperatures taken, receive antibacterial soap for our hands, and each of our helmets was individually sanitized before being handed to us to try on.

The ride on the ATVs was fun and it was exciting to enter into the lush jungle so quickly and so close. The photograph above this paragraph and the photograph after this paragraph were both taken at the first stop.

The second stop was also beautiful.

The third stop was at the beautiful Mameyes River.

The fourth stop was just before the end of the tour at another location on the Mameyes River.

Although the tour is almost over by this fourth stop, there is a shaded concession area available for liquid refreshment and some basic food items such as grilled checking and grilled hot dogs.

After leaving the fourth stop with the concession area, it's a short drive back to the starting point of the tour.

We wanted to try plantain mofongo while in Puerto Rico and the Carabalí Bar & Grill Restaurant was advertising the seafood mofongo as a daily special. We ate there in the outdoor seating and really enjoyed the meal.

After dinner at that restaurant, we headed back to Fajardo for our third excursion of the day, kayaking to Laguna Grande to see that bioluminiscent bay.

Riding ATVs in El Yunque National Forest on the same day as driving mini boats and snorkeling near Cayo Icacos and on the same day as kayaking to Laguna Grande to experience that bioluminescent bay was a lot for one day and felt rushed, but it was a very fun and highly memorable day. It was a great way to kick off our first vacation in Puerto Rico!