An Outstanding Day Waterfall Rappelling in Puerto Rico

A friend suggested we may want to look for some more authentic experiences in Puerto Rico given our past adventurous world travels. I hadn’t thought about this. Yikes. It totally made me re-think our itinerary. What is the most unique and adventurous outing I can find for my crew?

We found the answer to this — an all-day hiking and waterfall rappelling tour. My teens even said that our waterfall rappelling experience with Altura was one of the coolest things they have ever done. Given their past adventures, this says a lot!

If you are looking for another cool and unique experience, hop on over to the nearby island of Vieques. A One-Night Trip to the World’s Brightest Bioluminescent Bay.

These are my honest opinions and recommendations — I do not receive any compensation or discounts during our travel. This story may include affiliate links for which I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please click the links to support my blog.

Planning your outing

Book this trip early because your tour may not be offered every day of the week. Also, consider this when booking your lodging and other tours. All tours may not be the same so do your research.

What if the rappelling is too extreme for your group? Check out Altura’s hiking tour. Visiting the preserve with these guys is a great way to get away from the touristy stuff and immerse yourself in true Puerto Rican nature, culture, and food.

What to wear and what to bring

We visited on a beautiful sunny day in November. My husband and teenage boys wore a mixture of t-shirts and long-sleeved shirts with exercise shorts. I wore yoga pants with a long sleeve shirt under a t-shirt. For shoes, I suggest closed-toe and closed-heel water shoes or even extra gym shoes. Altura provides the gear, including knee pads.

Bring a dry bag because you will get soaked. This 20 ML dry bag is perfect. You do not need to carry too much; I used our dry bag to carry an iPhone (in a second water-sealed bag), snacks, water bottles, and Kleenex. Pack your GoPro too and some cash for breakfast and tips.

Finally, bring along a towel and a dry set of clothes. You will leave these in the van during your outing.

The hike up and waterfall rappelling down

This is an extreme activity and Altura addressed safety every step of the way. It goes without saying that rappelling down the waterfalls was super invigorating. However, this tour encompasses so much more! The preserve is absolutely beautiful and the guides point out interesting trees and plants along the way. The crew is keen on safety with via ferrata clipping on the way up to the top of the waterfall. The way up was almost as exciting as the way down. Almost!

An experience more than "just" waterfall rappelling

Bonus #1: A stop for breakfast sandwiches at a bakery along the way. You can also grab a cup of coffee or a pastry. They called in our order on the ride there. This was great since we waited 45-minutes for our bakery order near El Yunque the day before. Bring some money or a credit card.

Bonus #2: The guides took a lot of great photos along the way! And, our guides Andre and David were simply excellent in every way possible.

Bonus #3: The lunch in Ciales afterward is a total treat. The local food was delicious and the view — even in the rain — is stunning!

Bonus #4: Round trip transportation from San Juan is included in a nice and comfortable van.