A First Timer’s Guide to Charco El Hippie, Puerto Rico
Charco El Hippie is one of those places I spontaneously discovered by zooming in on a random area on Google Maps. With over a thousand Google reviews and a 4.8/5 rating, I suspected I’d found a gem, but Charco El Hippie was even more special than I’d imagined.
This off-the-beaten-path swimming hole ended up being my favorite place we visited during our adventure-packed 4-day Puerto Rico trip.
It’s nestled beneath the lush southern slopes of El Yunque rainforest, with several stunning waterfalls, serene natural pools, a fun swing, and hidden petroglyphs carved into rock by the indigenous Taíno!
In this guide, I’m sharing everything you need to know about visiting Charco El Hippie—how to get here and what to expect, plus how to find the petroglyphs and hidden La Canoa Falls!
What to do at Charco El Hippie
A five minute walk from the car will lead you down to the stunning main pool and waterfall. This is an amazing place to swim and sunbathe on the boulders—but there’s more!
And you’ll want to know about these spots before you get there because otherwise you’d miss them! This is a really casual swimming hole, so there are no signs or trails leading you to the other must-see spots.
Right next to the main pool you’ll see a swing (it’s actually more fun than it looks!) and some natural infinity pools along the river downstream from the main pool—I regret not snapping some photos here because it’s so gorgeous!
If you’re physically able, you have to venture upstream to find the 70-foot La Canoa Waterfall and the Taíno petroglyphs! To get there, cross the main pool (the only way is to swim!) and journey upstream along the rocks.
It’s a bit of a scramble, and the rocks can be slippery, so climb with care! La Canoa Falls is just past the first set of boulders, but you’ll have to journey further to find the petroglyphs—climb the large boulder with the rope and keep going until you reach a dead end… you’ll see the petroglyphs there, and pass a few small caves on the way.
These petroglyphs are evidence of the Taíno indigenous people of Puerto Rico, who believed that El Yunque itself was the throne of their deity Yocahú. How incredible is it to see some of their rock carvings right here on the edge of El Yunque rainforest!
How to get to Charco El Hippie
Charco El Hippie is about an hour and 15 minutes from San Juan, and 40-45 minutes from Las Pailas in Luquillo (which is where I’d recommend visiting before heading to Charco El Hippie!)
- 📍 Exact location on Google Maps // Also pinned on my free Puerto Rico map!
To get to here from the highway, you’ll drive a few miles down dusty backroads before arriving at the parking area, which is run by a local family. They ask for $5 to park, but you’re welcome to leave your car all day (and it feels quite safe!)
I was thankful that they had cold water bottles (plus sodas) for sale, and they have food sometimes, too!
🌿 Glamping at Charco El Hippie: You can stay right next to Charco El Hippie at Casa Parcha in one of their glamping tents! I didn’t stay here, but it looks like lovely unique place to stay—right along the gorgeous river!
More Things to Do Nearby
I’ll be honest—Charco El Hippie does feel like its in the middle of nowhere, but there are several other fun things to do when you’re spending a day on this side of the island:
- 👙 Las Pailas: Slide down a waterfall at this low-key river swimming spot near Charco El Hippie! It’s a little more busy, but has a similar vibe… and sliding down a waterslide is a lot of fun! More details in my Las Pailas guide.
- 🌿 El Yunque National Forest: A must-visit area of the rainforest with several waterfalls, hiking trails, and stone towers overlooking the rainforest and ocean below. Check out my article on how to spend one day at El Yunque for more details!
- ✨ Laguna Grande (Bioluminescent Bay): Another one of the best things to do on this side of the island is kayaking through the sparkling bioluminescent Laguna Grande at night! As you paddle through the water, every stroke triggers a burst of blue-ish light, like liquid stars swirling beneath your kayak (sounds cheesy, but it’s true!) Make reservation in advance with a local guide!
- 🦜 Yunque Ziplines: Soar through the rainforest canopy at award-winning Yunque Ziplines near the national forest. The experience lasts 2 hours and includes five scenic zipline routes (with mountain views), an optional 50-foot rappel and trek across a hanging canopy bridge. Be sure to reserve in advance here.
- 🥑 Where to eat: Luquillo Kiosks for tons of local street food options (Rellena’o kiosk #33 is my favorite), and Degree 18 Juice Bar for delicious acai bowls!
What to Bring to Charco El Hippie (and El Yunque)
- 👙 Swimsuit, sunglasses, and hat
- 💦 Quick-dry towel: I love my Nomadix travel towel which repels sand and folds down quite small.
- 🥾 Comfortable hiking shoes or sandals with grip: I love these waterproof shoes that double as grippy hiking shoes and water shoes. I also bought a pair of sandals, too!
- 🍶 Reusable water bottle: Bring plenty of water to stay hydrated!
- 🍌 Snacks and water
- 💵 Cash: For the $5 parking, plus water/food
- 🪲 Bug spray: I love this natural (yet effective) bug balm and itch relief stick from Badger
- 🩹 Small first aid kit: I have this tiny basic first aid kit, which has band-aids and antibacterial ointments. It takes up much less room than a full first aid kit, and I’ve needed it so many times with little cuts and scrapes while traveling.
- 🎒 Dry bag or waterproof backpack (optional): I put all my belongings in a waterproof dry bag anytime I go swimming somewhere like Charco El Hippie! They’re also great for boat tours.
Keep Planning Your Puerto Rico Travels
- The Perfect 4 Day Puerto Rico Itinerary: Jungle, Rum & Beach
- The Perfect One Day El Yunque Itinerary (With Hidden Gems!)
- 5 Ways to Spend One Day in Puerto Rico (on a Cruise)
- 15 Fun Things to do in Río Grande, Puerto Rico (And Nearby!)
- A First Timer’s Guide to Las Pailas Waterslide, Puerto Rico
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Wow Annie, this guide is incredible! I had never even heard of Charco El Hippie before, but now it’s going straight onto my Puerto Rico bucket list. I love that you found it by zooming around on Google Maps—those discoveries always end up being the most memorable. Your tips about the petroglyphs and La Canoa Falls are so helpful (especially the part about swimming across the main pool—totally would’ve missed that!). Thanks for making this hidden gem feel so accessible and exciting to explore!
Thanks so much for your kind words, glad the Charco El Hippie guide was helpful to you! Enjoy Puerto Rico!!
The river can be very unpredictable and dangerous. We are there now after a rain and it would be impossible to cross the pool to the other side. Also not that rains can be further up steam so if you were to cross when it is calm it may not be possible to get back safely for hours.