Mike in the Wild

A stop in Old San Juan is often the highlight of any cruise to the Eastern Caribbean.  Founded in 1521, the capital city of Puerto Rica is the second oldest European-established capital in the Americas. Well-preserved Spanish colonial buildings and streets crowd an easily-walkable area, making for a colorful and history-filled visit.  While I've been to San Juan several times, I've never ventured any further away from the city than the international airport.  As a result, I never witnessed any of the tropical island's countryside until my latest cruise, when I booked a tour to El Yunque National Forest in the east.   About an hour-long drive from the Old San Juan cruise port, the protected area is the only tropical rainforest in the national forest system.  While it's one of the smallest in size - not even 29,000 acres - it's one of the most biologically diverse.  My tour, called an El Yunque Rain Forest Drive, promised me a brief look at the landscape...