Bosque Estatal de Guánica (Guánica Dry Forest)

The driest corner of Puerto Rico holds one of the Caribbean's most important forests. Established as a forest reserve in 1919 and designated a United Nations Biosphere Reserve in 1981, the Guánica Dry Forest is considered the best-preserved subtropical dry forest in the Caribbean — roughly 10,000 acres of limestone karst, salt flats, mangrove, and deciduous scrub spread across the island's southwestern coast. More than 700 plant species live here, along with approximately half of Puerto Rico's birds. Hiking trails, fishing, biking, and scuba diving in the coral reefs are open to visitors.