A cloud forest reserve in Puerto Rico's Cordillera Central, anchored by its trio of distinctive mountain peaks.
Los Tres Picachos State Forest
Los Tres Picachos State Forest is one of twenty state forests that make up the public forest system of Puerto Rico. It sits within the island's Cordillera Central, the principal mountain range that runs through the interior of Puerto Rico, and takes its name from the three prominent peaks that crown the highest mountain in the forest. The reserve spans the municipalities of Jayuya and Ciales, in the heart of the island's uplands.
The protected landscape is shaped by the transition between a karstic region and another zone of volcanic origin, producing a varied terrain of ridges, forested slopes, and river valleys. Several important rivers originate here, including the Toro Negro River, for which the forest plays a particularly vital hydrological role. Ecologically, the state forest encompasses subtropical broadleaf forest, montane cloud forest, and tropical humid rainforest zones arranged by elevation.
Los Tres Picachos is recognized for its biodiversity, including a high share of endemic species, and forms part of the Important Bird Area designated for the Cordillera Central since 2007. Although the area is not heavily developed for recreation, it draws visitors interested in native flora and fauna, hiking, and the scenic Las Delicias Falls along the Cialitos River.
