Hidden Excursions PR LLC — Local services in Utuado

Pablo was a fantastic guide! We were picked up exactly on time. We were contacted by him the day before to check if an earlier start time would be okay with us. We were totally fine as we heard the place gets packed super quick during the busy season (and we were glad we did). He also gave very detailed instructions as to what to bring. We were picked up at 6:50 and then we picked up another couple at 7:00 so 6 of us in total made for a very personalized experience. We were on the trail by 8:15. He offered to be in charge of our phones so he would take pictures and videos while keeping them safe in his waterproof backpack. We enjoyed the hike, waterslide, cliff jumping and rope swings. Before arriving at the rainforest, we had made a quick stop at a fruit stand where Pablo picked up mango and avocado and while enjoying one of the natural pools, he cut it up for us for a delicious snack. We had one member in our group that took a bit of a tumble but Pablo remained very calm and professional and all ended up being fine and we continued with the hike. As we were wrapping up, we saw several very large tour groups making their way to the hike. So glad for that early start! Pablo took us to a place for lunch that was off the beaten path and so delicious! Burgers, wraps, fish tacos, freshly made fruit juices in cocktails all hit the spot! We were back to our hotel around 2 pm. Tip: Shoes!! Lots of people wore tennis shoes. Great for hiking but terrible for the very muddy parts and hanging out in the water. They will be totally covered in mud by the end. I used those water shoes that form fit around your toes, have great traction and has a velcro strap. Even though they fit well, they did slip off at the heel a few times when I stepped into deeper muddy areas. Others in our group wore Chacos. Those were the best. They had good traction on bottom and you can secure them on tightly with the straps! It will be VERY slippery no matter what shoes you...

I booked this small-group tour hoping for a fun, guided experience through El Yunque, but unfortunately, it turned out to be quite frustrating and disappointing.

First, communication was poor from the start. The tour guide, Patricia, never addressed me by my name and ignored my friend’s messages. There was also a last-minute rule change about footwear—despite reading reviews that suggested Crocs were fine, the tour suddenly announced the night before departure that they were not allowed. With a 6 AM start time the next day, there was no time to find an alternative.

Logistics were chaotic. Pickup was late, and the drive to the rainforest had the windows down the entire way, which isn’t great when you're trying to avoid getting sick on an island trip. Once we arrived, Patricia immediately placed me at the back of the group without much explanation. As someone with little hiking experience, I expected some level of guidance or encouragement, but instead, I was basically told to stay behind.

The tour itself felt more like a race than an exploration. While I was keeping up at my own pace with my friend, Patricia prioritized a white family in the group, frequently stopping to help them while leaving us behind. By the time we reached the return hike, I was struggling a bit with the downhill portion, and instead of offering any assistance, she completely abandoned my friend and me, taking the other group ahead without checking in.

On top of that, the experience was completely devoid of any engagement or memories—no photos, no videos, nothing. If not for my friend, I wouldn’t have any record of the trip. It was especially frustrating because other tour groups had guides who were actively involved, taking photos, and making the experience enjoyable.

If you’re looking for a guide who actually cares about all participants, helps with the hike, and provides a well-rounded experience, I’d strongly recommend...

We had the best day with on the El Yunque & Luquillo lunch stop tour with Shaly! She was extremely communicative starting from the day before to confirm pick up time, as well as the morning of with her ETA. She also prepped us well by letting us know what to pack for the excursion. Hiking shoes/shoes with good traction that you don’t mind getting dirty with mud are a must! Just know you’ll be swimming with these shoes on.

You can clearly tell how much Shaly loves her job and showing off her beautiful island. We started off with about an hour drive to El Yunque, where we parked right next to the trail (only this company can park this close, I believe!), and it was about a ~20 min easy hike to the waterfall, with a little more hiking/boulder climbing to get to the natural waterslide and cliff jumps—which are both optional. You have the choice to wait at the bottom for the rest of the group to finish. Weather conditions can vary and impact your time at the waterfall, which happened to us, and the slide wasn’t safe to go down that day, but it was still beautiful and enjoyable. I love that this tour company only does small tours (6 people max); we felt safe the entire time, and Shaly was able to help pull us up if needed a hand, and told us where to put our feet for any trickier parts of the hike.

Then, in Luquillo, we had lunch at kiosk #38 which Shaly recommended, and it was INCREDIBLE! Follow her recommendation! We then had about an hour to spend in Luquillo after lunch, which we chose to spend on the beach, which was beautiful. Quiet, calm, and clear blue water. Would highly recommend this company to anyone! Looking forward to booking another tour with...