Toro Negro State Forest

Toro Negro State Forest is a protected forest covering mountainous central Puerto Rico with nine river systems and multiple forest types. The landscape ranges from wet lowland forests to cool high-elevation zones that shape the local climate.

The area was once covered in coffee plantations until conservation efforts began in the 1930s. A large-scale reforestation project followed, fundamentally changing the land from agricultural use back to forest.

Mountain communities around the forest have kept close ties to the land through generations. Visitors can see how local people still practice farming and resource management that respects the forest ecosystem today.

The main entry point is through Dona Juana Recreational Area in Orocovis, which offers camping and hiking trails. Plan your visit during drier months when mountain paths and streams are easier to navigate safely.

The forest contains rare ecosystems found nowhere else in Puerto Rico, including specialized plant species and wet mountain zones. These uncommon habitats draw researchers and nature enthusiasts seeking to study the island's most fragile environments.