{"id":2826,"date":"2024-06-26T14:49:53","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T20:49:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/?p=2826"},"modified":"2024-06-26T14:49:59","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T20:49:59","slug":"charco-el-pilon-river-hiking-and-waterfall-swimming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/index.php\/2024\/06\/26\/charco-el-pilon-river-hiking-and-waterfall-swimming\/","title":{"rendered":"Charco El Pil\u00f3n: River Hiking and Waterfall Swimming"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"\">The remarkable hike to and from Charco El Pil\u00f3n in Puerto Rico\u2019s Maricao State Forest is a challenging rocky, muddy 2 \u00bd-mile scramble along &#8212; and often through &#8212; the &#8220;El Chorote\u201d branch that arrives at the El Pil\u00f3n stream. The forest is lush and shady, and the terrain is hilly and challenging. The payoff is a spectacular waterfall and swimming hole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Charco El Pil\u00f3n: River Hiking and Waterfall Swimming\" width=\"525\" height=\"295\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GscuxMuO1-Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">You\u2019ll find the trailhead&nbsp;at the end of Route 362,&nbsp;high in the mountains in San&nbsp;Germ\u00e1n, Cabo Rojo, on the southwestern corner of the island.&nbsp;You can park in front of road barriers or alongside the road.&nbsp;The well-maintained trail immediately, just to the left of a little house, takes you down and then up a steep hill, and it\u2019s game on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Charco El Pil\u00f3n is a 30-foot-high waterfall with a deep, clear pool beneath, perfect for swimming in (we kept our shoes on).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.57_cf0bd35c-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2828\" srcset=\"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.57_cf0bd35c-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.57_cf0bd35c-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.57_cf0bd35c-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.57_cf0bd35c.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Here are a few tips to enhance your experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Start early to avoid the crowds and get a good parking spot. We encountered a guided group of at least 50 people on our way back.<br>\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bring lots of water.<br>\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Wear a swimsuit!<br>\u00b7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Wear shoes with a good grip that you can get wet!\u00a0I wore Hoka trail running shoes that drained easily and could be washed afterward. Bob wore hiking boots, which were more of a challenge to get clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">We went with our friends Juan and Rose Marie, who provided some of the photos below, including the title image!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Enjoy Photos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.57_84090650-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2827\" srcset=\"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.57_84090650-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.57_84090650-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.57_84090650.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"2829\" src=\"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.55_05018255-576x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2829\" srcset=\"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.55_05018255-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.55_05018255-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.55_05018255-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.55_05018255-864x1536.jpg 864w, https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.55_05018255.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"2831\" src=\"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.57_0a06cd87-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2831\" srcset=\"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.57_0a06cd87-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.57_0a06cd87-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.57_0a06cd87-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.35.57_0a06cd87.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"2830\" src=\"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.37.42_b6a41b59-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2830\" srcset=\"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.37.42_b6a41b59-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.37.42_b6a41b59-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.37.42_b6a41b59-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-21-at-10.37.42_b6a41b59.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"blob:https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/79bd6b1a-0a46-4c23-9873-967bdd431e86\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"blob:https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/e74631ed-8b0e-4cc7-8c65-8e493190d9cb\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"blob:https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/5e152f5f-8a21-4512-b6e0-ae71d4964b4a\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"blob:https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/e8a063ca-109e-4959-ab53-d0481cf65e29\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"blob:https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/f4a3e565-2ac2-4bb5-8082-826c722ddce5\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Info<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/blog\/post\/edit\/9181503609429467230\/2118492372992592179\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Puerto Rico Day Trips<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/blog\/post\/edit\/9181503609429467230\/2118492372992592179\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">All Trails Description<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/blog\/post\/edit\/9181503609429467230\/2118492372992592179\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">All Trails \u2013 our hike<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/blog\/post\/edit\/9181503609429467230\/2118492372992592179\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Map (Trailhead)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The remarkable hike to and from Charco El Pil\u00f3n in Puerto Rico\u2019s Maricao State Forest is a challenging rocky, muddy 2 \u00bd-mile scramble along &#8212; and often through &#8212; the &#8220;El Chorote\u201d branch that arrives at the El Pil\u00f3n stream. The forest is lush and shady, and the terrain is hilly and challenging. The payoff &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/index.php\/2024\/06\/26\/charco-el-pilon-river-hiking-and-waterfall-swimming\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Charco El Pil\u00f3n: River Hiking and Waterfall Swimming&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[395,281,332,222,268,211],"tags":[30,327,734,252,46,27,266,9,733,5,261,262,735],"class_list":["post-2826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adventure","category-ecotourism","category-hiking","category-lisa-blogger","category-puerto-rico","category-videos","tag-adventure","tag-caborojo","tag-charcoelpilon","tag-hike","tag-hiking","tag-messysuitcase","tag-puertorico","tag-retirement","tag-sangerman","tag-travel-blog","tag-travelblog","tag-travelblogger","tag-waterfall"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2826","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2826"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2826\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2839,"href":"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2826\/revisions\/2839"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}