A walk in the park

Upon entering San Patricio State Forest, you first encounter a poster board with a map of the park’s many trails where you can plan out your walk.

San Patricio State Forest offers serene, cool change from urban bustle

By JOHN McPHAUL

jpmcphaul@gmail.com

Visiting the parks in Puerto Rico is almost literally like entering another world.

One feels the “peace of God that transcends all understanding,” and can breathe in the oxygen fresh from its source.

San Patricio State Forest is no different. The 60-acre park is located between Villa Borinquen and Caparra Heights.

You first run into a poster board with a map of the park’s many trails where you can plan out your walk.

Park visitors who seem happy to have an opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of San Juan walk leisurely with children by their side.

The few people you meet are friendly, and smiles are exchanged.

Along one of the paths is a large treehouse from which the laughter and squeals of happy children bouncing around inside.

A short distance off the path you can see bunkers, part of the rich biodiversity of the park from when it served as a military base during WWII. The base was closed in the 1960s, but San Patricio wasn’t officially made into a park unit the year 2000.

The park has 33 species of birds, including endemic species like the Puerto Rican woodpecker. There are three species of coquis, along with various species of lizards and small reptiles.

There are also various varieties of snakes, one of which crossed my path wiggling rapidly into the forest, and also numerous varieties of insects such as butterflies and beetles.

Inside the forest you can feel a considerable drop in the temperature, which goes from blazing in the concrete outside world to downright cool.

Picnic tables are scattered throughout the park just off the trails, perfect for enjoying lunch.

The park, which doesn’t admit pets, is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.