Planadas-Yeyesa Nature Reserve

The Planadas-Yeyesa Nature Reserve spans the Sierra de Cayey mountains in the municipality of Salinas. Its two defining features are Cerro Planada, rising to 2,480 feet (755 m), and La Yeyesa, a heavily forested canyon carved by the Lapa River and its tributaries, which drain into the Nigua River system. A lightly trafficked, moderate trail provides access into the La Yeyesa canyon, following the stream through dense mountain forest.

The reserve supports exceptional biodiversity: approximately 198 tree species, 11 of Puerto Rico's 17 endemic bird species, and the endangered Puerto Rican boa. The area also contains significant archaeological sites, including El Ceto and La Iglesia Caves, which house pre-Columbian Taíno petroglyphs.