Guánica - Guánica Biosphere Reserve

(Local Name: Bosque Estatal de Guánica) The Guánica Forest Reserve covers 9,500ac/3846ha of land along 10mi/16km of undeveloped coastline. It features 36mi/58km of hiking trails and is home to a lignum vitae tree (over 1,000 years old) and more than 40 of the island's 111 species of birds. The forest includes 700 plant species (48 endangered), 16 of which are unique to the Guánica. In 1981 UNESCO designated the forest as a "Biosphere Reserve" a world-rarity since only an estimated 1% of dry forest remains on earth. Aside from birds, other wildlife found in the forest are toads, lizards, land crabs, cave shrimps, mongoose and leatherback turtles.