The subtropical moist forest is located in the northern coast of Puerto Rico in the middle of the karst zone known as the Carso Norteño (Northern karst), and it contains features typical of such geography such as sinkholes, caves and mogotes.

[1] The Vega Forest plays an important role in the protection of many underground water supplies as it contains sinkholes and areas of natural recharge for the northern aquifers of Puerto Rico.

The Sierra palm (Gaussia attenuata), the cock's-spur (Erythtrina eggersii) and palo de rosa (Ottoschulzia rhodoxylon) grow on limestone mogotes; the latter two are highly endangered due to habitat loss.

The forest is also home to a number of endemic reptile and amphibian species.

[1] The forest contains sections which are open to visitors, located in Vega Alta.