Lago Garzas, Adjuntas /Frazier Nivens
Central June-2004, By:Travel and Sports Staff
Summer in the Mountains
Caguas, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Comerío, Barranquitas, Adjuntas, Morovis
Summer is the ideal time to visit some or all of the towns nestled in the Island’s mountainous Central region. They offer visitors a wide variety of cultural and recreational activities, and in addition, most of the festivals take place in the summer months. The area is known for its cool weather (anything below 80 degrees Fahrenheit) and agriculture (especially the top-quality coffee).
The 20 municipalities in the Central region can be thought of as being along two driving routes (with San Juan as the starting point). The Southern route begins in Caguas and travels through Aguas Buenas, Gurabo, San Lorenzo, Cidra, Cayey, Aibonito, Comerío, Barranquitas, Orocovis, and Villalba before ending in Adjuntas. The Northern route goes from Naranjito to Corozal, Morovis, Ciales, Florida, Lares, Utuado and Jayuya. The Southern route covers a good bit of the Luis Muñoz Marín Panoramic Route. The towns and festivals discussed below will get you started.
Caguas invites you to celebrate its Festival Típico Criollo the beginning of June. As the town vibrates with activity, it’s a great opportunity to see local artisans exhibiting their musical instruments, paintings and wood carvings. Several stages will have music performances, and local games, fun competitions and typical food will make this event worth experiencing. While in town, be sure you see the Casa Rosada Abelardo Díaz Alfaro, a museum honoring the many writers who were born, and lived, in Caguas. The city organizes walking tours and offers a trolley to see the most important attractions.
Aguas Buenas celebrates the Festival de la Buruquena end of July to the beginning of August. This food festival features dishes around the small Buruquena crab and is held in the Barrio Cagüitas near the town’s caves. These caves are famous for their size, form, fauna, vegetation, ecosystem, hydrology and the petroglyphs visible on their walls. It’s little wonder the caves have attracted tourists and scientists from around the world. Another natural attraction is the Monte Molitas Tiza, the Chalk mountain, located close to town. It is named for its light coloring caused by deposits of calcium, which was once mined there.
Thousands of islanders flock to the central mountain town of Aibonito for its famed Festival of Flowers, held from the last weekend in June to the beginning of July. Known as the Switzerland of Puerto Rico, Aibonito welcomes flower growers and artisans to exhibit and sell varieties of tropical flowers, plants and garden accessories. Arts and crafts and prize-winning landscapes are also on display. A nice stop on the road is Mirador Piedra Degetau, a lookout tower with picnic facilities.
Comerío honors traditional Puerto Rican singers in its Festival del Jíbaro Comerieño. This three-day national troubadour competition selects the best Puerto Rican troubadour. Typical music, local and international artists, handicraft fair, güiro and cuatro contests and local food promise great entertainment. The main non-music event is the Desfiles de Estampas Típicas, where rustic floats demonstrate life in the Puerto Rican countryside.
The National Artisans Fair in Barranquitas in July features typical music and foods, in addition to exhibitions of recent works by outstanding artisans. The most important structure in Barranquitas is the home of statesman Luis Muñoz Rivera, father of Luis Muñoz Marin, who, in 1952, became the first Puerto Rican to be elected Governor of Puerto Rico. Today it is a museum which includes documents, memorabilia, photographs related to his political life and a 1912 Pierce Arrow classic automobile, which was used in his funeral cortège.
The town of Adjuntas attracts athletes mid-July for the Marathon Gigante, a 15-kilometer runner’s marathon. Adjuntas also invites you to visit its Casa Pueblo, a historic building that includes a cultural center, exhibitions, library, butterfly garden and craft shop which sells Madre Isla coffee. Lago Garzas is a lake near town with boat launching and camping facilities.
For a music and art festival, go to Morovis mid-July to attend the Festival de Cuatristas y Trobadores. This festival honors the numerous artisans that build the guitar-like instrument, the cuatro, in Morovis. The town was founded in 1818 and has a beautiful church dating from 1823. Try the “pan de la patita echá” in one of Puerto Rico’s oldest bakeries: the Panadería Patria.
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2005-08 Aguas Buenas, Cidra, Lares, Naranjito
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