Embalse Toa Vaca, Villalba /Dean
Central December-2004, By:Travel and Sports Staff
Experience the Central Beauty
If you’re looking for a cooling break from the beach, you can take a day trip into the mountains for a mix of the culture and environment unique to this area. 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.
Barranquitas
Barranquitas was founded as a municipality in 1803. The name comes from the local terra-cotta-colored soil. Whenever it rains, the water forms small ravines. Hence the name Barranquitas. This hospitable town is known as "Cuna de Próceres" because the town has produced so many eminent poets, writers, politicians and educators. These "próceres" include Luis Muñoz Rivera and Luis Muñoz Marín, two of the most important participants in Puerto Rico's recent history. There are various stops that are highly recommended while visiting Barranquitas. The church on the plaza with its arched, handmade wood ceiling should not be missed. For art lovers, a great option is the Museo de Arte y Antropología, where Puerto Rican art is exhibited. This museum has the only Greek-Roman collection in the Caribbean. Close by you can find San Cristóbal Canyon, one of Puerto Rico’s great natural wonders. See the directory for more information on the canyon.
Villalba
Located in the subcentral part of the interior, Villalba was founded in 1917 by Walter Mc K. Jones, a North American (for a bit of this history, visit the Walter Mc K. Jones Museum). Villalba is known as "Ciudad Avancina" (the Advanced City). In Puerto Rico, technological advances such as electricity and telephone lines came to Villalba first. That tradition extends to the present day with one of the highest peaks in Puerto Rico, the nearby Cerro Maravilla, hosting the telecommunication towers for the entire Island. In today's Villalba you will find a newly renovated, multilevel central plaza with a cobblestone surface, fountains, benches, a small arched clock tower and gazebo. All of this is visually integrated with the beautiful large church set at one end of the plaza with the mountains as a backdrop. It is easy to imagine how interesting it would be to attend one of the festivals set in this beautiful plaza. Villalba is one of the main gateways to Central Puerto Rico from the south. Nearby attractions include the Orocovis-Villalba lookout tower, the Toro Negro Forest and the Doña Juana Recreational Center (see the write-up under Orocovis). The lookout tower is reached by going up Rt 151 to Rt 143 and turning east. If you turn west at Rt 143, you go to the Doña Juana Recreational Center and the Toro Negro Forest. Also nearby in the south of Villalba is the large Lago Guayabal off Rt 150.
Jayuya
In Jayuya you feel the presence of the Taíno Indians, especially during the Jayuya Indian Festival. The festival features the culture and traditions of the Island's original natives, including their music, food and games. Nearby you will find the Casa Canales historic home and the Cemí Museum Monument featuring Taíno archeological artifacts and a photographic exhibition of petroglyphs that were found around the Island. If you look behind Casa Canales, you will see the "Tres Picachos," a mountain 3,952 feet above sea level, and the Cerro Puntas, the tallest peak in Puerto Rico at 4,398 feet.
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2007-04 Explore the Central Region
2005-08 Aguas Buenas, Cidra, Lares, Naranjito
2005-06 Caguas, Aibonito, Barranquitas
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2005-02 Adjuntas, Ciales, Gurabo, Utuado
2004-12 Experience the Central Beauty
2004-10 Cidra, Corozal, Orocovis, San Lorenzo
2004-08 Cayey, Naranjito, Lares
2004-06 Caguas, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Comerío, Barranquitas, Adjuntas, Morovis
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