Festival Jueyero (Crab Festival) /Efra
East August-2005, By:¡QP
Experience the Eastern Side
Las Piedras, Maunabo, Vieques
There is always lots going on in the East. Here is the short list: Loíza (bomba y plena), Canóvanas (the racetrack), Río Grande (fabulous golf courses and El Yunque, the Caribbean National Forest), Luquillo (the best-known beach on the Island, Balneario de Luquillo), Fajardo (day sailing to the cays of Icacos, Palominos and Palominitos), Culebra and Vieques (exquisite beaches), Ceiba (the Ceiba Forest), Naguabo (the seaside boardwalk), Humacao (a strip of excellent seafood restaurants), Juncos and Las Piedras (local artisans), Yabucoa (Lucía Beach) and Maunabo (the start of the Luis Muñoz Marín Route).
Las Piedras
 Founded in 1733, Las Piedras is known for its famous artisans and local crafts. A good example of a well-known local craft is the "silla-hamaca," a hanging chair made from "cordoncillo" (a type of cotton thread). Basketry, "güiros," "maracas," ceramics, weaving, pottery, stone carving, and wood turning are also well-known local crafts. At the Paseo Artesanal (the artisan drive) all Las Piedras artisans get together to show their efforts. For historical sites, visit the Plaza de Recreo Juana Rosa Martínez, originally constructed in 1830 and restored 1988. Another important site is La Cueva del Indio.
This National Historic Monument contains a number of pre-Columbian petroglyphs and archeological artifacts. Adjacent to the monument is the Asentamiento El Monte del Retiro. This was a Taíno Indian settlement and lookout. It offers a dramatic view of the area. Interestingly enough, Las Piedras is named after the immense stones found nearby, which ties in nicely with the area’s pre-Columbian petroglyphs and heritage. (Photo: Paseo Artesanal /Toledo.)
Maunabo
 Maunabo is known as "Ciudad Tranquila" (the Peaceful City) because it is located in southern Puerto Rico where the unspoiled beaches and great vistas have a calming effect. Here you find a unique blend of sea, sand and mountains. The area is famous for its lighthouse: Faro de Punta Tuna. Still in operation, this lighthouse was built in 1890 as part of the lighthouse system the Spaniards installed to ring the Island and protect the shipping traffic. The lighthouse is under the stewardship of the US Coast Guard, and is not open to the public. You can, however, get a great view of it by looking south from the Playa Punta Tuna. If fresh crab is on your gastronomic to-do list, Maunabo is your place. Maunabo is also known as "Ciudad de los Jueyeros" (The Crab City) because of the abundance of local crab harvest. The most famous festival is the Festival Jueyero, where every imaginable way of preparing crab may be sampled.(Photo: Pt. Tuna /Dean.)
Vieques
 First charted and mapped in 1527, Vieques derives its name from the Taíno Indian word "Bieké," which means small land. During the time of the English occupation it was known as Crab Island. During the time of the pirates it was known as a hideout. The Spanish eventually threw out both the English and the pirates. In order to keep Vieques, the Spanish started the construction of Fortín Conde Mirasol in 1845. Used as both a barracks and a jail, the fort was never completed. The main building is finished, but the exterior fortifications were never completed. Today, the fort does protect an important treasure: the Vieques Art and History Museum and the Vieques Archives. The fort is open to visitors and well worth a trip. The fort may be found in Isabel Segunda, the town and ferry dock in the north-central part of Vieques.
In the south-central portion of Vieques you find Esperanza. This is a comfortable, low-key beachfront area. In addition to the restaurants along the shoreline, the Fideicomiso de Conservación e Historia (Vieques Conservation and Historic Trust) is headquartered here and has a gallery and small pool exhibiting urchins, starfish and the like. For a real treat, take your budding naturalists on one of the electric boat trips to the Bahía Puerto Mosquito (one of the world's brightest bioluminescent bays). These bioluminescent bays are hard to describe. You just have to go. To the east of town is Balneario Sun Bay, one of the remarkable beaches available to visitors. Lastly, there is a huge amount of available diving and it gets relatively little use. As a result, most of the water surrounding Vieques is untouched territory. (Photo: Sun Bay /Dean.)
| Latest Island-Wide Feature Articles:
Attractions & Sights Kid's Stuff
Beaches Destination Beach
Business Center AAAction - Making Movies in Paradise
Casinos Blackjack 101
Diving & Snorkeling Down Under
Events Gallery Nights in Old San Juan
Fishing Fishing in Paradise
Forests Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazona vittata) Recovery Program
Golf Legendary Courses
Information Masthead
Nature/Adventure Nature Adventure Caribbean Style
Restaurants & Clubs Kiosk Cooking
Sailing & Watersports Sailing, Snorkeling and Kayaking
Shopping The Coffee Craze
Spas Spa-tacular
East Article Archive
2007-04 Expore the East
2007-02 Driving to Fajardo
2005-08 Las Piedras, Maunabo, Vieques
2005-06 Loíza, Río Grande, Ceiba
2005-04 Luquillo, Fajardo, Vieques
2005-02 Culebra, Naguabo, Río Grande
2004-12 Canóvanas, Fajardo, Humacao
2004-10 Juncos, Luquillo, Naguabo
2004-08 Las Piedras, Maunabo, Yabucoa
2004-06 Loíza, Río Grande , Fajardo, Ceiba
2004-04 El Yunque, Vieques, Humacao, Canóvanas
2004-02 Fajardo, Flamenco Beach, Culebra, Icacos, Palomino, Palominitos, Diablo, International Regatta, Nagu
All Archives
 EAST - Sponsors & Marketplace
Accommodations
Río Grande
Wyndham Río Mar Resort & Spa 800-4-RIOMAR
Yabucoa
Lucía Beach Villas 787-266-1111
Casinos
Río Grande
Río Mar Casino 800-4-RIOMAR
Diving & Snorkeling
Fajardo
Pure Adventure 787-314-4347
Fishing
Fajardo
Castillo Tours, Fishing & Watersports 787-791-6195
Traveler Catamaran / Fajardo Tours 787-863-2821
Nature/Adventure
Culebra
Pure Adventure 787-314-4347
Fajardo
Ecoquest 787-616-7543
Pure Adventure 787-314-4347
Humacao
Pure Adventure 787-314-4347
Naguabo
Acampa Nature Adventure 787-706-0695
Río Grande
Acampa Nature Adventure 787-706-0695
Vieques
Pure Adventure 787-314-4347
Restaurants & Clubs
Río Grande
Grille Room, The 800-4-RIOMAR
Marbella 800-4-RIOMAR
Palio 800-4-RIOMAR
SeaBreeze 800-4-RIOMAR
Shimas 800-4-RIOMAR
Sailing & Watersports
Ceiba
Jim Boat Trips 787-383-4663
Culebra
East Island Excursions 877-937-4386
Erin Go Bragh Sailing & Snorkeling Charters 787-860-4401
Island Flyer 787-860-3434
Jim Boat Trips 787-383-4663
Fajardo
Castillo Tours & Watersports 787-791-6195
East Island Excursions 877-937-4386
Erin Go Bragh Sailing & Snorkeling Charters 787-860-4401
Island Flyer 787-860-3434
Jim Boat Trips 787-383-4663
Traveler Catamaran / Fajardo Tours 787-863-2821
Luquillo
Castillo Tours & Watersports 787-791-6195
Vieques
East Island Excursions 877-937-4386
Erin Go Bragh Sailing & Snorkeling Charters 787-860-4401
Island Flyer 787-860-3434
Jim Boat Trips 787-383-4663
Yabucoa
Jim Boat Trips 787-383-4663
Sightseeing
Fajardo
Castillo Tours & Travel Services 787-791-6195
Luquillo
Castillo Tours & Travel Services 787-791-6195
Río Grande
Castillo Tours & Travel Services 787-791-6195
Spas
Río Grande
Mandara Spa at Río Mar 800-4-RIOMAR
|
About/Advertise/Contact Us
Copyright 2008-1986 Travel and Sports, Inc.
puertoricoguest.com
