Travel & Sports® English - West February-2004, By: Bonnie Doyle

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Travel & Sports: Puerto Rico > Magazine Articles > West

Playa El Combate, Cabo Rojo: El Combate /Dean

West February-2004, By:Bonnie Doyle
My Very Own West
Mayagüez, Maricao, Las Marías, Cabo Rojo, Joyuda

When you think of Porta del Sol (the western region of Puerto Rico), the Island’s third largest city and cultural center (Mayagüez), world-class coffee, pristine beaches, great seafood and perfect sunsets come to mind.

Mayagüez, the region’s largest municipality, thrives as a business and educational center. Founded in 1760 and rebuilt twice - after a fire in 1841 and an earthquake in 1918 - the city is a special blend of both the old and the new. As Puerto Rico’s third-largest city, it is home to the University of Puerto Rico’s famous engineering school, which is a major recruiting center for NASA and other U.S. government agencies.

For some old-world charm, take a leisurely stroll around the elegant Plaza Colon, with its stone walk, lavish fountain and historic church. An imposing statue of Christopher Columbus reminds locals and visitors alike of the Island’s unique heritage. A block away, the newly restored Teatro Yagüez, a significant cultural landmark, provides another slice of history.

For something more contemporary, the Experimental Agricultural Station offers self-guided tours through its lush gardens and well-kept grounds, while the recently refurbished Mayagüez Zoo offers an impressive collection of animal exhibits from South America, the Caribbean and Africa. Keep your eyes open for some of the locally made sangria and Brazo Gitano - a fruit and crème-filled pastry rolls - both made famous in Mayagüez.

When visiting the West, you’ll want to plan a stop in Maricao. A favorite destination for bird-watchers (with more than 70 identified species), this small mountain town is also well known for its abundant coffee harvests, hence the nickname El Ciudad del Café, or Coffee City.

The Maricao’s Coffee Harvest Festival, held this time of year, is one of the region’s most popular events. You’ll get to sample home-grown brews from the various exhibitors and can purchase bags of specially ground roast beans produced by many of the local plantations. Poke around the kiosks featuring local food, sweets and crafts, and make the festival a true Puerto Rican experience. You might also want to stop to see the nearby fish hatchery or climb the observation tower located in the Maricao Forest.

Las Marías, just north of Maricao, is well known for its surrounding orange groves as well as for the hand-carved wooden toys and needlecraft produced by local artisans. To celebrate the town’s orange harvest, the Festival de la China Dulce (Sweet Orange Festival), held in March, features a wide variety of orange recipes along with arts, crafts and local music. The event promises a good time for anyone wanting to add a nice side trip while exploring the mountains of the West.

Of course, a trip to the West isn’t complete without time spent in Cabo Rojo’s Boquerón, El Combate and Joyuda districts. This area is a sea and seafood-lovers dream come true. Pristine beaches found here include El Combate, Boquerón, Buyé and La Playuela (located next to the Cabo Rojo Lighthouse).

When you’re ready for fresh seafood, the place is Joyuda, which has rightly earned the reputation as La Milla de Oro del Buen Comer (The Gourmet Golden Mile). This seaside strip of restaurants features every kind of seafood imaginable, from whole red snapper cooked to order, to delectable shrimp dishes. For a real treat, visit one of the oyster stands at Boquerón and get ready to put away a dozen.

Perhaps the most breathtaking attraction in this area is the Cabo Rojo Lighthouse (currently under renovation), built by the Spaniards in 1882 atop a magnificent cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea. To reach the lighthouse you wind your way past salt flats where sea salt is harvested, as well as through mangroves and a national wildlife refuge, home to more than 170 bird species. A current event in the Cabo Rojo area, drawing locals and visitors alike, is the international triathlon.

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West Article Archive
2007-04 Explore the West, Porta del Sol
2005-08 Lajas: La Parguera, Rincón, San Germán
2005-06 San Sebastián, Moca, Mayagüez
2005-04 Isabela, Aguadilla, Hormigueros
2005-02 Cabo Rojo, Las Marías, Maricao, Mona
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2004-06 Moca, San Sebastian, Rincón, Desecheo, Mayagüez
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