Puerto Rico Guest™English - West April-2004, By: Travel and Sports Staff

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Playa Crash Boat, Aguadilla /Efra

West April-2004, By:Travel and Sports Staff
What's Up West?
Aguadilla, Hormigueros, Isabela

When you take a trip out west to the area known as Porta del Sol, make sure you don’t miss its major attractions. Isabela, Aguadilla, Rincón (with its lighthouse park) and Añasco offer some of the world’s great surfing areas and beaches. Moca, Aguada and Hormigueros are small towns with beautiful handicrafts. San Sebastian, Las Marías and Maricao are fascinating examples of the mountainous towns dedicated to agriculture. In the port city of Mayagüez you can enjoy a first-rate zoo, historic theater and a beautiful city plaza. The Cabo Rojo area (Joyuda, Boquerón, El Combate and Mona) has beautiful beaches, excellent seafood and the Boquerón Wildlife refuge, a paradise for bird-watchers. San Germán has unique architecture; its neighbor Sabana Grande is considered the gateway to the Luis Muñoz Marín Panoramic Route. La Parguera attracts divers and water sports fans. Guánica offers nature trails in the Guánica Dry Forest (a World Biosphere Reserve) and the clear waters of Gilligan’s Island. Throughout the area you will find a good supply of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company’s approved small inns and restaurants—the Paradores and Mesones Gastronómicos.

Some of the most interesting events held in the Porta del Sol during this issue of Puerto Rico Guest™ are shown below, starting in Isabela and going west and south to Aguadilla and Hormigueros.

In addition to its world-class beaches, excellent hiking, and bird-watching, Isabela is known for its Festival del Tejido Puertorriqueño. Celebrated in May at the Estación Experimental Agrícola, the three-day fest showcases Puerto Rican knitting and weaving in all of its manifestations, including, embroidery, crochet, faggoting and mundillo—a hand-woven lace created with various fine thread bobbins. This one-of-a-kind festival—now in its 27th year—features the participation of approximately 70 tejido artisans displaying their elaborate creations. The exquisite dresses, curtains, tablecloths and handkerchiefs they create are mainstays of the Island’s culture.

A short drive from Isabela is Aguadilla, just the spot for a festival to kick off the summer. For the past seven years at the end of May, thousands of people have flocked to Aguadilla’s famous Crash Boat Beach for its highly anticipated summer festival. The daylong event is jam-packed with musical performances by the Island’s top salsa, merengue, reggae and Spanish-rock bands. Beachgoers will have their pick of volleyball, swimming, kayaking, sailing and dance competitions. Food kiosks and eye-catching swimsuits make the Crash Boat Summer Festival a great way to welcome summer.

While in Aguadilla, you might also want to visit the beautiful central plaza or stop by one of the world’s great surfing beaches such as Surfer’s Beach or Wilderness. There are a dozen named beaches in and around Aguadilla, so access to the beach is no problem. There is also a very large and attractive park, Parque de Colón, right on the water. Unique to the Caribbean is the new ice- skating rink, Pista de Patinaje, also on the waterfront just before Parque de Colón.

South of Aguadilla and Mayagüez is Hormigueros, home of the historic Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate. The Basílica is literally the town’s central attraction. An interesting story lies behind the founding of the Basílica. A peasant charged by an enraged bull fell to his knees and asked the saint, Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate, to save his life. At that moment, the bull tripped and his life was saved. The Basílica was founded to celebrate this legend.

In mid-April, the base of the 72-step staircase will be the setting for the Hormigueros’ 130th foundation anniversary as well as the 14th edition of the esteemed Carving Competition. Gifted carvers from around the Island will present their wooden versions of the Virgen de la Monserrate and compete for $1,500 in cash prizes. Carvings must abide by certain rules including height (10-15 in.) and the use of local wood.

The cultural event also features folkloric dance presentations and a variety of musical performances, and concludes with the sixth annual Troubadour Encounter. Carving wooden saints is a tradition that originated during the Island’s colonization in the 16th century. Today they are an artistic expression that identifies the Puerto Rican culture and make a great gift or souvenir of your visit to Hormigueros.

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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
2004-12 Rincón, Sabana Grande, Lajas
2004-10 Añasco, Guánica
2004-08 Lajas, Lajas: La Parguera, San German
2004-06 Moca, San Sebastian, Rincón, Desecheo, Mayagüez
2004-04 Aguadilla, Hormigueros, Isabela
2004-02 Mayagüez, Maricao, Las Marías, Cabo Rojo, Joyuda
All Archives

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