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

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Puerto Rico > Magazine Articles > West

Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge, Rincón /Efra

West June-2004, By:Travel and Sports Staff
Go West
Moca, San Sebastian, Rincón, Desecheo, Mayagüez

When you take a trip out west to the area known as Porta del Sol, make sure you discover its major attractions. Isabela, Aguadilla, Rincón (with its lighthouse park) and Añasco offer some of the world’s great surfing areas and beaches. The small towns of Moca, Aguada and Hormigueros are known for their beautiful handicrafts. San Sebastian, Las Marías and Maricao represent 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 beautiful city plaza. The Cabo Rojo area (Joyuda, Boquerón, El Combate and Mona) entices visitors with its beautiful beaches, excellent seafood and the Boquerón Wildlife refuge, a paradise for bird-watchers. Unique architecture helps to define San German; its neighbor Sabana Grande is considered the gateway to the Luis Muñoz Marín Panoramic Route. La Parguera attracts divers and water sports fans. And 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. For more information, check the directories and visit www.GoToPortaDelSol.com.

Some of the most interesting events held in the Porta del Sol during this issue of Puerto Rico Guest™ are shown below, starting in Moca and San Sebastian and moving west and south to Rincón and Mayagüez.

Moca is the lace capital of Puerto Rico. The traditional mundillo, or bobbin, lace is available year-round in the stores at the town’s square, but the Festival del Mundillo in June is your chance to see artisans working and presenting their products. When you are in town, make sure you visit the important historic structure Palacete Los Moreau, a French provincial-style mansion. On the 110-acre grounds is a sanctuary for endangered birds. At the town’s entrance is the Hacienda Enriqueta, a small museum with colonial artifacts.

San Sebastian celebrates its Hammock Festival at the beginning of July. You can learn how hammocks are handmade by local artisans. Buy one as a colorful souvenir or to enjoy your Puerto Rican “siesta” back home. San Sebastian, in the heart of what is considered the karst region of the Island, has several natural attractions. Visit the Lago Guajataca, a beautiful lake with fishing and picnic facilities and a paddle-boat rental. Close to town you find the waterfall Las Cateratas, which is used for advertising shots due to its height and beauty.

Rincón is generally known for its year-round excellent surfing, occasional whale-watching and nightly gorgeous sunsets. Twenty years ago, Rincón hosted the Surfing World Championship and since then has become a mecca for skilled riders of the waves. The currents in the rugged Mona Passage make surfing in Rincón a year-round sport. In June the athletic city holds the Tríalo Rincoeño, an internationally known athletic competition comprising a 750-m, swim race, a 20-km bicycle race and a 5-km run. The major tourist attraction is the Rincón Lighthouse and Park, a well-kept facility with the restored lighthouse, gift shop and snack bar. You can see the surfers from here. For divers, Desecheo island, out west from Rincón, is a must. Around this island the visibility exceeds 100 feet most of the time. With more than 20 dive sites, Desecheo offers an abundance of opportunities to observe marine flora and fauna.

A progressive town with beautiful parks and colonial Spanish architecture, Mayagüez is the third largest city in Puerto Rico. Founded in 1760 under the name of its patron saint, Our Lady of the Candelaria, this coastal city recalls the indigenous name of its river, the same
river the Taínos called Yagüez. The historic theater near Plaza Colón was also named
after the river.

The birthplace of Eugenio Maria de Hostos, one of the 19th century’s most important educators and social philosophers, Mayagüez boasts active campuses of Puerto Rico’s most prestigious universities, including the University of Puerto Rico and the Catholic University. In addition, Mayagüez offers the well- maintained Dr. Rivero Zoo. This is a fun excursion for children and adults alike.

A good time to visit Mayagüez is during the annual mango Festival at the end of June. You can sample an amazing variety of dishes and drinks made of mango and take some tasty souvenirs home.

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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
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