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

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Puerto Rico > Magazine Articles > West

Rincón Surfing Beaches, Rincón /Frazier Nivens

West December-2004, By:Travel and Sports Staff
Experience Porta Del Sol
Rincón, Sabana Grande, Lajas

When you take a trip out west to the area known as Porta del Sol, make sure you discover its major attractions:The legendary Panadería bakery in Quebradillas. Isabela, Aguadilla, Rincón (with its lighthouse park - see below) 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 (see below). Lajas (a major pineapple producer - see below) includes La Parguera, which 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.

Rincón

Rincón, the town of “Bellos Atardeceres” (beautiful sunsets), is so well known in surfing circles that it is mentioned in the Beach Boys’ tune Surfing Safari. One of the main attractions is the restored Rincón Lighthouse and Park. This park has an eco-friendly gift shop and a snack bar. More importantly, it is set right in the middle of some of the best surfing in the world. You can stand at the park and watch the surfers go at it. Often there are formal contests held on the beach just north of the park (Spanish Wall to Sandy Beach). Walking a short distance to the south, you will find more surfers and seaside snacks. Humpback whales may be seen in the winter from the shore (they come quite close to the lighthouse). The best chance of seeing a whale is from late January through late February, though there is no guarantee and the whale-watching season varies. Divers and snorkelers should consider a trip to Desecheo Island, due east of Rincón. This reserve has some of the most spectacular diving in Puerto Rico. On the southwest corner of Desecheo you will find a small and protected cove with excellent snorkeling and diving. The dive boats often tie up in this cove. Around the island the visibility is excellent, normally exceeding 100 feet. Some of the over 20 dive sites include the dives on the Yellow Reef pinnacle and the reef formation just offshore. You will find coral arches as well as staghorn and brain coral formations. This area is teeming with fish, and once in a while, a turtle wanders through.

Sabana Grande

This is a gateway for the Panoramic Route and two forest reserves: the Maricao and Susúa Forests. The Susúa Forest (off Rt 368) is notable for its mountain bike trail and carbonate formations (see the prior Maricao write-up for information on the Maricao Forest). Founded in 1813, the town itself is known as “Los Petateros” because of the locally grown brittle thatch palm. The palm is used by artists Island-wide to create carpets, basketry and furniture. The climate is ideal, halfway between the dry coast and moist mountains.

Lajas

The Lajas valley is famous for its major local crop, the big juicy-headed pineapple, the “Piña Cabezona.” If you see a pineapple stand, you might want to get some of your own. It is also known as “The Bishop City,” since the former bishop of the Catholic Church in Puerto Rico was born and raised in Lajas.

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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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