Diving, La Paguera /Frazier Nivens
West August-2005, By:Travel and Sports Staff
Experience Porta del Sol (the West)
Lajas: La Parguera, Rincón, San Germán
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) 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. Lajas (a major pineapple producer) 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.
Lajas: La Parguera
This small village has some of Puerto Rico’s premier attractions: world-class diving, the nature reserve and a bioluminescent bay. Combining some of the clearest waters and best wall diving, this area is not to be missed by the serious diver. The nearby bioluminescent bay (Bahía La Parguera), like the one in Vieques, is best seen on a moonless night. Any number of boats can take you from the main dock to Bahía La Parguera to watch the dinoflagellates (by the millions) emitting flashes of light that give the water a ghostly glow whenever they are disturbed. If that is not enough, you can go kayaking in the Boquerón Forest mangroves west of town, join in one of the nature tours, try bird-watching, go deep-sea fishing, suit up and snorkel or just hang out at one of the small islands south and east of the village that the locals favor on the weekends. Of course, the local seafood is excellent.
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.
San Germán
Founded in 1510, San Germán is known as "Fundadora de Pueblos" (Founder of Towns). It is the second oldest town in Puerto Rico. San Germán has a low-key ambiance and a significant architectural heritage. The town features an unusual two-plaza layout with a church on the east plaza and another church (the Porta Coeli) on the west plaza. The Porta Coeli Church, founded in 1606, is one of the oldest churches in the western hemisphere.
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