Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The advantage of slender Playa Esperanza is that it is within shouting distance of the
ma-
lecón
and most of Esperanza's bars, restaurants and guesthouses. The downside is that it is
often dirty with litter, seaweed and - even worse - shards of glass. Tread carefully.
Cayo Afuera
SNORKELING BEACH
A popular option is to journey from Playa Esperanza across to the nearby islet of Cayo
Afuera, an uninhabited pinprick of land that is part of the Mosquito Bay Reserve. It's situ-
ated a few hundred meters across the bay; many intrepid locals elect to swim (not advisable
unless you are a strong swimmer and are aware of the local weather conditions), while oth-
ers kayak or take a boat. There is great snorkeling here, both under the ruined pier and on
the ocean side of the islet where a sunken sailboat languishes beneath the surface. Antler
coral, nurse sharks and manatees have also been spotted in the vicinity.
Sun Bay
FAMILY BEACH
(SombéBalneario;
Click here
)
This long half-moon-shaped bay, less than a half mile east
of Esperanza, is the island's balneario (public beach), with all the facilities you have come
to expect in Puerto Rico, including a cafe (open Wednesday through Sunday). Measuring
a mile in length, Sun Bay is rarely busy. Indeed, such is its size that even with 100 people
congregated in its midst it will still appear almost deserted. The beach is also not always
staffed, so you can often drive in without paying the usual $2. If the gate is locked, take
the easy walk east along Playa Esperanza, and then walk across the narrow sandspit to Sun
Bay.
Playas Media Luna & Navio
SECLUDED BEACHES
If it really is isolation you're after, continue east on the dirt road past Sun Bay, and you'll
enter a forest. Go left at the fork in the road. In a couple of hundred yards, you'll stumble
upon
PlayaMediaLuna
, a very protected, shady beach that is excellent for kids. Beyond
this on the same road is
Playa Navio
, where bigger waves are the domain of bodysurfers.
Both of these beaches served as sets in the 1961 film version of the famous William Gold-
ing novel
The Lord of the Flies
.
If you climb the rocks at the west end of Playa Navio, you'll find a path along the shore
that you can follow to find petrified clams and corals dating from 50 million years ago.
Playas La Plata, Caracas, Garcia,
