Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WEST OF PONCE
Yauco & Around
Yauco is Puerto Rico's coffee capital, where well-scrubbed public squares, friendly tourist
office and a hillside of brightly painted houses stand in gleaming contrast to the ragged little
burgs that dot the southwest highway. Hidden up in the hills, the city was founded in 1758
by merchants tired of pillaging pirates. Now famous for bold coffee, yucca plantations and
art deco, colonial and creole architecture, the so-called 'City of Coffee' is a perfect stop for
supplies before heading into the Guánica forest or a day trip from Ponce.
To get here, exit Hwy 2 at Km 359 and go right on Calle 25 de Julio, which runs alongside
Parque Arturo Lluberas
. You'll be in town when you reach the Yauco Garden, a large,
futuristic tree sculpture that might have developed from plans drawn by Dr Seuss. East of
the plaza, in the basement of the brightly painted Alejandro Franceschi Art Museum is the
tourist office ( 787-267-0350; cnr 25 de Julio & Batences; 8am-3pm Mon-Fri,
9am-2pm Sat & Sun)
, with information about precolonial ruins and
trolley tours
, which
run regularly in summer and by appointment in low season.
CHULETA CAN-CAN
On an island that seems crazed for pork, the
chuleta can-can
is king. It's the specialty
at the Restaurante La Guardarraya (
Click here
).
Sights
In sharp contrast to the modern Parque Arturo Lluberas is the city's more traditional
Plaza
de Recreo
, just a few blocks up the hill upon which the massive
Iglesia Católica Nuestra
SeñoradelRosario
casts a long shadow over domino players and strolling lovers. The plaza
hosts a small wireless cafe where you can sample local coffee, and sits just off a bustling
stretch of shops on Calle Comercio, which has a number of jewelers who will make gold
pendants with your name on them.
