Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Embark on a DIY cave hike at the lonely
Bosque Estatal de Guajataca
(
Click
here
)
Sink into a decadent fried plantain and pork sandwich at
Platano Loco
in Agua-
dilla (
Click here
)
History
The north coast contains one of the island's largest and oldest Native American ceremonial
sites near Utuado, an archaeological find that provides dramatic proof that a well-organized
Taíno culture thrived on the island before the arrival of the Spanish. Though Arecibo is
the third-oldest city on the island, there is little of historical note remaining on the north
coast outside of a couple of picturesque Spanish-colonial lighthouses. The 20th century saw
a burgeoning of San Juan's suburbs westward into satellite towns such as Vega Alta and
Manatí. At the same time a concerted effort has been made to protect karst country through
tree-planting projects and the formation of half a dozen forest reserves in the 1940s.
Territorial Parks & Reserves
The north coast is dotted with small karst-country parks and reserves, although they're not
nearly as well equipped (or as well trodden) as El Yunque. From east to west, there's the
diminutive 1000-acre Bosque Estatal de Vega and the equally tiny Bosque Estatal de Cam-
balache. Around Arecibo the heavily populated San Juan suburbs give way to larger re-
serves such as the 5000-acre Bosque Estatal de Río Abajo, which has better- maintained
trails and a wider range of facilities, although even this pales in comparison to the Parque
de las Cavernas de Río Camuy, one of Puerto Rico's most oft-visited tourist attractions.
Nestled in the northwest, the Bosque Estatal de Guajataca has caves,
mogotes
(hillocks)
and plenty of signposted trails.
Getting There & Around
Aguadilla has an international airport that is widely used by vacationers heading for the
west coast beaches and scientists keen to study the stars at the Observatorio de Arecibo.
Públicos run between the smaller coastal towns and from San Juan out to the main popu-
lation centers along Hwy 2. Renting a car is probably the most popular option for getting
around. The Isabela region is good for cycling.
