Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Parador El Buen Café
HOTEL $$
( 898-1000; Hwy 2 No 381 Km 84; r $95-160; )
Little more than a journey-
breaker on Hwy 2 between San Juan and the west coast, El Buen Café is a clean and effi-
ciently run parador with bright bedspreads and relatively cheerful ambience. The friendly
staff, pool and adjacent cafeteria-style restaurant are the perfect antidote to any suppressed
road rage, though Punta Maracayo, just half a mile up the road, is much nicer. It's 5 miles
west of Arecibo.
TJ Ranch
CABINS $$
( 880-1217;
www.tjranch.com
;
Rte 146; cabins $100; )
A charming stop on
any karst country driving/cycling tour, TJ Ranch is a little-known Eden that harbors three
beautiful cabins surrounded by lush foliage next to Lago Dos Bocas. It's actually a work-
ing coffee plantation and the congenial hosts are known to be formidable cooks who will
concoct all sorts of mini-feasts from the ultimate Puerto Rican cookbook.
El Buen Café
CAFETERIA $
( 898-1000;Hwy2No381Km84;dishes$6-15; 5:30am-10pm)
This no-nonsense
cafeteria-style roadhouse - frequented by day trippers, truckers and retirees - is open
all hours (nearly) and serves cheap but tasty
comida criolla.
It serves a salty
bacalao
(a
salty cod stew) and lots of pork and rice options. Like the food, the service is consistent
throughout the day and the locals love it.
Lighthouse Bay Restaurant
PUERTO RICAN $
( 878-5658;dishes$6-19; lunch&dinner)
Near Arecibo's commercial pier on the
way to the lighthouse, this is a good stop for lunch or dinner when you are in the area, or if
you want to go to the beach or visit the lighthouse and Cueva del Indio. It's $18 for a large
platter of
mariscos
(four types of shellfish) or you can go light with a burger for $7.
Getting There & Away
Arecibo's city center is trapped between Hwy 2 and the Atlantic Ocean - it's a thin strip
of restaurants and strip malls. The main attractions lie about 15 to 20 minutes outside of
town in karst country, just off Hwy 129. It is accessible from San Juan or Aguadilla by the
Hwy 22 expressway, or from Ponce by Hwy 10. Catch a público just east of the plaza to
San Juan ($10, two hours) and to Aguadilla ($8, 1½ hours).
