Central Mountains - Puerto Rico - page 425

This is not, however, a fairy-tale village of architectural heirlooms. Hurricanes and
fires have ravaged Barranquitas several times (the name translates to 'Place of Little Mud
Slides'), and the oldest structures, such as the church, date only from the early 20th century.
Barranquitas' charm lies in its narrow streets, tightly packed with shops and houses, which
fall away into deep valleys on three sides of the plaza. Indeed, the view as you descend
the mountain road into town and the afternoon sun sets the church tower ablaze above the
dense architectural jumble of the central neighborhood, is truly memorable.
TORO VERDE NATURE ADVENTURE PARK
You're soaring between peaks of central mountains, arms out in front of you like Su-
perman, hundreds of feet over the tree tops. This is no dream; a flight on 'La Bestia,'
the 4700-foot long zip line at Toro Verde Nature Adventure Park gives thrill-seekers
the rare chance to fly like a bird. It's over in two minutes, but makes a memorable
rush, since 'The Beast' is among the longest zip lines in the world. The new adven-
ture park also hosts the only pro-designed single-track mountain biking on the island.
Sights & Activities
Plaza de Recreo de Barranquitas SQUARE
Barranquita's central plaza is laced with wrought-iron railings, and guarded by the Par-
roquia de San Antonio de Padua , a small church first constructed in 1804. The original
church was destroyed by two catastrophic hurricanes (the first of which wiped out the
whole town), but was rebuilt in 1933 in a quaint postcolonial style. The church was recently
renovated and now gleams amid the surrounding mountain greenery. The centerpiece of the
plaza is a decorative wrought-iron gazebo adorned with distinctive art nouveau flourishes
and surrounded by four uniquely structured classical fountains. The 19th-century alcaldía
(town hall) was recently remodeled as well.
Casa Museo Luis Muñoz Rivera MUSEUM