Welome to our B log,
We have added Puerto Rico Vacation Rental property listings for Culebra and Humacao Puerto Rico. You may view them at:
http://prwest.com/puerto_rico/culebra/index.php and,
http://prwest.com/puerto_rico/humacao/index.php
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PRwest.com is now back in Puerto Rico with a new business plan and a new attitude. We have returned and are now fully focused in the Puerto Rico Vacation Rental and Information Services market with new informational features and benefits for both the online and actual visitor to the island. As part of these efforts we have added a new Puerto Rican cooking recipes section in http://prwest.com/puerto_rico/island-recipes.html. Come take a look and tell us what you think.
New PRwest.com Vacation Rental Feeds are now available courtesy of Rentalo.com.
Eastern Puerto Rico Vacation Rental Feed –> eastFeed
This feed contains vacation rentals for Luquillo, Fajardo, Ceiba, Humacao, Palmas del Mar Resort, Vieques and Culebra.
Western Puerto Rico Vacation Rental Feed –> westFeed
This feed contains Vacation Rentals for Isabela, Aguadilla, Aguada, Rincon, Anasco, Cabo Rojo, and Lajas.
Northern Puerto Rico Vacation Rental Feed –> northFeed
This feed contains Vacation Rentals for Quebradillas, Dorado, San Juan, Old San Juan, Condado, Isla Verde, Ocean Park, Carolina, Loiza, Rio Grande, and Rio Mar Resort.
Visit the feeds, peruse through the rental listings, and select a rental property to reserve for your vacation or corporate stay.
Our Rincon Puerto Rico Vacation Rental listings are now available at http://prwest.com. Simply navigate to the Vacation Rentals tab, or click this link, click the Western Region on the Region menu bar that displays below the header, and select ‘Rincon’ on the pulldown sub-menu.
The list is increasing as new listings come on line. Some visit often. If you would like to add your property, contact us. We no longer manage or handle property rentals however. We encourage propective customers to deal directly with the owners.
Our Online Store for the Puerto Rico Traveler is now available.
We have teamed up with Travel Gear to provide the Puerto Rico Vacation Rental traveler with a starting list of products to consider purchasing before a visit to the island. If you are interested in selling a product or service at this store send us a message and we will gladly accommodate it. The left sidebar of this online store (the one with the rental properties and a few advertisers) will be used to permanently promote a product or service. If you are an online vendor and have a product or service to sell and would like to occupy one of these spots send us a email message.
We have decided on starting with well over 150 travel related products in 10 categories from this particular vendor. Peruse through the list of Categories and tell us what you think, or place an order through Travel Gear’s on-line shopping cart. Other products from other vendors will also soon be on-line.
NOTE: On any of these products keep in mind the security rules at US airports. No sharp or cutting object is allowed in carry-on baggage. If such an object found in found in your carry-on bag, and the TSA folks aren’t kidding, it will be confiscated. It is best to put such items in ‘checked luggage’ if you do not want to lose them at the scanners.
A Puerto Rico Vacation should include an intro to Scuba Diving. The underwater scenery of Puerto Rico is simply fascinating. From its western shores and east to the islands of Culebra and Vieques. You must visit Puerto Rico underwater flora and fauna.
Puerto Rico offers many Scuba Diving and snorkel Adventures for both experienced and novice divers. Desecheo Island, 15 miles west of Puerto Rico offers many diving opportunities; from Reef Diving to Underwater Cave Diving. With 100 ft. visibility, this part of Puerto Rico offers spectacular underwater views of marine life and natural reef formations..
The islands of Mona, Monito and Desecheo are located off Puerto Rico’s western coast. Three world-class destinations to visit on your diving vacation. The Island of Mona is a cavernous Caribbean “Tipui” rising from 22,000 feet underwater to a flat plateau atop 200-foot cliffs. A few white-powder beaches enhance the otherwise dry cacti terrain. Considered by many to be the Galapagos of the Caribbean, Mona stands alone in its wildlife complexity, both above as well as underwater. Large iguanas roam freely while red-footed boobies and whitetailled tropic birds fly overhead.
Underwater, fallen boulders create arches, crevices and tunnels, and vertical walls plummet 90 degrees into the abysmal depths of the Mona passage, the second deepest channel in the world. There are no rivers or runoffs and, apart from the small manned natural resources station and lighthouse, there is no human development. Visibility easily exceeds 150 feet. On the other hand, seas and winds can be higher than normal and the currents strong, but for the experienced diver, these minor inconveniences should not distract from exploring this beautiful side of the Spanish Caribbean.
Monito lies just three miles from Mona. There are no beaches here, and diving is done close to shore beside huge fallen boulders. As in Mona, large schools of pelagics and mid-water fish darken the rays of the sun and during the winter months, humpback whales frequent the area. Sharks are scarce.
Desecheo is the closest of the three to Puerto Rico’s mainland, just 20 miles away. A wildlife preserve, Desecheo has been left to follow its natural course. Undisturbed coral formations as well as a large variety of reef fish and pelagics reward those with a more adventurous spirit willing to make the one-hour boat ride out.
Want to see more underwater pictures? Visit Carlos Croque’s Underwater Picture Page. Carlos is a NAUI certified professional diver with over 10 years of experience diving around Puerto Rico. Carlos and Property Resources will be happy to assist with your diving vacation plans.
For more information and pictures visit the scuba page at
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First in a series of articles on Puerto Rican Style Cooking — Buen Provecho!
Main DishesPuerto Rican cuisine is as eclectic as it is varied. Local food
Typical Puertorican meal
has earned a reputation it most decidedly does not deserve for being hot, fiery and spicy. Folks tend to associate the typical Mexican palate with its hot spicy base, with the Puerto Rican palate. In actuality, although it is prepared with a multiplicity of richly varied spices and condiments, Puerto Ricans tend to season their food more subtly than one might imagine.
The aroma that wafts from kitchens throughout Puerto Rico comes from adobo and sofrito, blends of herb’s and spices that give many native foods their distinctive taste and color. Adobo, made from crushing together peppercorns, oregano, garlic, salt, olive oil, and lime juice or vinegar, is rubbed into meats before they are roasted.
Sofrito is an aromatic and well seasoned sauce made from pureed tomatoes, onions, garlic, sweet red chili peppers, cilantro, and colored with achiote (annato seeds), which imparts the bright yellow color to the islands rice, soups, and stews.
Native Caribbean flavors are evident in the majority of Puerto Rican recipes. The most popular dinner dishes are stewed meats, rice and beans, and an enormous selection of fritters, and desserts made from local fruits and vegetables.
Platanos (plantain bananas), seem to be the most popular side dish served on the island. Plantains are a variety of banana that cannot be eaten raw. They are harvested while green and then baked, fried, or boiled.
Desserts and Drinks
Flan - A thick/almost cheesecake-like custard
traditional would be a portion of guava jelly or paste with white locally made cheese. Chefs take the bountiful harvest of Puerto Rican fruits and create any number of desserts. The pumpkin, which grows in abundance on Puerto Rico, is used not only to flavor soups and as a side vegetable, but also to make the succulent base for a traditional Puerto Rican cake. Coconut is probably the most common dessert ingredient. Many delectable desserts are made with its milk, along with a classic preparation of coconut bread pudding.
Finish your meal with strong, black, aromatic Puerto Rican Coffee (café); served espresso black or generously served with hot milk and sugar. Rum (Rón) is the national drink, and you can buy it in almost any shade. Each bartender worthy of the profession in Puerto Rico likes to concoct his or her favorite Rum libation.
Come experience Puerto Rican dining at its best, visit Puerto Rico!
Additional information on various recipes and culinary delights from Puerto Rico can be found by visiting Carmen Pilar Santos de Curran’s web site called the ‘Rican Chef’ pages at: http://www.ricanrecipes.com/
For lodging information, send us a message.
Also please visit our Web Site for a list of Vacation Rental Properties.
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Land and Resources
Puerto Rico is one of the larger islands of the West Indies, and the commonwealth also includes several small islands, such as Desecheo, Mona and Monito Islands to West (not shown on the map below); and Culebra, and Vieques to the East. The islands of Desecheo, Mona and Monito, are unhabited and are officially declared wildlife sactuaries. Puerto Rico is roughly rectangular in shape; its greatest east to west distance is about 180 km (about 110 mi), and its extreme north to south distance is about 65 km (about 40 mi). The highest point is 1338 m (4389 ft), atop Cerro de Punta. Puerto Rico has an area of 9104 sq km (3515 sq mi). Its coastline measures some 501 km (some 311 mi).
Physical Geography
Puerto Rico is mountainous. The Central Mountains (Cordillera Central) form an east to west backbone that extends almost the entire length of the island. The average elevation of these mountains, which include the Cordillera Central and the Sierra de Luquillo, is about 915 m (about 3000 ft). Although the mountains and adjacent foothills cover most of Puerto Rico, on the northern side of the island lies a coastal plain up to about 19 km (about 12 mi) wide, and a narrower coastal plain up to about 13 km (about 8 mi) wide extends along the southern coast. For most of its length the mountain system is nearer the southern coast than the northern coast, and the slopes are generally steeper on the southern side. At the eastern end of the island, however, the mountains curve toward the northeastern corner.
Water Resources
Puerto Rico has many relatively short rivers and streams. Some of the rivers are dammed for hydroelectric power and thus have small lakes along their courses. One such body of water is Lago de Yauco, on the Yauco River. The longest river is the Grande de Arecibo, which flows to the northern coast. Other rivers include the Grande de Añasco, Bayamón, Cibuco, Culebrinas, and La Plata. None of the rivers is navigable by large vessels.”
Mineral Resources
Puerto Rico’s mineral deposits include limestone, glass sand, clay, copper, cobalt, chromium, nickel, iron ore, and peat. Great deposits of copper are in the central region near Adjuntas and Utuado.”11
If you are interested in knowing more about Puerto Rico, take a few minutes to look through our Book Store at http://prwest.com/prwTBooks.html. Here you you will find a lot more information on the history, culture, and other topics of interest about Puerto Rico for the vacationer, or the researcher.
We also recommend a visit to some great work by Professor Peter Johnson of the Illinois Institute of Technology. Take some time to visit his Western Puerto Rico tour pages at Northwest PR Tour and Southwest PR Tour, they also contain some great road maps!. Also visit the web pages created by a very proud Puerto Rican, and Master Navigator, Captain Jorge Gonzalez.
Want to see a real road map of Western Puerto Rico? Check out our scanned map sections of Western Puerto Rico. This road map is copyrighted by ‘The H.M. Gousha Co.’ whose permission was sought to duplicate this section of their map on our web site.
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[Span., (= (rich port], officially Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, island (1994 pop. 3,802,000), 3,425 sq mi (8,871 sq km), West Indies, c.1,000 m (1,610 km) SE of Miami. It is a self-governing entity in association with the U.S. The capital is SAN JUAN; other urban centers include BAYAMóN, PONCE (second largest city), Carolina, and Caguas. Its west coast is dominated by the city of MAYAGüEZ (third largest city). Christopher Columbus’ first landing in 1493 occurred at the shores of the island’s northwestern coast.
Easternmost of the Greater Antilles, it is bounded by the Atlantic (N), the Caribbean (S), the Dominican Republic (W), and the Virgin Islands (E). Puerto Rico is crossed by mountain ranges, notably the Cordillera Central, which rises to 4,389 ft (1,388 m). The climate is tropical. Sugarcane was long the chief agricultural product, but livestock and dairy production have surpassed it in importance. Coffee, tobacco, and fruits are other leading crops. The population, however, depends chiefly on industrial employment; the manufacture of machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronic equipment, and plastics, as well as oil refining, are important. Tourism is also a major source of revenue.
Puerto Ricans share the rights and duties of U.S. citizens, except that they do not pay federal income taxes and do not vote in national elections (unless living on the mainland). The Puerto Ricans are descended from Spanish colonists, with admixed aboriginal native and African strains. Spanish and English are the official languages, but Spanish is predominant.
Puerto Rico (History Brief)
When COLUMBUS arrived in 1493, Arawaks lived on Puerto Rico, which they called Boriquén or Borinquén. PONCE DE LEóN, the island’s first governor, named the island after St. John the Baptist (San Juan) and began the conquest in 1508. Sugar and coffee plantation culture was introduced shortly thereafter. African slaves were later brought in to replace the annihilated Arawaks as workers in a growing sugar and coffee plantation culture. The strategic northern port of the island, called Rich Port (Puerto Rico), was later renamed to San Juan. The island itself was renamed Puerto Rico, taking on the name of the original northern port. San Juan later became the island’s capitol city. It was fortified over a 400 year time-span against continued attacks from Dutch, French, and British naval forces.
In the 19th century (400 years later), popular unrest led finally to the Spanish Crown granting some autonomy to the island in the late 1800’s. After the SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR of 1898, Puerto Rico was ceded to the U.S., which quickly set up an administration of the territory under an American governor. Meanwhile an independence movement grew. In 1917 Puerto Ricans were granted U.S. citizenship. As U.S. holdings in the one-crop sugar economy increased, large corporations encroached on land that had been used to grow subsistence food, and the subsequent economic distress was not relieved until World War II.
After the war, Operation Bootstrap, encouraging American industrial investment with tax incentives, began to change the nature of the Puertorican economy. The first Puertorican governor (Luis Muñoz Marin) is elected in 1948 by popular vote. In 1952 the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico with it’s own constitution (modeled after the US Constitution) is proclaimed. Nationalist agitation continued, however. By the 1960s statehood advocates and supporters of continued commonwealth status held power alternately, while advocates of independence eschewed the electoral process. In 1992 Pedro Rosello, a statehood advocate, was elected governor, but voters chose commonwealth status by a narrow margin in a 1993 referendum.
The most recent governor (2004 – 2008) was the Hon. Anibal Acevedo Vilá of the Popular Democratic Party (PDP – Partido Popular Democratioc, which favors the Status Quo) who governed Puerto Rico until recently for only a four year term, and who was recently replaced as governor by popular election by the Hon. Luis Furtuño of the New Progressive Party (PNP – Partido Nuevo Progresista, which favors statehood for Puerto Rico). Puerto Rico’s newest Governor is now the Hon. Luis Fortuño of the PNP.
Ref: Puerto Rico (History) (Encyclopedia.com)
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Geography
Puerto Rico is located ~1000 miles Southeast of Miami Florida. It is situated in the Eastern Caribbean, with the Atlantic Ocean to the North and East; and the Caribbean Sea to the South and West. It is ~110 miles in length East-to-West, and ~35 miles wide North-to-South. Puerto Rico is a beautiful island, with a dramatic combination of tropical climates due to its geographic location and varied terrain. Christopher Columbus’ first landing in 1493 was in Western Puerto Rico, and for the next 400 years Spain claimed it as a colony. During that time, Spain transferred many of it customs, traditions, and architecture to the island, making it unique in the Caribbean.
Brief History
Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States after the Spanish-American war of 1898. Its inhabitants were made American citizens in 1917, and the island was made a US Commonwealth in 1952 after a popular vote. This gave the island the autonomy to pursue its destiny, while Puerto Ricans remain U.S. Citizens. Puerto Rico enjoys an enviable position in the Caribbean as having the best of both worlds. An association with a great protector nation, and the freedom to continue to pursue its Spanish traditions and culture. No visa or passport is required for mainlanders to visit the island. Currency is in U.S. dollars.
Politics
There is an on-going debate about the status of Puerto Rico and its relationship with the United States. Puerto Rican voters recently decided to continue the existing relationship as a commonwealth particularly due to concerns about preserving Puerto Rico’s cultural identity without affecting the free association as a commonwealth. For more information on this issue please refer to an excellent article on the subject by Matt Rosenberg in the About.com web page
NOTICE: Please visit our new Scuba Diving, Horseback Riding, and Other Sports pages. They provide information on scuba diving, horseback riding, and other sporting adventures in Puerto Rico.
Western Tour
We start our tour south of the town of Arecibo, well known for having as its neighbor to the south, the Arecibo Observatory, the world’s largest radiotelescope. The Camuy Caves are a spectacular sight to experience. They are located within Puerto Rico’s Karst region. Visitors ride a trolley that spirals down a 400 ft. sinkhole to a massive cave system of towering 170ft ceilings with giant crystalline stalactites and stalagmites. Visitors can see the Camuy River thundering 200 feet below, flowing from one cave to the next.
Our tour continues at the juncture of Toll Road 22 and Carr. 2 west of the town of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. As soon as you pass through the last toll booth, you are rewarded with a spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean. The town of Hatillo is just a few kilometers away. It is very tempting to pull to the side of the road and admire the view. Be careful and pull far to the right if you decide to stop. There is quite a bit of traffic activity here.
Continuing past Puerto Rico’s municipalities of Hatillo and Camuy (subjects of future trip stops), we stay on Carr. 2 west toward Quebradillas. Quebradillas, Puerto Rico is a scenic seaside town founded in 1806. It is known for its many small streams and for the fantastic ocean views. This picture was taken on the way to Isabela just west of town on Carr. #2. The Parador El Guajataca, is located nearby. Quebradillas is also known for having Puerto Rico’s longest tunnel, ‘The Black Tunnel’. The surf is quite active in this part of Puerto Rico, but there are many quiet and safe natural pools in the area formed by the volcanic rock; perfect for snorkeling and just plain relaxing. Watching the sea pelicans hunt and dive for food is also very entertaining.
Located between Isabela and Aguadilla is one of the most spectacular places in Puerto Rico. Jobos beach is a marked contrast with the rest of the island, and with itself. It is an awesome sight to behold. Careful when walking on the ancient lava flow to visit ‘Jacinto’s Well’ . The constantly pounding surf is nearby a very peaceful and placid family beach area just a few steps away. A must see if you come to visit. Shacks beach is also nearby, offering surf and snorkeling for the visitor. A nearby horse stable offers riding tours so you can experience this area on horseback. A stay at Villa Montana, Villas del Mar Hau, or at Villa Tropical is highly recommended if you wish to tour and visit the area.
The municipality of Aguadilla is located at the extreme Northwest tip of the island. It is famous for Golfing, Scuba Diving, and one of the most pristine beaches in all of the Caribbean. Puerto Rico’s Crashboat beach is famous for it’s crystal clear waters and very colorful fish. Due to the steady flow of the currents, the waters surrounding this beach maintain an almost ‘glass like’ appearance. Walking to the end of the docks you see pictured and looking straight down into the water is a marvelous sight to behold. A stay at Hotel Cielo Mar would allow you to take in the breathtaking sights west toward Desecheo Island.
Traveling South, located just West of the town of Rincón, at waters edge, is ‘El Faro’; Spanish for ‘The Lighthouse’. This is a very popular tourist attraction in Puerto Rico. This lighthouse, built by the Spaniards in the late 1800’s, serviced shipping between the island of Mona and NorthWestern Puerto Rico. And it still does. Because of its beautiful location, and the warm winds that flow into this area, it remains a sight to visit and admire. Many Americans have made this portion of Puerto Rico their home. There are many restaurants and attractions to visit. Parador Villa Antonio, Villa Cofresi Hotel and Restaurant, The Lazy Parrot, and The LemonTree are nice places to stay while visiting Rincón Puerto Rico.
The municipality of Añasco is the next place on our tour. The town lies on the other side of Carr# 2 in our journey south. It is located East along Carr#402. The government of Puerto Rico built one of the largest ‘Balnearios’ (Public Beaches) in the island on the shores of this municipality. The beach at ‘Tres Hermanos’ is one of the most beautiful and well kept beaches in the island with picnic tables and hammock setups throughout. It costs $1.00 US per day to park your vehicle at a large and convenient parking lot. To get to the beach you have to walk through a large and well kept grove of Palm Trees, but the trek is rewarded when you come to a large a beautiful open beach.
Añasco is also a popular fishing spot. Local fishermen catch various types of fish for sale at local restaurants. These pictures were taken at a local fishing business that caters to the tourist trade. Some of the catch is prepared and cooked right on the premises for visitors to sample. The food is wholesome and delicious. Try some!! There is nothing like the taste and flavor of fresh well cooked fish.
Traveling further South from the town of Rincón along highway 2, after the city of Añasco is the third largest city of Puerto Rico. The city of Mayagüez clings to its Spanish traditions. Yet it is a modern city with parks, museum, zoo, theaters, baseball stadium, a University Campus, Shopping Malls, and many other attractions. It has a strong, vibrant, and diverse economy. The city center, or ‘Plaza’, is one of the most popular in Puerto Rico. Click on the thumbnail to see a panoramic view of the city.
East of the city of Mayagüez are one of the most scenic mountains in Puerto Rico. A drive through these green mountains, heading to the town of ‘Las Marias’, is a ‘must do’ for the vacationer. Care must be taken however. The roads are narrow and windy. Take a video camera along, stop every once and while, and capture the beauty. The people that live in these hills are very friendly and always ready to help. Knowledge of Spanish is necessary in order to meet and speak with them however.
Continuing south along the coast we enter the municipality of Cabo Rojo. Along the road are gorgeous shoreline stops that invite you to the water. This picture was taken at ‘Playa Buye’ located along route 307. The waters are very warm and placid at this point, perfect for families with young children, or for people seeking to ‘get away from it all’. Excellent places to stay in this area are Parador Joyuda Beach, Parador Perichi’s, and The Highway Inn.
This little fellow, or lady …we couldn’t tell…, and cousins all over the island, are what’s making all the racket at night. At nightfall these little creatures wake up and start singing the every familiar ‘coquí… coquí’ song all through the night and throughout the island. It is the island’s official mascot. Their colors vary from red, to striped, to green, to yellow. But their song remains the same. It is a soothing and familiar sound to fall asleep at night with. The coquí frog is native only to Puerto Rico.
Located in the Puerto Rico Municipality of Lajas, ‘La Parguera’ is a vibrant fishing area, with many restaurants specializing in area seafood. This area is also home to a unique lagoon that is home to millions of tiny phosphorescent sea creatures. At night, these creatures glow if the water is agitated in any way. Plan on spending a few days at Andino’s Guest House to really enjoy this area.
Continuing East along Carr #2 we enter the Municipality of Guanica. Guanica is home to the ‘Guanica Dry Forest Reserve’. This forest is one of the finest examples of Puerto Rico’s variations in climate. The portion of the forest that borders the coastline is an interesting study in contrasts, lovely caribbean beaches and mangroves, surrounded by dessertlike plants with rubbery leaves and prickly flowers. Mary Lee’s by the Sea is an excellent place to stay while visiting this area.
This completes the tour of Western Puerto Rico, for now. Additional descriptions and photographs (trip stops) will be added in a periodic basis.
Photos of the tour will be uploaded at a later date. If you would like to see the photos of the tour visit the PRwest web site at http://prwest.com and link on the western tour link.
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To arrange your own custom tour of Puerto Rico… contact US
We will assist with lodging and transportation to our beautiful West Coast.
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If you are interested in knowing more about Puerto Rico, take a few minutes to look through our Book Store. Here you you will find a lot more information on the history, culture, and other topics of interest about Puerto Rico for the vacationer, or the researcher. Magaly Rivera has created and maintains an excellent web site dedicated to Puerto Rico that is worth visiting. Visit her web site at http://welcome.topuertorico.org/index.shtml.
Want to see a real road map of Western Puerto Rico? Check out our scanned map sections of Western Puerto Rico. This road map is copyrighted by ‘The H.M. Gousha Co.’ whose permission was sought to duplicate this section of their map on our web site.