Cays: Icacos, Diablo, Palominos, Palominitos, Fajardo /Dean
East April-2004, By:Ian Malinow Maceo
Do It All ... Go East
El Yunque, Vieques, Humacao, Canóvanas
Whether you are eager to swim in azure waters, take a hike, attend a local food and arts festival, go scuba diving or play golf at a luxurious resort, the eastern part of Puerto Rico’s wide array of recreational and cultural activities makes it a top tourist destination.
Of particular note in the East are the secluded, beautiful beaches on the islands of Culebra and Vieques, as well as the cays of Icacos, Palominos and Lobos (reached by sailing trips from Fajardo), Luquillo with its famous beach and the first-class golf courses of Río Grande are major draws.
El Yunque (also in Río Grande) is the only tropical rain forest within the U.S. National Forest System. As one of the most-visited tourist attractions on the Island, El Yunque is perfect for either a nature-adventure trip or a family outing. Towns off the beaten path include Loíza, with its African heritage; Ceiba, nestled up against the southern border of El Yunque; Naguabo, featuring a seaside boardwalk; Humacao, which offers a strip of excellent seafood restaurants; Juncos and Las Piedras (both famous for their local artisans); and Yabucoa and Maunabo (at the start of the Luis Muñoz Marín Route). There are three major cultural and musical festivals to explore in April and May.
First is the Festival Cultural Viequesense, which also gives you a good excuse to visit this picturesque island, about an hour away from Fajardo via ferry.Even if you come for the
festival, a trip to Vieques is not complete without taking a midnight kayak or electric boat trip through Puerto Mosquito Bay (one of the shiniest bioluminescent bays in the world in which you can actually swim) and sun bathing at Sun Bay public beach or the more secluded Media Luna. Another attraction worth visiting in Vieques is the “Fortin Conde de Mirasol,” home to the Vieques Archives and History Museum.
Celebrating its 27th year, the annual “Festival Cultural Viequesense” is a town gathering featuring artworks by native painters, sculptors and artisans as well as numerous art workshops offered throughout the three-day fete. It also boasts folk dance competitions and activities for children. A spicy roster of musical performances accompanies the festival including shows by salsa, bomba, plena and folk music artists.
Down the coast from the ferry to Vieques (in Fajardo) is Humacao, which celebrates the Festival Ambiental at the end of April. The focus of this festival is environmental protection along with the preservation of historic musical forms such as bomba and plena. You will find plenty of music and food. While in town, stop by the Museo Casa Roig. Designed in 1920 by the Czech architect Antonin Nechodoma, the museum is a work of art in and of itself. It might also surprise you to know that there is an astronomical observatory (see the directory for detail). If you are a golfer, check out the golf courses at Palmas del Mar.
Closer in to San Juan and just days after the Vieques festival, another exciting event takes place in the eastern town of Canóvanas. The “Festival del Maiz” in April pays tribute to corn, the local king of crops. Dozens of food kiosks provide visitors with the chance to taste corn in all its forms from corn bread to corn ice cream to corn cookies to the traditional corn fritters or sorullitos de maiz.The municipality presents visitors with a one-of-a-kind cookbook filled with recipes to guide you through the how-to of preparing all kinds of corn delicacies.
Canóvanas is also known as the City of the Races, for it is home to the Island’s only racetrack— Hipódromo El Comandante—which, if you’re feeling lucky, could be a good place to stop on your way back to San Juan.
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East Article Archive
2007-04 Expore the East
2007-02 Driving to Fajardo
2005-08 Las Piedras, Maunabo, Vieques
2005-06 Loíza, Río Grande, Ceiba
2005-04 Luquillo, Fajardo, Vieques
2005-02 Culebra, Naguabo, Río Grande
2004-12 Canóvanas, Fajardo, Humacao
2004-10 Juncos, Luquillo, Naguabo
2004-08 Las Piedras, Maunabo, Yabucoa
2004-06 Loíza, Río Grande , Fajardo, Ceiba
2004-04 El Yunque, Vieques, Humacao, Canóvanas
2004-02 Fajardo, Flamenco Beach, Culebra, Icacos, Palomino, Palominitos, Diablo, International Regatta, Nagu
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 EAST - Sponsors & Marketplace
Accommodations
Culebra
Mamacitas Guest House 787-550-9071
Vieques
Inn on the Blue Horizon 787-741-3318
Diving & Snorkeling
Culebra
Casa del Mar PADI 5 Stars Dive Center 787-860-3483
Fajardo
Casa del Mar PADI 5 Stars Dive Center 787-860-3483
Pure Adventure 787-314-4347
Vieques
Casa del Mar PADI 5 Stars Dive Center 787-860-3483
Fishing
Fajardo
Castillo Tours, Fishing & Watersports 787-791-6195
Traveler Catamaran / Fajardo Tours 787-863-2821
Nature/Adventure
Culebra
Pure Adventure 787-314-4347
Fajardo
Ecoquest 787-616-7543
Pure Adventure 787-314-4347
Humacao
Pure Adventure 787-314-4347
Naguabo
Acampa Nature Adventures 787-706-0695
Río Grande
Acampa Nature Adventures 787-706-0695
Vieques
Pure Adventure 787-314-4347
Restaurants & Clubs
Vieques
Carambola 787-741-3318
Sailing & Watersports
Culebra
Casa del Mar Luxury Charters 787-860-3483
East Island Excursions 877-937-4386
Island Flyer 787-860-3434
Fajardo
Casa del Mar Luxury Charters 787-860-3483
Castillo Tours & Watersports 787-791-6195
East Island Excursions 877-937-4386
Island Flyer 787-860-3434
Traveler Catamaran / Fajardo Tours 787-863-2821
Luquillo
Castillo Tours & Watersports 787-791-6195
Vieques
Casa del Mar Luxury Charters 787-860-3483
East Island Excursions 877-937-4386
Island Flyer 787-860-3434
Sightseeing
Fajardo
Castillo Tours & Travel Services 787-791-6195
Luquillo
Castillo Tours & Travel Services 787-791-6195
Río Grande
Castillo Tours & Travel Services 787-791-6195
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