La Casa del Mar Dive Center, Fajardo /Dean
East June-2004, By:Luisa Forrest
Do It All... Go East
Loíza, Río Grande , Fajardo, Ceiba
There is lots going on in the East in June and July, but then there is always lots going on in the East. Here is the short list: Loíza (the great Fiestas Tradicionales de Santiago Apóstol), Canóvanas (the racetrack), Río Grande (fabulous golf courses and El Yunque, the Caribbean National Forest), Luquillo (the best-known beach on the Island, Balneario de Luquillo), Fajardo (day sailing to the cays of Icacos, Palominos and Palominitos), Culebra and Vieques (exquisite beaches), Ceiba (the Festival Playa Machos), Naguabo (the seaside boardwalk), Humacao (a strip of excellent seafood restaurants), Juncos and Las Piedras (local artisans), Yabucoa (Lucía Beach) and Maunabo (the start of the Luis Muñoz Marín Route).
Former slaves from Puerto Rico and other islands settled this region, and the town of Loíza retains much of its African heritage. Musicians pound out the rhythms of bomba y plena, cooks fry bacalaitos and other African-inspired foods, and artisans carve vejigante masks out of coconut husks. These and other traditions come to the fore during the Fiestas Tradicionales de Santiago Apóstol, held in Loíza the end of July . Based on traditions linking the Christian warrior St. James with the African warrior Changó, the festival resembles a carnival, with many revelers dressed as Moors and Christians. African-based music, dance and food are in abundance. When it’s time to cool off, check out Playa Aviones, the town’s excellent beach.
The town of Río Grande lies at the base of El Yunque, the Caribbean National Forest. From the end of June through the beginning of July, Río Grande celebrates Carnaval Ciudad del Yunque, five evenings of carnival-like revelry that includes parades, music and food. July 3 marks the parade of queens and coronation of Río Grande’s queen, and July 4 features the carnival parade, complete with costumed revelers. For a change of pace, visit the José Hernández Poster Museum, which showcases works of various Puerto Rican artists, including paintings by Lorenzo Omar.
Once a small fishing village and sugarcane center, Fajardo has become a modern tourist destination. The Carnaval de Fajardo in July and August is a great time to visit the town. Enjoy an artisan fair and carnival with music, food, arts and crafts. Several marinas make Fajardo the boating capital of the Island. Charters provide daylong snorkeling/sailing adventures to several offshore islets, and the balneario at Seven Seas offers landlubbers a beautiful place to bathe and snorkel. Las Cabezas de San Juan remains in its untouched state as a nature reserve. With prior reservations, visitors can take tours of the grounds, a lighthouse museum, and a mangrove-rimmed lagoon. At night, water sports operators offer kayaking to the lagoon, which glows with bioluminescence.
For a beachside festival, visit the eastern coastal town of Ceiba the end of July, beginning of August . Its Festival Playa Machos features beach sports by day and music by night, with kiosks serving food and refreshments. Ceiba is more regional in character than Fajardo, and it is more closely connected to the Luquillo Mountains that rise behind it. This is a good area to take an off-the-beaten-track outing up Road 191 into the south side of the Caribbean National Forest, followed by a swim at a beach facing Cayo Santiago, where Rhesus monkeys form part of a research colony.
You will also find festivals in Humacao (Festival del Tiburón in July) and Maunabo (Festival del Pueblo in June). Vieques hosts its annual Paso Fino Competition on Father’s Day.
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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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