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Country Guide > Caribbean > Puerto Rico | |
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Beyond the Capital The beautiful town of Ponce, on the southern side of the island and connected to the capital by a toll road, is situated near many excellent beaches. It hosts an Indian Ceremonial Park and also has several buildings of interest, including a sugar mill and rum museum. The Museum of Art there contains more than 1000 paintings and 400 sculptures, ranging from ancient classical to contemporary art. Its collection of 19th-century Pre-Raphaelite paintings is among the best in the Americas. The Arroyo to Ponce train stops at Guayama, where the station has been restored as a crafts centre. The Tibes Indian Ceremonial Centre, a short drive from Ponce, is an ancient Indian burial ground. A replica of a Taino Indian village has been built near the small museum, reception area and exhibition hall. The Phosphorescent Bay, near La Parguera in the southwest of the island, is a major attraction. Here, marine life, microscopic in size, lights up when disturbed by fish, boats or any movement. The phenomenon – especially vivid on moonless nights – is rarely found elsewhere. Boat trips are available at night. There are other phosphorescent bays in Vieques and Fajardo. The Camuy Caves, near Arecibo on the north coast, is the third-largest cave system in the world. There are well-paved access roads, a reception area, and electric trains to the entrance of the caves. The Arecibo Observatory is the site of the largest radar/radio telescope in the world. Located in the unusual karst country of Puerto Rico, the 20-acre dish is best seen from a small aeroplane flight between San Juan and Mayagüez. The Caguana Indian Ceremonial Park, south of the Arecibo Observatory, was built by Taino Indians as a site for recreation and worship 800 years ago. There is another Ceremonial Park in Ponce. There are old colonial towns at San Germán and Mayagüez and a Tropical Agricultural Research Station near the Mayagüez division of the University of Puerto Rico, with cuttings of hundreds of tropical plants. Many of the drives through the centre of the island take in spectacular scenery and are to be recommended. The Espíritu Santo is a navigable river that flows from the Luquillo Mountains to the Atlantic, and has 24 passenger launches available for river tours along 8km (5 miles) of the route. Special arrangements can be made for groups (through a tour operator); the boat ride usually takes about two hours. |