Guánica.
This municipality is located on the southeast of Puerto Rico. It has an area of 37 square miles and a population of 21,888 inhabitants. The name is of indigenous origin and it means “Place of Waters”. It is located next to Punta Ballena, where you can see the keys of Caña Gorda, Bahía de Guánica, Punta Brea, Jorobado and El Obispo; between these last two you can find Terremoto and Don Luis Key.
Guánica is one of the main tourism hotspots of Puerto Rico, where thousands of people come every year to enjoy the waters, forests and beautiful beaches. In addition to all of the places of interest, Guánica also has many facilities for tourist to visit and get comfortable.
Image courtesy of Fernando Baez Portalatin at Flickr.com
Dry Forest
Guánica’s dry forest is one of the most popular spots to visit. This forest is unique in the world due to its diversity of birds, animals and plants. There is a 4,000-acre bay that divides the forests in half
The forest is located in the southwest of the island and in order to get here, once must commission transportation or take a bus from San German or Ponce. Upon reaching the forest, one must continue by foot through paths and trails.
Guánica’s forest is considered a natural reserve and it was designated as such in 1919. It was also named a Man and the Biosphere site by the UNESCO in 1981. It is called a dry forest because it doesn’t have a lot of precipitation and its trees shed foliage during the dry season. The weather here averages 100 degree Fahrenheit when fully exposed to the sun.
The biodiversity is ample. More than 550 species of plants have been found here, 180 of them are native to this region. The animals here are respected and protected because they are very important to the locals. Birds, land and sea animals are abundant here and grace the land with their beautiful colors.
Surfing, fishing and kayaking are popular activities in this park.
Image courtesy of allison_dc at Flickr.com
Caña Gorda
This beach is managed by the National Parks of Puerto Rico. It’s located in highway #333 inside Guánica’s Dry Forest. It has many accommodations for tourists like bathrooms, food stands, parking, sports courts, a store for beach articles and more. This is a perfect spot to spend a day under the sun visiting beautiful beaches. Hours of operation are from Wednesdays to Sundays and holidays from 08:30 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.
Playa Rosada
Located in the Parguera Natural Reserve. It is known for being a large naturally created pool. Its waters are beautiful and calm with tones between green and blue that leave all visitors in awe. The pool is about 4 feet deep, depending on the tide, and is surrounded by a wooden frame that gives it shape. Visiting the pool means is comfortable for tourist because is very easy to get there, unload and enjoy the waters. It has easy parking, showers, BBQ grills, chairs available and tables for eating. Hours of operations are Tuesday to Sundays and holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and it doesn’t open on Mondays.
Guánica’s Art and History Museum “Don Pedro Juan Vargas Mercado”
Located in 25 de Julio Street. It used to be an old house that did the part of administrative headquarters of the municipal government and it was built in 1921. It was restored and turned into an art museum in 2006. This place safely stores all documents and photographs that gather the story of the colonization of Puerto Rico. It houses many local and international pieces of art. The hours of operation are Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; on Thursdays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and on Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Mondays and Tuesdays is not open to the public
Playa Santa
One of the most visited beaches in Puerto Rico due to its easy access and deep blue waters. It has an extensive coast and you can find all kinds of food and shopping right at the beach. The sand is white and the water is crystal clear. You can find many visitors here any day of the week.
Copamarina Beach Resort
If you want to spend your days in Guánica in style, look no further than the Copamarina Beach Resort. The location is perfect for those who want to get away and discover the beautiful landscape of the south of the island. The rooms are large and extremely comfortable and the amenities of the resort including its private beach will make you want to stay and enjoy every minute of it.
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