Cabo Rojo lighthouse " Beach near lighthouse " Above right is Gilligans Island near Guanica

Although the Guanica Dry Forest is a unique place, visiting it is not so desireable because of the extreme heat. The next stop of interest west of Ponce would be the coast beyond Guanica, then La Parguera ending your day near the Cabo Rojo lighthouse. Don't miss a quick stop at the Porta Coeli Church Museum in the town of San German. A permanent exhibit of religious wooden carvings is on display.

The Cabo Rojo lighthouse and Nature Reserve are located beyond the salt flats at the extreme south western tip of Puerto Rico. The Parador Bahia Salinas is well located and nicely run. Next door Punta Aguila has apartments with 2 bedrooms. A restaurant is located in between. Both are on the water but this is not a good swimming beach. Nearby are lots of great places to swim. Walking is great in the surrounding areas. Cabo Rojo lighthouse is located on the cliffs above the sea and is one of the more scenic lighthouses in the Caribbean. Spectacular views early in the morning, later too.

Boqueron is an interesting nearby town and beach, there are many places to stay and eat here. It can become very crowded, expecially on weekends and summer weekends are impossible.

From the Cabo Rojo area your next destination would be the Rincon Area, if you wish to continue along the coast... You need to drive through Mayaguez to do this. There is a zoo in Mayaguez worth visiting.

Took Road #333 past the town of Guanica and at the turn immediately following the turn into the Copamarina Hotel (great Hotel! about $135.00 more) I turned right and parked in the (guarded!) parking lot. Bought a ticket to the Island on the little ferry. ($4. round trip) Runs everyday except on Mondays they go somewhere else interesting (Ballena Bay). Waiting for the ferry I ate some stuffed potato balls with ground beef inside...I can put my vegetarian diet aside, and tend to do so in Puerto Rico on, perhaps too many, occasions.......Childhood memories of Puerto Rico's delicious foods prevail over 'new' philosophies. How absolutely mouthwatering delicious were those 'rellenos de papas'! Gourmet feast for less than a dollar.