Beach along Carr 681 Coastal Drive, Puerto Rico, USA

Scenic Drives - Carr 681 Coastal Drive – (March, 2006)

This 14-mile coastal drive includes secluded beaches, tidal pools, a lighthouse, and an Indian cave (Cuevo del Indio). The drive is located between the small town of Barceloneta and Arecibo on the North Central coast of the island. The beaches are nice and clean, with light brown sand, beautiful rock formations and towering palm trees. One can sit on the beach in solitude and listen to the steady roar of the waves, and occasionally, the booming bass of the latest hits from passing cars.

Friends' house in Rincon, Puerto Rico, USA

Rincón – (March, 2006)

Rincón is the island's top spot for surfers, but has a variety of other adventure activities to offer as well. It has nice palm-lined beaches, diving off Desecheo and Mona islands, and whale watching between the migration periods of January through April.

It's also an escape haven for artists, new age yoga veggie eaters, and gringo retirees from the States far north. Unfortunately, this means lots of construction to accommodate this influx of people. There's also a crazy guy named "Bienvenidos" (Welcome in Spanish), dressed in an Elvis outfit and directing traffic without qualifications to do so.

Playa Tres Palmas in Rincon, Puerto Rico, USA

Café Calypso at the intersection of Carr 413 and Carr 4413 is a popular spot for surfers and surfer-watchers to hang out, especially around sunset when the happy hour people gather to watch the last few surfers try to catch a few more waves before retiring for the evening. Other popular surfing beaches are Tres Palmas and Steps beach (named after a concrete block of steps left on the beach by someone). Further down Carr 4412 is the Punta Higüero Lighthouse Park, the best spot for watching the migrating Humpback whales.

Puerto Rican Tody (Todus mexicanus) in Bosque Estatal de Guanica, Puerto Rico, USA

Puerto Rico State Parks - Bosque Estatal de Guanica – (March, 2006)

This tropical dry forest is on the south-central coast of the island, just west of Ponce. It's a designated United Nation Biosphere Reserve, due to its unique habitat and diversity of plants and birds. Only about 1% of the world's tropical dry forest remains.

Puerto Rican Woodpecker (Melanerpes portoricensis) in Bosque Estatal de Guanica, Puerto Rico, USA

The ranger station is at the end of Carr 334, and it closes at 3:30, sharp. Talk to the "ranger" in the little hut at the entrance, and she will give you a little trail map which is fairly useless because most of the trails in the park are unmarked. The Granados trail, an easy half mile hike, is the only one well marked, and it goes in a loop around the ranger station. Bring a pair of binoculars as there are many birds along the trails.

Orioles Troupial (Icterus icterus) in Bosque Estatal de Guanica, Puerto Rico, USA

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