Cordillera central puerto rico: Visit Puerto Rico’s Lesser-Known Gem: Cordillera Central Mountains

10 Things to do in Cordillera Central Puerto Rico

When you’re planning your next vacation to Puerto Rico, don’t forget to visit the Cordillera Central Puerto Rico, aka central mountain region of Puerto Rico. There is lots to do and many beautiful places to see, some even more beautiful that the blue waters of Puerto Rico’s beaches.  Please be sure to check in advance, as information (phones, hours, etc.) are subject to change.

 

1.   Rio Abajo Forest: Rd. 621, Utuado

Open Tuesday – Sunday; 787-724-3724

This massive forest covers more than 5000 acres and features limestone caves, underground rivers, beautiful forests and an abundance of wildlife. There are 70 walking trails throughout the forest and lots to see.

 

2.   Dos Bocas Lake: Rd. 123, Km 68, Utuado

From the Dos Bocas Pier you can take a free boat ride across the man-made lake to one of several lakeside Creole restaurants that are open on weekends.
Boats run daily until 5pm.

 

3.   Caguas Botanical Garden: Located between Caguas and Aguas Buenas.
Showcases tropical plants as well as art work, a lake and a replica of a farm.
Open Thursday – Sunday; 787-653-8223

 

4.   La Ruta Panoramica: This panoramic route through the center of Puerto Rico is a maze of some 266km of roads that run east to west (or west to east) from Maunabo to Mayaguez. The central region has some of the most spectacular and highest sections of the route. If you plan on driving the full route, give yourself a few days to do this as there are plenty of places to stop along the route. If you only have a day; then just check out a section close to where you are staying.

 

5.   Casa Canales Museum: Rd 144, Km 9.3, Jayuya
It was at this house where a short, but proud, freedom uprising took place in 1950. Today, it is an interesting museum that depicts the Canales family life, work and political beliefs.
Open daily; 787-828-4618

 

6.    La Piedra Escrita: Rd. 144, Km 2.3, Jayuya

Here you will see Taino Indian petroglyphs

Open daily; 787-828-4618

 

7.   Cemi Museum: Rd. 144, Km 9.3, Jayuya
According to Taino tradition, a cemi is a god, spirit or ancestor. It is also the name given to the religious symbol that is the physical representation of a god. This museum showcases many different Taino artifacts.

Open daily; 787-828-4618

 

8.   Lago Caonillas: Rd 140 off Rd. 111, Utuado

Tranquil Lake located east of Utuado, worth visiting for the spectacular view.

 

9.   Caguana Indian Ceremonial Park: Rd. 111, Km 12.3, Utuado

The Taino Indians built this settlement around 1200 AD. Today the park showcases ceremonial plazas, stone petroglyphs and has small museum.

Open Daily; 787-894-7325

 

10. Toro Negro Forest: Rd. 143, Jayuya
Just south of Joyuya, the forest features trails, mountain pools and Puerto Rico’s highest peak.
Facilities open Tuesday – Sunday; 787-724-3724

 

This article was written by Captain Tim and the Crew of Caribbean Trading Company.

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Captain Tim

Captain Tim is the founder of Caribbean Trading Company in Puerto Rico. Many years ago Captain Tim was a normal everyday guy who decided to do what so many people only dream about. He moved to the Caribbean. Traveling throughout the islands, he has the joy of sharing this lifestyle and its flavors with the world.

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Fodor’s Puerto Rico

Whether you want to stroll the atmospheric streets of Old San Juan, lounge on the island’s…

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There’s more to Puerto Rico than beautiful beaches, as anyone who lives on the island will tell you. Locals escape the heat by heading to the Cordillera Central, an incredibly lush mountain range that runs most of the length of the island. Towering trees lean over the narrow roadways that crisscross the region. In the shade below, impatiens in shades of pink and purple bloom in profusion.

Agriculture is very important to the economy of the Cordillera Central. Bananas, pineapples, and plantains are grown throughout the region. Coffee was once a dominant crop along the hillsides near Utuado, and it has enjoyed a resurgence of late. You can now visit coffee plantations and a coffee museum; time your visit right, and you might even catch one of the island’s many coffee festivals. A f… Read More

There’s more to Puerto Rico than beautiful beaches, as anyone who lives on the island will tell you. Locals escape the heat by heading to the Cordillera Central, an incredibly lush mountain range that runs most of the length of the island. Towering trees lean over the narrow roadways that crisscross the region. In the shade below, impatiens in shades of pink and purple bloom in profusion.

Agriculture is very important to the economy of the Cordillera Central. Bananas, pineapples, and plantains are grown throughout the region. Coffee was once a dominant crop along the hillsides near Utuado, and it has enjoyed a resurgence of late. You can now visit coffee plantations and a coffee museum; time your visit right, and you might even catch one of the island’s many coffee festivals. A few of the old plantation homes have become quaint country inns, all of them stocked with plenty of blankets for cool evenings, when temperatures—especially in higher elevations—can drop into the 40s.

In the east you’ll find a number of attractive colonial towns, such as Aibonito. Farther west is karst country—terrain built up by limestone deposits in which erosion has produced fissures, sinkholes, and underground streams and rivers. The peaks above are often astounding, and visitors love the kinds of photo ops provided by aboveground caves like the popular Cueva Ventana. Along the Cordillera Central, the road threads in and out of the Bosque Estatal de Toro Negro, where the island’s highest peak, Cerro de Punta, rises 4,398 feet above sea level. It may not measure up to many around the world, but on this island it seems as tall as Mt. Everest.

All too often, visitors to the Cordillera Central zoom right past the northern coast’s many appealing attractions. In Dorado, there’s the natural rock formation Ojo del Buey (Bull’s Eye) right on the beach; it’s believed to have held significance for the people who lived on the island before the arrival of Columbus, as quite a few artifacts have been found there. Many of them are displayed in the town’s Museo de Arte e Historia (Museum of Art and History). West of Dorado, you’ll find the Reserva Natural Laguna Tortuguero, a natural recreation area with diverse habitat and an array of birds and other wildlife. Just south of the reserve is the Hacienda Don Carmelo, home of the School of Equestrian Art. Its gardens and grounds make for a pleasant stroll; one highlight is a 130-year-old tree that is the setting for a magical tree house with cathedral-esque windows and a series of porches.

Unfortunately, two of the region’s biggest attractions are not accessible, at least for the time being. The world’s largest radio telescope at Arecibo has fallen into disrepair and faces an uncertain future. Also uncertain is when the Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy—the world’s third-largest underground cave system—will reopen (it sustained damage from Hurricane María). Do check on its status, though. If it is open, you won’t want to miss it.

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The cheapest way to get from Funchal to Serra da Estrela (mountain range) is by plane and train for €40 — €160 and takes 8h 14min.

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The fastest way to get from Funchal to Serra da Estrela (mountain range) is by plane and private transfer at a cost of €220 — €390, the journey will take 7h 56min

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How far is Serra da Estrela (mountain range) from Funchal?

The distance between Funchal and Serra da Estrela (mountain range) is 1189 km.

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It will take approximately 7h 56min to get from Funchal to Serra da Estrela (mountain range) including transfers.

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Ryanair, Transavia France, easyJet and TAP Portugal offer flights from Funchal Airport to Porto Airport.

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The best way to get from Funchal to Funchal airport is by bus, it takes 25 minutes. and will cost €5.

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Which companies travel from Funchal, Portugal to Serra da Estrela (mountain range), Portugal?

TAP Portugal

Website

flytap. com

Medium travel time

1h 55min

When

Daily

Estimated price

€35 — €260

Medium travel time

3h 57m

When

Daily

Estimated price

€35 — €260

Medium travel time

1h 40m

When

Daily

Estimated price

€35 — €240

easyJet

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easyjet.com

Medium travel time

2h

When

Daily

Estimated price

€22 — €210

Medium travel time

1h 48min

When

Daily

Estimated price

€25 — €160

Ryanair

Website

ryanair. com

Medium travel time

2h

When

Daily

Estimated price

€19 — €190

Medium travel time

1h 45min

When

Daily

Estimated price

€17 — €180

Transavia France

Website

transavia.com

Medium travel time

2h 5min

When

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday

Estimated price

€50 — €360

Comboios De Portugal

Telephone

+351 808 109 110

Email

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Website

cp.pt

Medium travel time

3h 33m

Frequency

3 times a day

Estimated price

€21 — €30

Website

Comboios De Portugal

Urbano

€21 — €30

VM Transfers

Telephone

(+351) 220971653

Email

[email protected]