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Esta página no está disponible en español. Chicago Daily HeraldPuerto Rico Village Like Key West, Sans GlitzMadelyn Merwin
November 24, 2002 Q. I've heard about a village called Boqueron in Puerto Rico . Some friends of ours spent their vacation there, and it sounds like something we would like (sort of off the beaten path). Do you have any information on Boqueron? If not, can you tell me where I can learn about accommodations, etc.? Thank you very much. A. Boqueron is a fishing village located on Puerto Rico 's southwest coast, about a two-hour drive from San Juan. It's a favorite spot for the yachting crowd and in the summer months a haven for families from the city looking to escape the heat. One writer described it as "Key West without the glitz." Its public beach is regarded as one of Puerto Rico 's loveliest, a wide crescent of white sand and seashells extending for more than a mile. The water is turquoise in color, warm and clear minus turbulent surf. Because the bay is sheltered, the water is very calm and of absolutely no interest to surfers. The village has several small moderately priced hotels and inns as well as more-upscale accommodations, most of them near the beach. You can stay right on the beach if you don't mind fewer amenities but want a great location. Administered by the Puerto Rican government, cabanas (not usually listed in guidebooks) are available for rent. The cinderblock bungalows have two bedrooms, a living room, a small kitchen and a bathroom with shower. Each accommodates up to six people. Everything is strictly utilitarian and here's the catch: You have to supply your own bed linens, towels and washcloths, pots and pans, and other necessary items. There is a small convenience store nearby, and several supermarkets are within a short drive. The price is right: $52.32 a night Monday through Thursday and $65.40 on weekends. The village has several good restaurants. You won't find gourmet cooking, but they are very moderately priced. Information about the cabanas is available by calling the Boqueron Centro Vacacional at (787) 851- 1900. You will need a credit card to secure your reservation. Although the beach is the biggest attraction in this area, Boqueron affords a base from which you can explore this southwestern coast. For example, there's the Cabo Rojo Lighthouse, built in 1881, about a 20-minute drive away. It's perched on cliffs some 200 feet above the sea and affords spectacular views. The nearby village of La Parguera is home to one of Puerto Rico 's two bioluminescent bays. (The other is on the island of Vieques .) Here, millions of microorganisms that produce a flash of light when disturbed make the water glow. Each evening boats leave La Parguera docks to take visitors out in the bay to observe the phenomenon. Detailed information on this area of Puerto Rico can be found on the www.puertorico.com Web site and its many links. A toll-free call to Puerto Rico 's New York office at (800) 223-6530 will bring brochures and other printed material.
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