The Beaches of Naguabo and Punta Santiago

There is a long strip of beach that runs from the fishing village of Hucares (hoo-kah-ress), in the municipality of Naguabo, down to the beach town of Punta Santiago in Humacao. The road (Route 3) which runs alongside the beach offers fantastic, panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea, Vieques, Cayo Santiago ("Monkey Island"), and the mountainous southeastern corner of Puerto Rico, Yabucoa.

There are numerous sandy areas to pull off and park on the beach among palms and seagrapes, perhaps put up a hammock, and enjoy an afternoon at the beach. Across the road from the sea, in the tiny enclave of Tropical Beach, are a number of food vendors and small bars offering lobster, conch, crab, raw oysters, and a plethora of savory, deep-fried pastries as well as beer, pina coladas and other drinks. This is a much quieter beach area than those on the north side of the island. It's the Caribbean Sea; the people and the scenery are tranquil and relaxed.

Cayo Santiago, Monkey Island, or La Isla Mono are all names for the double-humped little island just off of Punta Santiago, where bands of rhesus monkeys are conducting behavioral research on scientists. The public is not allowed onto the island, but are allowed to pull up close by in boats. The snorkelling here is excellent, and the monkeys will often come down onto the beach to poke fun at tourists and yell at them in French patois.

Further down Route 3, inside the balneario (a government-maintained public beach, with restrooms, kiosks, etc.) of Punta Santiago, a newly opened waterpark is available to delight children and parents. The park is designed with smaller children in mind, and probably wouldn't be much of a thrill for a teenager. Still, it's a fun place to cool off and throw oneself down one of the more than ten slides that are there, oceanside. We would even recommend the waterpark to folks staying at the beach resorts in the area; the slides are a whole lot better than what the resorts have to offer. Check the schedule ahead of time, as it can vary greatly during different seasons of the year.

The Humacao Nature Preserve is located just a few hundred yards further down Route 3, on the left. Here you can watch hordes of iguanas run around, go kayaking in the lagoon (a great way to see herons, egrets, osprey and other waterbirds), or hike out to the World War II-era pillbox constructed high up a steep hillside over the ocean to keep watch for submarines and enemy naval activity in the Vieques Sound. Picnicking and fishing are popular pursuits here.

And of course, being on the east end of the island, you can catch some terrific sunrises. Monkey Island in the foreground, Monte Pirata (lookout point for the feared pirate Cofresi) on Vieques in the rear to the left.