Adjuntas is a municipality and small mountain town located in the Cordillera Central region of Puerto Rico. The town is famous for its relatively cold temperatures (often called "the Switzerland of Puerto Rico"), its mountainous scenery, many rivers and waterfalls.
Understand
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Adjuntas is located on a small valley in the Cordillera Central, the main central mountain range of Puerto Rico. Although the area had been settled by the Taino before the Spanish arrival, the modern town dates to 1815 when a small gold rush brought people from Coamo and other southern towns to the area in search of precious metals. Gold, silver and copper were still being mined in Adjuntas during the 20th century. In addition to its Taino and Spanish heritage, the town was also home to a relatively large Jewish community during the 18th and 19th centuries, and freed families also settled in large numbers after the abolition of slavery.
Get in
[edit]- Ponce: Mercedita International Airport, 18 mi (29 km) away
- Aguadilla: Rafael Hernández Airport, 48 mi (78 km) away
- San Juan: Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, 85 mi (136 km) away
By car
[edit]Adjuntas can be easily reached by car from Ponce through route PR-10 which crosses the southern portion of the Cordillera Central. The town can also be reached from Utuado (and Arecibo) in the north also through PR-10 although the route here has not been developed as a highway and the winding road is narrower.
Get around
[edit]The historic downtown is relatively small and is most easily explored by foot. Car is still the best option to move around the municipality, especially to get to the forests, swimming holes and other natural areas.
A word of caution: if driving you are sharing the road with trucks, and locals. The mountain roads have steep descents and ascents, hairpin turns, and steep cliff drops are not always protected by railing. The roads may look like one-lane highways but are made to handle two-lane traffic.
See
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- 1 Adjuntas Pueblo (downtown Adjuntas). See the historic Roman Catholic church, Spanish-style recreational plaza, and the municipal buildings surrounded by streets and shops.
The streets may be hilly and narrow but you can drive around the pueblo or park your car and walk around the square and into the plaza. The Spanish law, which regulated life in Puerto Rico in the early 19th century, stated the plaza's purpose was for celebrations and festivities. The town square is famous for its ornamental thermometer which shows the actual temperature and the previous temperature records, as Adjuntas has recorded some of the coldest temperatures in the island. The area is also home to several historic buildings, cafes, restaurants and bars.
- Casa Pueblo, 30 PR-5516 (located in downtown Adjuntas), ☏ +1 787-829-4842. Daily 8:30AM-3PM. This non-profit environmental community-based organization is dedicated to the preservation of the environment through community education and renewable energy research. The organization is located in a historic Criollo-style house and has a small museum and visitors center, a gift shop selling local arts and crafts, and a café. Casa Pueblo also offers educational and guided tours to some natural places around Adjuntas such as the People's State Forest (Bosque Estatal del Pueblo) and hosts special scientific and cultural events.
- Casa Pueblo, 30 PR-5516 (located in downtown Adjuntas), ☏ +1 787-829-4842. Daily 8:30AM-3PM. This non-profit environmental community-based organization is dedicated to the preservation of the environment through community education and renewable energy research. The organization is located in a historic Criollo-style house and has a small museum and visitors center, a gift shop selling local arts and crafts, and a café. Casa Pueblo also offers educational and guided tours to some natural places around Adjuntas such as the People's State Forest (Bosque Estatal del Pueblo) and hosts special scientific and cultural events.
- 2 El Gigante Dormido (Cerro El Gigante). This mountain resembles a sleeping giant when observed from the north, especially from downtown Adjuntas. The mountain has become an icon of the town and locals have many stories that explain the formation of the now legendary mountain.
- Finca de Ecoturismo Madre Isla (Madre Isla Farm), ☏ +1 787-829-4842. Operated by Casa Pueblo de Adjuntas, this coffee farm has been developed for eco- and agritourism. It is near Garzas Lake and the Guilarte State Forest, and offers tours, camping sites, hiking trails and occasional educational events.
- Garzas Lake (Lago Garzas). Reservoir created by the damming of the Las Vacas and Garzas rivers. Opportunities for fishing, hiking and camping. A suspended bridge nearby, Puente La Hamaca, is another tourist destination.
- 3 Guilarte State Forest (Bosque Estatal de Monte Guilarte), PR-131 (entrance by the DRNA park ranger station), ☏ +1 787-844-4051, +1 787-844-4660. One of the largest of Puerto Rico's 20 state forests. It is a tropical rainforest surrounding Mount Guilarte, the fifth highest peak in Puerto Rico. The rainforest is home to numerous endangered and rare plant and animal species such as the Guilarte hollyfern and the palo de ramon. The forest has a few hiking trail, the most popular one being the one that leads to the top of Mount Guilarte at 3,934 feet (1,199 m) of elevation.
- Hacienda Tres Angeles, PR-129 - km. 38.4, ☏ +1 787-360-0019. F 9:30AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-5PM. Coffee plantation and farm offering guided tours and a coffee shop where you can taste and buy fresh coffee from the farm.
Do
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- Fishing at Garzas Lake, particularly by the Lago Garzas Fishing Club. +1 787-213-1505.
- Hiking at the Guilarte State Forest, Pueblo State Forest (Bosque del Pueblo) and around Garzas Lake.
- Swimming at one of the many natural pools formed by waterfalls and rivers banks around the municipality:
- Charco El Ataud (often called Charco Azul by visitors), Garzas Rd (close to Garzas Lake). Natural swimming hole popular with locals and visitors alike, formed by the El Ataud Falls along the Jayuya River (locally known as Rio El Ataud).
- Charco Garzas, Garzas Rd (further down from El Ataud). Natural swimming pool along the same river as El Ataud, formed by Las Losetas Waterfalls.
- El Mangó Waterfalls (Charco El Mangó), Ruta Panorámica (off PR-525). Peaceful natural swimming hole formed by the El Mangó Waterfalls (Chorro El Mangó) along the Yahuecas River.
Learn
[edit]- Bosque Escuela La Olimpia, 30 PR-5516, ☏ +1 787-243-7315. F-Su 9AM-2PM. Learn about the local forest and the environmental efforts in Puerto Rico to preserve natural spaces like this on this interdisciplinary workshop. The lesson includes a guided tour through the forest and a hike to Pico Libertad. Adult $10, child $5, only cash.
Buy
[edit]- There are numerous gift shops selling local arts, crafts and souvenirs around downtown Adjuntas.
- Coffee! Adjuntas is one of Puerto Rico's coffee centers with numerous coffee farms and haciendas selling their coffee to visitors, such as in Hacienda Tres Angeles.
Eat
[edit]- El Boricua, PR-5516 Juan González, ☏ +1 787-829-1956. Daily 8AM-2AM. Restaurant and bar.
- El Campo Es Leña, Carr. 521 Km. 7.8 Bo. Vegas Arriba, ☏ +1 939-793-8340, [email protected]. F Sa 3PM-midnight, Su 1-8PM. Popular restaurant and grill serving Puerto Rican dishes from locally sourced ingredients, fun cocktails and delicious pizza made on a "fogón" (stone oven). $10-30.
- Giomas a las Brazas, PR-135 km 21.4, ☏ +1 787-505-6041. W-Sa 11AM-5PM. Serving burgers, Mexican and Puerto Rican dishes.
- 1 Hacienda Maribó, PR-10 km 28 (just outside of downtown Adjuntas), ☏ +1 787-202-4305. Th noon-9PM, Sa Su noon-11PM. Serving Puerto Rican dishes and BBQ.
- Lechonera La Playita, 3 Rodulfo Gonzales Street. Daily 7:30AM-11PM. Typical Puerto Rican "lechonera" serving pork and Puerto Rican dishes.
- Lucy's Pizza, 15 San Joaquin (downtown Adjuntas), ☏ +1 787-829-1555. Pizza, calzones, hamburgers, sandwiches and ice cream.
- Restaurant Las Garzas, Carr Garzas Centro Car 123 km 36.6 Int 522 km 0.2, ☏ +1 787-829-1717. Su-Th 8AM-10PM, F Sa 8AM-11PM.
- Tierra del Frío, 15-23 Santa Ana Street (downtown Adjuntas), ☏ +1 939-254-5122. Daily 11AM-9PM.
Drink
[edit]You can enjoy drinks at any of the local restaurants. Many gas stations sell drinks as well as beer.
Sleep
[edit]- Finca Madre Isla cabins and camping, ☏ +1 787-829-4842, [email protected]. Operated by Casa Pueblo de Adjuntas, this coffee farm has 5 cabins for renting with room for up to 40 people and a camping site next to Garzas Lake.
- Parador Villas Sotomayor (Villa Sotomayor), PR-123 km 36.6 Int. PR-522 km 0.2, ☏ +1 787-829-1717, [email protected]. One of the most famous "paradores" of Puerto Rico featuring hotel rooms, villas and a restaurant serving fresh meals prepared from local ingredients from Hacienda Nur Farms.