Barranquitas Overview

Barranquitas is a typical mountain town, perched on the edge of a steep hill in the forest. Originally built as a trade stop between the north and south of the island, the town has a charm quite its own, meriting an afternoon’s exploration. The recently renovated plaza’s wrought-iron benches, gazebo, and fountains set a stylish tone for the birthplace of Luis Muñoz Rivera—politician, journalist, and ostensibly the most important man in the island’s history (see History). His home is preserved here as a museum, and the town center’s other attractions also tend towards the historical. Similar in size to Aibonito, Barranquitas also offers access to the Cañón de San Cristóbal.

Transportation. From the west, continue on Rte. 143 after it leaves the Ruta Panorámica, then turn left on Rte. 162. Coming from Aibonito, skip the Ruta Panorámica and take Rte. 14 to Rte. 162. Alternatively, coming from the east on the Ruta Panorámica, turn right on Rte. 143, then take a left onto Rte. 162, which leads into town. Taxis (☎857-0508) and the occasional público congregate around the plaza in front of the Alcaldía, but there is no regular public transportation to surrounding towns. A taxi to Aibonito, which has regular públicos, costs $15.

Orientation And Practical Information. Coming into town, Rte. 162 becomes C. Muñoz Rivera, the main street, which passes the Alcaldía and the plaza before intersecting Rte. 156, which leads east. Remember that going downhill will always lead east. Continue east along Rte. 156 to find fast food and the suburbs. Casa Museo Joaquín de Rojas, on C. Ubaldino Font, behind the church, does double duty as a tourist office and a small museum. The staff answers questions and distributes maps. (☎857-2065. Open M-F 8am-4:30pm with a break for lunch.) Banco Santander, Rte. 156 Km 16 (C. Barceló 60), 1 blocks downhill from the plaza, exchanges American Express Travelers Cheques and has an ATM. (☎857-2355. Open M-F 8:30am-4pm.) For groceries, head to the Grande supermarket in the San Cristobal Plaza on Rte. 156, a quarter mile past the intersection with Rte. 152. (☎857-1144. Open M-Sa 7am-9pm, Su 9am-6pm.) The police station, Ave. Villa Universitaria 2 (☎857-2020 or 857-4400), down the hill at the intersection of Rte. 156 and Rte. 719 across from the Shell gas station, is open 24hr. Farmacia del Pueblo, C. Muñoz Rivera 27, is across the street from the Alcaldía. (☎857-3035. Open M-Sa 7:30am-6pm. MC/V.) The Centro de Medicina Primaria de Barranquitas, Rte. 156 Km 16.4, about a quarter mile downhill from the police station just before the intersection with Rte. 152, is the main hospital. (☎857-5923. Open M-F 6am-4:30pm. Emergency room open 24hr.) The sleek, modern Biblioteca Municipal on C. Susana Maldonado, across the plaza from the church, has several new computers with unreliable Internet access. (☎857-6661. Open M-F 8am-4:30pm.) Head uphill to find the post office, C. Muñoz Rivera 41. (☎857-3020. General Delivery. Open M-F 8am-4:30pm, Sa 8am-noon.) Postal Code: 00794.

Accommodations And Food. The beautiful Hacienda Margarita , about 15min. from town, is the more scenic of the two accommodations in the area. The peaceful mountain retreat sits on the very edge of a hill, offering incredible views of the valley below. Sparkling rooms come with TV and A/C, and the pool is a nice place to relax on a clear night. To get there, head east on Rte. 156 past the Shell Station, then turn left on Rte. 152. Drive all the way up the hill, then at Km 1.7, turn right directly before the wooden restaurant. Passing all the driveways, take your first left at the fork, then take another left just before a sign for the hotel. Continue to the end of the residential road, following the signs. (☎857-4949. Check-in noon. Check-out noon. 1 double bed $75; 2 double beds $85. MC/V.) Niaian Guest House 2, at Km 57.0 on Rte. 143 west of town, is conveniently located for travelers on their way west to Bosque Estatal de Toro Negro. There is no sign, but look for a long yellow building with a yellow and green fence. Brightly lit rooms with kitchenettes, tiled floors, TV, A/C, queen bed, and small balconies overlooking the mountains make this a pleasant place to stay. (☎857-1240 or 553-8976. $60 per day. MC/V.) Of the many inexpensive cafeterías surrounding the plaza, Cafetería Plaza , C. Muñoz Rivera 34, is the most welcoming. The rush of construction workers, businesspeople, and police officers fills it in the morning, but the crowd thins out during the day. It serves a variety of breakfast and lunch foods—from burritos to sandwiches to pizza to ice cream. (☎857-3475. Breakfast $1-3. Entrees $1-6. Open M-Sa 6:30am-4pm.) For a more relaxed breakfast, head to Cafetería El Senioral , on C. Barcelo, a block up from the plaza at the corner of C. Torres. (Breakfast $3-4, sandwiches $4. Open M-Sa 8am-5pm. Cash only.) Outside of town, just before the turn for Hacienda Margarita, is a good example of the roadside cafeterías. El Criollitos 1 serves local seafood dishes for $6-15. It also has a bar, jukebox, and TV. (☎857- 5426. Open Tu-Th 11am-5pm, F-Su 11am-midnight. MC/V.)

Sights. Luis Muñoz Rivera, famous for negotiating Puerto Rican autonomy from Spain just before the US invaded in 1898 (see History), dominates the town’s cultural attractions. The Mausoleo Familia Muñoz, on C. El Parque, contains a quiet courtyard and monuments to the Muñoz clan. Inside, a small exhibit contains biographical information as well as an impressive mural depicting Muñoz Rivera’s life. If the building is closed, ask someone in the office on the left side of the building to open it. (Open Tu-F 8:30am-4:20pm. Free.) Down C. Muñoz Rivera toward the plaza is the Casa Museo Luis Muñoz Rivera, where Muñoz Rivera’s birthplace has been reconstructed with much of the original furniture. (☎857-0230. Open Tu-Sa 8:30am-4:30pm. $1.)

Tours of  Cañón de San Cristóbal leave from neighboring Aibonito , but the best views are found in Barranquitas at the office of the Fideicomiso de Conservación (Conservation Trust); head east on Rte. 156 and then turn right at Km 17.7. Continue to the end of the street, turn left on C. A, and drive to the end. The office, which provides brochures on the canyon and the Fideicomiso, is on the right after the road becomes a narrow one-lane path. (☎857-3511. Normally open M-F 8am-3:45pm, but call ahead to see if anyone is around as the staff does conservation work at several different sites.)

On the road from Barranquitas to Bosque Forestal Toro Negro, another government-constructed viewpoint rivals Mirador Degetau for the best view of the ocean. Mirador Villalba-Orocovis, Rte. 143 Km 39.3, makes a nice stop for those driving the Ruta Panorámica. The viewpoint has covered picnic tables, bathrooms, a play area, a basketball court, a small restaurant, and of course the panoramic view—on a clear day it is possible to see the Caribbean, the Atlantic, Ponce, Embalse Toa Vaca, and the islands off the southern coast. (☎867-6111. Open W-Su 9am-6pm, when M is a holiday open M and Th-Su 9am-6pm. Free.)