Boquerón Overview

Situated on a large bay, Boquerón has plenty of great seafood as well as an attractive public beach. Clear, shallow water laps on the long balneario of white sand lined by a grassy park with palm trees and a picnicking area. By day, the quiet beach attracts families; by night, the tiny two-road town comes alive, closing down its streets to traffic so that people can roam freely. Boquerón is geared more toward Puerto Ricans on summer vacation than foreigners; and although the entire town feels prepackaged for tourist consumption, if you don’t mind the family crowds, Boquerón is a great place to grab some tasty eats and just sit back and relax.

Coming from the east (Ponce, San Germán, Lajas, and La Parguera), take Rte. 101 west straight into town. From Mayagüez and San Juan, take Hwy. 2 to Rte. 100, which travels south and intersects with Rte. 101 just outside of Boquerón. The main street, Route 101, becomes Calle Muñoz Rivera as it enters town, then turns north along the coast and changes its name again, this time to Calle José de Diego. Route 307 splits off from Rte. 101 just as you enter town and becomes Calle Estación, which heads north toward Joyuda. Boquerón is tiny, and if you want to find most practical necessities you’ll have to head into Cabo Rojo or Mayagüez, but basic food and accommodations are available.

• Públicos: Shared vans go from Boquerón to Cabo Rojo (10min., M-F and some Sa, $1.75). From Cabo Rojo, públicos go on to Mayagüez (15-20min., $2).
• ATM: Boquerón has an ATM located at Calda’s Food Warehouse, on the left as you enter town from the intersection of Rte. 100 and Rte. 101; another is on Rte. 101, just east of the intersection with Rte. 100, under the Plaza Boquerón sign next to Church’s Chicken. Nearby Cabo Rojo has several banks.
• Equipment Rental: Boquerón Kayak Rental, C. de Diego 15 (☎255-1849), rents single kayaks ($10 per hr., $40 per day), double kayaks ($15/65), 5-person pedal boats ($15 for the first 2 people, $5 for each additional person), and surfbikes (a combination surfboard and bike; $15 per hr.). They also give 15min. banana boat rides ($5 per person). Call in advance. Open in summer daily 10am-5pm; Labor Day-Easter F-Sa 10am-6pm. Cash only.
• Laundromat: Adamaris Apartments, on C. de Diego. Wash $1, dry $0.25 per 7min. Open daily 7am-7pm.
• Police: Located in the Centro Vacacional, past the reception office (☎851-1122). Open 24hr.
• Internet Access: Boquerón Travel Agency, C. Muñoz Rivera 60 (☎851-4751; fax 254-2144) offers fax service and 1 computer with Internet access. $3 per 30min., $6 per hr. Open M-F 9am-5pm, Sa 9am-noon.
• Post Office: Rte. 101 Km 18.3 (☎851-3848). Open M-F 7am-4:15pm, Sa 7am-2:15pm. Postal Code: 00622.

Accommodations

Boquerón does not lack accommodations, but many of the rooms are actually one- to two-bedroom apartments designed to be affordable for large groups (see Vacation Rentals). Prices go up considerably during the summer, which generally begins during Semana Santa (the week of Easter) and ends on Labor Day, in the beginning of September. Among the condos and villas there are a few hotels.

• Centro Vacacional de Boquerón (☎851-1900). Coming into town on Rte. 101, turn left at the sign for the beach and continue to the end. The office is down the road past both giant parking lots. This enormous vacation complex, run by the CPN, is remarkably well maintained; cabañas have ideal beachfront locations, making it a popular spot for families during the summer. If you go for a villa, request one of the newer units at the south end of the beach. Check-in 4pm. Check-out 1pm. Reserve a week in advance, longer if in the summer. Cabañas without A/C $66; larger villas with A/C $109. 6 people max. Tax included. AmEx/MC/V.
• Boquerón Beach Hotel (☎851-7110; www.boqueronbeachhotel.com), at the turn-off to the beach. One of Boquerón’s more professional accommodations and a 10min. walk from the beach. An inviting blend of old Spanish tile floors, French wrought-iron work, and modern rooms. All rooms have TV, A/C, and fridge; some have balconies. Large pool area with grill and bar. Continental breakfast included. Parking. Check-in 1pm. Check-out noon. Doubles $80 on weekdays, $104 on weekends; quads $90/175. Tax included. MC/V.
• Parador Boquemar (☎851-2158; www.boquemar.com), just off C. de Diego. You can’t miss this blue-and-white building rising above town, located near the happening nightlife. Lacks the elegance of other paradores, but modern rooms come with phone, A/C, and a small TV. Pool area. Check-in 4pm. Check-out noon. Full deposit required upon reservation. Doubles $91-102; quads $113-118. Extra person $20; 2 children under 12 free. AmEx/MC/V.
• Wildflowers, C. Muñoz Rivera 13 (☎851-1793 or 851-8874). This Victorian house exudes charm. Rooms have been carefully decorated with dark wood furniture and coordinated linens, but also include practical benefits like TV, A/C, and fridge. All rooms fit 4 people: smaller rooms have 1 full bed and 1 bunk bed; larger rooms have 2 beds, though one may be a fold-out sofa. Parking. Check-in 1pm. Check-out noon. Reserve ahead. June-Aug. small rooms $109; large rooms $135. Sept.-May $87/98. Tax included. MC/V.
• Velero Beach Hotel, Rte. 307 Km 9.3 (☎255-1000; www.velerobeachhotel.com). Clean, large rooms with A/C, cable TV, and VCR. Balcony on request. Limited parking. Check-out noon. Summer doubles $100; quads $195. Winter $65/85. AmEx/MC/V.
• Hotel Tropical Inn, Rte. 101 Km 18.7 (☎851-0284), across from the road to the beach. One of the smallest but cheapest places in town. Only a few rooms, all with TV and A/C. A sign in the office may direct you across the street to the owner’s cafeteria Rice & Beans for check-in or check-out; it’s also a great place for a cheap, filling breakfast. May to mid-Sept. doubles $65; quads $95. Mid-Sept. to Apr. $55/80. AmEx/MC/V.

Food

Boquerón is the only place in Puerto Rico where you’ll find multiple vendors, often in front of El Schamar, selling fresh oysters (ostiones; about $6 per dozen) and clams (almejas; about $8 per dozen). Visitors can stop by a cart, peel apart the shells, and dump hot sauce onto the succulent centers. If you’re not a fan of seafood, grab breakfast ($2-3) or a filling sandwich ($3-4) at La Sandwicheria, on C. de Diego, across from Boquerón Kayak Rental. (Open daily 8am-2pm. Cash only.) For a limited selection of groceries, stop by Super Colmado Rodriguez, C. Muñoz Rivera 46. (☎851-2100. Open M-Sa 6am-6:30pm, Su 6am-noon. MC/V; min. $10.) While the cheapest option is cobbling together a meal from the various stands along C. de Diego, the restaurants below provide quality food for the hungry.

• The Fish Net and Roberto’s Villa Playera (☎254-3163), both on C. de Diego. Roberto had such success with his first seafood restaurant that he opened another one right across the street. These 2 restaurants share the undisputed title of best seafood in town; they both have nautical decor, although only Villa Playera has a view of the canal out back. Seafood entrees ($16-25) include shrimp, lobster, and crab in a variety of creative dishes. Fish Net open W-Su 9am-11pm. Villa Playera open M-Tu and F-Su 11am-8pm. AmEx/D/MC/V.
• Pika-Pika Mexican Grill, C. Estación 224 (☎851-2440), is slightly on the expensive side, but its delicious entrees and hearty servings are well worth it. If the name intrigues you, try the house special Pika-Pika, chicken or steak (or both) with grilled onions and bacon, covered in melted Monterey cheese, and served with refried beans, rice, and tortillas ($14). Save room for dessert because you don’t want to miss the incredible tres leches cake ($4) or the chocolate lava cake ($5). Margaritas $5.50. Entrees $13-24. Open W-Th 5-10pm, F-Sa noon-11pm, Su noon-10pm. AmEx/MC/V.
• Galloway’s (☎254-3302), next to Club Náutico. Americans, this is your home away from home. Galloway’s caters to the foreign crowd with an English menu, US TV, rows of US license plates, and creative T-shirts lining the ceiling. The oceanfront dining room sits out on the water next to the mangroves and is a great place to watch the sunset. Lunch specials from $4. Comida criolla with a few American faves $6-26. Open M-Tu, Th, Su 2pm-midnight; F-Sa noon-1am. AmEx/MC/V; min. $25.
• Pizzeria Lyken (☎851-6335), on C. de Diego. Offers an alternative to Boquerón’s endless seafood selection, but never fear—they also serve a full spread of seafood entrees, as well as seafood pizza ($24). Windchimes liven up the outdoor seating area, where the walls are lined with pictures of satisfied customers. If you like your meal, ask to have your picture taken. Entrees $10-20. Pizza slices $1.50-1.75. Small pizza $10-12, large $13-15. Open Th-Sa 11am-10pm. Bar open until midnight. AmEx/MC/V.

Outdoor Activities

The 4773-acre Bosque Estatal de Boquerón, Rte. 101 Km 1.1, encompasses the mangroves west of La Parguera , the salt flats in Cabo Rojo , the Boquerón Wildlife Refuge near the intersection of Rte. 101 and 301, and Joyuda’s Isla Ratones . It also protects over 120 species of birds, including the endangered Mariquita. Unfortunately, the DRNA now limits guests to a boardwalk outside the office; keep an eye out for the fiddler crabs crawling in the shallow waters beneath it, but don’t expect to see much else. (☎851-4795. Open daily 7:30am-4pm.) The forest’s main office, just past Club Náutico, provides information about the park and can tell you whether any new hiking trails have opened up. (☎851-7260. Open M-F 7:30am-3:30pm.)

Beaches And Water Sports

The public balneario, Rte. 101 Km 18.8, is the only show in town, but it is stunning with its turquoise waters and its long white crescent of sandy beach. Like most beaches run by the Compañía de Parques Nacionales, it includes picnic tables, showers, bathrooms, a cafeteria, and lifeguards. The beach attracts crowds, but there is plenty of sand to go around and a multitude of palm trees to provide shade. (Open daily June-July 8am-6pm; Aug.-May 8am-5pm. Parking $3, vans $4. Showers $1, children $0.50.) If the lack of waves gets you down, try a $15 banana boat ride (see Boquerón Kayak Rental). Mona Aquatics, C. de Diego 59, next to the Club Náutico, has a 42 ft. boat. The PADI- and YMCA-certified owner leads diving expeditions (2-tank dive $65; 1-tank night dive $40), but does not rent equipment. (☎851-2185; www.monaaquatics.com. MC/V.)

Nightlife

Boquerón draws large crowds on weekend nights. The plaza in front of El Shamar closes down to traffic after 6pm and people gather around tables to play dominoes, beers in hand. Students and younger adults gather farther north, near the Club Náutico. The entire town turns into a street party, and as people walk in and out of bars, it’s almost impossible to miss the hot spots.

• El Schamar, C. de Diego 1 (☎851-0542). With tasty empanadillas, a plaza overlooking the ocean, and a location right in the center of town, this bar has a lot going for it. Add a pool table ($0.50), $1 Medalla beers, and $1.50 Coors, and it’s no wonder that it’s perpetually busy. Beer $1-2. Mixed drinks $2-6. Open daily 11am-midnight. Cash only.
• Sunset Sunrise, C. Barbosa 65 (☎255-1478), on the main square. This little hole in the wall, dimly lit by a few neon signs, is a popular gathering spot for an older crowd that grabs a drink and then sits on the tables out front playing dominoes. Beer $1-2. Mixed drinks $2-4. Open M-Th and Su 10am-midnight, F-Sa 10am-1am.
• Sweet & Sour, in the main square, across from Sunset Sunrise (☎851-5205). This large pool hall has 7 tables and draws a big crowd with its bumping music and $1 Medalla beers. Throw your quarters on a table to call next game or head out into the street to watch the ongoing games of dominoes. Beer $1-2. Mixed drinks $3-6. Open daily noon-midnight. Cash only.
• Galloway’s (☎254-3302), on C. de Diego (see Food). The countdown to St. Patrick’s Day hangs on a wall at this popular American-Irish pub. The bar provides a relatively quiet place to relax and make some new friends, with a fantastic view of the sunset over the water. Parking. Beer $2.50. Mixed drinks $3.75-5. Appetizers $3-7. Open M-Tu, Th, Su noon-midnight; F-Sa noon-1am. AmEx/MC/V.