Route 901 Overview

Following the southeast corner of the island through the heart of sugar country, Rte. 901 is the tail end of Puerto Rico’s Ruta Panorámica. Here, it seems that the crest of every hill opens on yet another gorgeous ocean vista. The road’s ideal location has invited the building of attractive accommodations and appetizing seafood restaurants. Foreigners and Puerto Ricans alike make the trek out onto this corner of the island to relax on hammocks, bake in the sun, or just watch the waves. Yabucoa, at the northern end of the road, serves as the starting point for the scenic Ruta Panorámica .

Transportation. From San Juan take Hwy. 52 south to Caguas, get on Rte. 1 temporarily to catch the exit for Hwy. 30 east, then exit onto Hwy. 53 south. At the end of Hwy. 53 turn right to reach Yabucoa or turn left for Rte. 901. Rte. 901 is easiest to navigate by car; however, públicos do go from Yabucoa to Humacao (20min., $1.20) and Maunabo (20-25min., $1). From Yabucoa’s público station, walk uphill and turn right on C. Cristóbal Colón to reach the plaza and the taxi stand. Taxis travel to Playa Lucía ($6), Maunabo ($15), and everywhere in between. (☎266-4047. Open 6am-6pm.) If you do plan to reach a hotel by public transportation, either bring your own food or head to an all-inclusive—the mountain roads are not suited to walking and food establishments are scattered.

Orientation And Practical Information. Rte. 901 follows the southeast coast of the island between Yabucoa and Maunabo; however, the scenic route continues south past Maunabo along Rte. 3 all the way to Patillas. If you get lost, follow the numerous signs to the parador. Coming into Yabucoa, when you reach the concrete island, turn right onto Calle Cristóbal Colón (also called Rte. 9910) to reach the plaza, or continue straight onto Rte. 182 (also called C. Catalina Morales) for most government buildings and the beginning of the Ruta Panorámica. All of the services listed below are in Yabucoa. Banco Popular, on Rte. 9914 1 mi. south of town, has one walk-up and several drive-thru ATMs. (☎266-2600. Open M-F 8am-4pm, Sa 9am-noon.) Yabucoa Municipal Library, on C. Catalina Morales, past the post office, houses the city’s small Casa de la Cultura and its collection of Yabucoan artifacts that range from pre-Taíno ceramics of 250 BC to dishes made of squash shells from the 1940s. (☎893-5520 or 893-3385. Open when school is in session M-Th 8am-7pm, F 8am-4:30pm; in summer M-F 8am-4:30pm.) 60 Minute Cleaners, C. Cristóbal Colón 67, has washers ($1.25) and dryers ($0.50). (☎893-2855. Open M-Sa 6:30am-4pm.) The police station, C. Catalina Morales 102 (☎893-2020), is open 24hr. Farmacia Feliciano is next to Supermercado del Este. (☎893-6709. Open M-F 7:30am-9pm, Sa 8am-9pm. AmEx/D/MC/V.) Yabucoa’s hospital is across from the supermarket. (☎893-7480. 24hr. emergency room.) PostNet, on Rte. 901, about half a mile south of town, across from the stadium, has Internet access. (☎893-0520. $5 per hr. Also has UPS and FedEx service. Open M-F 8:30am-1:30pm and 2-5pm.) The post office is at C. Catalina Morales 100. (☎893-2135. No General Delivery. Open M-F 7:30am-4:30pm, Sa 8am-noon.) Postal Code: 00767.

Accommodations. The inviting accommodations along this scenic route are one of the region’s major draws. Like the region itself, most are relatively quiet and the management will frown upon groups of drunk teenagers. Playa Emajaguas Guest House , Rte. 901 Km 12.5, is a family-owned budget accommodation that combines a great location overlooking the beach with excellent prices. 1 mi. north of Maunabo, this two-story guest house comes with a tennis court, pool, picnic tables, hammocks and a path down to Playa Emajaguas (see Beaches, below). The downside is that it is a bit messy and beginning to show its age. (☎861-6023. TV, A/C, and fridge. In summer small rooms $60; apartments with stove $80. Rest of the year $50/70. Cash only.) A parrot on an open stand greets guests in the lobby of Parador Palmas de Lucía , at Rte. 901 and Rte. 9911, about 5 mi. southeast of Yabucoa. As one of the island’s premier paradores, this peach-colored hotel encloses a courtyard and pool area. Large, carpeted rooms are clean and tasteful, and the hotel is just steps away from the fun Playa Lucía. (☎893-4423; www.palmasdelucia.com. Volleyball and basketball courts. Cable TV, A/C, and phone. 4-person double $90. Extra person $17. Also offers all-inclusive packages. Tax included. AmEx/MC/V.) The Caribe Playa Beach Resort , Rte. 3 Km 112.1, south of Maunabo in Patillas, exudes a boutique-hotel professionalism; this is the romantic getaway of the Rte. 901 coast. All guest room doors open only ten steps from the beach, and the striking location is enhanced by lush tropical plants, numerous hammocks and beach chairs, a barbecue, beachside pool, and a hot tub. All suites contain 2 queen beds, a fridge, cable TV, phone, shared balcony, and of course, an ocean view. (☎839-6339 or 839-7719; www.caribeplaya.com. Restaurant on covered patio on the water. All rooms $134 per night. Tax included. AmEx/MC/V.)

Food. Supermercado del Este, on Rte. 901, just south of Yabucoa in the plaza labeled “La Reina,” has groceries. (☎893-7557. Open M-Sa 7am-7pm, Su 11am-5pm. MC/V.) Several restaurants along Rte. 901 are upscale eateries offering spectacular views and equally amazing seafood entrees. Many more are cheap kiosks hawking pinchos to beachgoers. Rarely is a lookout point combined with both a kiosk and a popular bar, but Baloncito Cielo has done it, at arguably the most breathtaking spot on Rte. 901. Perched on a wooden patio overlooking gorgeous palms, rolling hills, rustic cabañas and the ocean horizon, people from across the region snag afternoon seats under umbrellas and then stay late. (☎893-5492. Km 8.8. Fried pastilillos, jueyes, and empanadas $2.25. Daiquiris and piña coladas $3.50. Bottled beer $2.25-2.50. Open Th-Sa 11am-10pm, Su 11am-8pm. Cash.) If you decide to stay in Yabucoa, Doredmar Restaurant , on Rte. 3 just south of the intersection with Rte. 901, is one of the few standouts. A small back patio lit with lanterns and surrounded by lush forest is a great location to enjoy fresh steak and seafood. (☎893-3837. Meat entrees $7-18. Seafood $11-23. Open M-Th 11am-8:30pm, F-Sa 11am-10pm, Su 11am-7pm. AmEx/MC/V.) The well-marked Los Bohíos Restaurant 4, off Rte. 760 on Playa Maunabo, provides a refreshing change from the dozens of roadside kiosks; it offers seafood and mofongo in a large dining room with one wall knocked out to provide a full beach view. Bohíos keeps it classy—you may not want to come straight from the beach. (☎861-2545. Seafood entrees $12-22. Mofongo $11-22. Open W-Th 11am-3pm, F-Su 11am-7:30pm. AmEx/MC/V.)

Beaches And Sights. Rte. 901 is lined with beaches, but many are rocky and have minimal shore area. Just below the guesthouse of the same name, palm-lined Playa de Emajaguas has an unusually wide stretch of smooth sand, few rocks, medium-sized waves, and remarkably small crowds. Although, there are no facilities, this is still one of the best sites for lounging and swimming in the clearest waters along Rte. 901. Another attractive beach is Playa Lucía, located just past Parador Palmas de Lucía (see Accommodations, above). The long beach lined with palm trees is often filled with guests from the parador. A few food kiosks open when the beach is crowded.

The only sight in this area is located on a beach; the lighthouse called Faro Punta Tuna, just outside of Maunabo, is visible from both Playa Maunabo and Playa Larga. Built by the Spanish in the late 1800s, the lighthouse is now open to the public. (Open W-Su 9am-4pm.) For the best views, head down to the secluded Playa Larga. Coming south on Rte. 9011, turn toward the ocean on Rte. 7760, and look out for hotel Villas del Faro; turn left onto the dirt driveway across the street. Park your car in the dirt clearing here and walk down the path through brush to the beach. Alternatively, pass Villa del Faro on Rte. 7760 and take the first left going downhill at the mailboxes. You will have to find somewhere on Rte. 7760 to park your car, as the street that leads to the beach does not allow parking. When you get to the closed gate, walk down the short path to the beach. The sand sometimes accumulates seaweed, but it is a small price to pay for this beach’s rare solitude.

Traveling southwest on Rte. 760, the next beach area is Playa Maunabo, which is frequented by families looking to lounge and play on the sand. Its big waves are not safe for children because of the current, but they are good for boogie boarding. Minimal facilities include grills. To reach the beach, follow signs to Restaurant Los Bohíos on a road that veers south off Rte. 760. A widespread favorite for beachgoers from Manaubo and Patillas is Playa Escondida, more commonly known as Bajo de Patillas. To reach this preferred swimming beach with public bathrooms and open showers, continue west on Hwy. 3 about ten minutes past Caribe Playa Beach Resort; at Villa Liquor Store turn left down the dirt road, which will take you straight to the water’s edge.