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South Area

PORTA CARIBE
Gateway to the Caribbean. On the southern side of the island you will find 10 towns, reaching down from the central mountains to the shores of the placid Caribbean Sea.

The largest and most visited city of Porta Caribe has to be Ponce, known as the Pearl of the Caribbean and the Majestic City, is a required stop for all visitors to Puerto Rico. Ponce contains a very important part of the history of the island, and anyone who visits will readily recognize it. In Ponce you can find, a magnificent plaza, the most photographed fire station in Puerto Rico, El Museo de Arte de Ponce (a world-class art museum), a major indigenous site at Tibes, Castillo Serralles and many more attractions for all family.

At the top of the region in Jayuya you will find Cerro Gordo, the islands highest peak (4,369 ft). Sharing a nice cool weather year round and the cultivation of many tropical crops such as coffee and bananas is the Switzerland of Puerto Rico, Adjuntas.

The remaining towns that make up Porta Caribe are along the southern coast and Highway #2. Yauco, still a coffee growing and processing town, Guayanilla, a petrochemical processing center and where most of the electricity for the island is produced, the manufacturing town of Peñuelas, and Juana Diaz, an agricultural municipality that produces a beautiful beige marble.

One of the island’s oldest settlements, Coamo, is known for its thermal baths and the San Blas Half-Marathon. Right on the coast south of Coamo, we find Santa Isabel a manufacturing, agriculture, and fishing town. Its neighbor, Salinas reaches down from the mountains to the sea. Here you will find Puerto Rico’s Olympic Training Complex. Another beautiful town to explore would be Guayama, while here visit its Plaza and the Casa Cautiño. In Arroyo you will find Punta Guilarte Beach and the restored Punta de las Figuras lighthouse. Finally experience Patillas by visiting the old Customs House.