Snorkeling Parguera

La Parguera:  Cayo Caracoles

General Description:  Short chartered boat trip.  This is an easy snorkel in Mangrove Shallows and shallow reefs near and around Cays.  There is a wide range of accommodations Parguera.  

Degree of Difficulty: Easy

Grid Coordinates: Parguera 17-58.444N 67-02.912W   Cayo Caracoles 17-57,758.N 67-02.176W

Maps:  Parguera TPR0042

Finding the Snorkel Area:   From San Juan, the journey to Parguera is a 3 hour trip over the central mountains of Puerto Rico.  Take the Caguas Highway #52 over the mountains to Ponce.  In Ponce merge onto Highway #2 towards Mayaguez travel for 30 miles then take the PR-116 15 miles to PR-304.  Turn left on PR-304 towards Parguera.  Once in Parguera, you can arrange a snorkel trip with a local dive/snorkel tour company. 

For our snorkeling for this day, we arrange a trip with Paradise Scuba and Snorkel Center in Parguera.   They have a store front in downtown Parguera across from the Parador Villa Parguera Hotel.  Follow PR-304 to the town of Parguera.  Turn right at the stop sign at the water there will be a small building that houses Parguera Boat Trips.  To arrange a trip in advance call 1-787-899-7611 or visit their website http://www.paradisescubasnorkelingpr.com/.   A half day snorkel in the Morning or the Afternoon snorkel trip will cost $40.00 per person.

Snorkel Area Overview:   Like Guanica, La Parguera lies in Puerto Rico’s southern subtropical dry forest region.   Once a small underdeveloped fishing village it has become a center for fishing, dive, and snorkel tourism.  Once taking the short15-minutee boat ride to Cayo Caracoles the boat will dock at the buoy behind the Cay’s.   Cayo Caracoles is a set of Mangrove dominated reef Islands.  These Islands hold a diverse set of sea resources.   These Mangrove reefs are known for being an underwater wildlife nursery.  Where young marine life are there to mature and develop for a life in an open coral reef environment.  Parguera and Cayo Caracoles is just one small snorkel area that lies on the eastern side of the Bosque Estatal De Boquerón (Boquerón State Forest) near the town of Parguera.

Snorkeling Instructions:   This will be a guided snorkel through the mangrove reef and Cay channels.  When you first leave the Dive Boat you will snorkel the back side or leeward side of the Cay’s.  You will then snorkel a narrow channel to the reef that is on the windward side of the Island.    This channel is used as a transportation hub for fish between the Leeward and windward side of the Island.  On our snorkel we viewed immature Barracuda and sea turtles.   Once being lead from the leeward and windward side of the Island you will be given an hour or two to snorkel and explore on your own.  Remember to be safe and snorkel with a buddy.  Always respect the Captains or guides instructions on what time to be back to the boat. 

Map of Parguera

Leaving Cayo Caracoles

Paradise Scuba

Brown Chromis