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

Burgess and Cummins Falls State Parks

If you are traveling on Interstate 40 through middle Tennessee these 2 state parks are a must see.  They are a short drive from exit 286 in Cookeville TN.   We went to Burgess falls in the morning. Then had lunch in Cookeville. Then went to Cummins Falls in the afternoon.  Both are located on the western edge of the Cumberland Plateau, part of the Cumberland River Watershed.

These are smaller state parks.  The round trip hike to Burgess Lower Falls was 1.5 miles.  As you hike to the Lower Falls you see the lower and middle falls in succession.

Cummins Falls was .8 miles round trip.   I want to go back here in the summer to take the dogs.  There are some of the best swim holes in the state here.   These are pools of limestone-purified water at the base of the falls.   These are great for swimming and escaping the summer heat.   Also full of smallmouth bass for fishing.

Burgess Upper Falls

Burgess Middle Falls

Burgess Lower Fall

Burgess Lower Falls

The River after the Falls

Cummins Falls 

Snorkeling Guanica State Forest

Bosque Estatal De Guánica: Gilligans Island

General Description:  Ferry Ride to Gilligans Island.  Easy Swim/snorkel in Mangrove shallows.  There is a wide range of accommodations from camping to luxury hotels.  This is a very unique experience; Bosque Estatal De Guánica is a marvelous place.

 Degree of Difficulty: Easy

Grid Coordinates: 17° 56.494', -66° 52.493'

Maps:  USGS TPR5964558, Punta Verraco, PR; USGS TPR5964576, Guanica, PR

Finding the Beach:   From San Juan, the journey to Bosque Estatal De Guánica (Guanica State Forest) is a 2 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 exit to Guanica.  In the town of Guanica take PR-333 follow the signs to Bosque Estatal De Guánica.   Follow PR-333 out of the town of Guanica along the east side of the bay entering Bosque Estatal De Guánica follow PR-333 to Copamarina Beach Resort on the right.  Park in the resort parking lot; go to the front desk to pay for the boat ride out to Gilligans Island. 

There is also a ferry at San Jacinto Restaurant which is the first right after the Copamarina Resort off of PR-333.  Turn right drive about 100 meters it will be on the right, on the bay.

Beach Overview:    Bosque Estatal De Guánica is a marvelous subtropical dry forest region; with a great public beach and wonderful snorkeling opportunities all along its coast.  On this trip we stayed at the Copamarina Beach Resort and took the ferry to Gilligans Island, to snorkel and spend the morning relaxing in the sun and the ocean.   Gilligans Island is one of many Mangrove Island Reefs that outline the southern coast of Puerto Rice.  They are full of marine life and Beach recreational opportunities.   On Gilligans Island, you can find yourself a private beach with or without a picnic table.  Enjoy the beach, swim, and snorkel.  The beach is a favorite with locals and tourist alike.   You will see families playing in the water at the shallow beach on the leeward side of the island where the ferry docks. 

When taking the Ferry make sure to pack everything for an extended stay of a few hours or more.  Some Sunscreen, food, and water are recommended.  Have a snorkel and a picnic.  If staying at Copamarina you can have them pack you a food basket. 

If taking the San Jacinto ferry the restaurant has great fish and other local fare for sale.  If time allows this a great place to have lunch.

You won’t find Ginger, Mary Ann and Mr. Thurston on this Gilligan's Island, but you find fish, coral and a very good day on this small Island paradise.

Snorkeling Instructions:    Once the ferry docks it is a short walk down the boat dock board walk; then a short hike of just a couple of hundred meters to the windward side of the Island.   Find a private beach in the Mangroves and jump in.   Snorkel along the windward coast.  The island is held together with the roots of the mangrove tree.  These roots will extend into the water providing a habitat for marine life.  You will be swimming with the fishes, with the mangrove trees blowing in the sea breeze above.  Enjoy.

Guanica State Forest

The Ferry at San Jacinto Restaurant 

The view across the bay of Copamarina Resort 

Mangrove Trees

Mangrove Shallows

The Dock at Gilligans Island

The Beach at Gilligans Island

Gilligans Island from the Ferry