In the southwest of the island, Lajas blends the green of its agricultural valley, the blue of La Parguera and even stories of UFOs. It is also the home of the piña cabezona, a traditional variety with a large, cone-shaped fruit that can weigh around 15 pounds.
To put this route together, we asked for help from Marlyn Rodríguez Ortiz, a 68-year-old retired Lajas native who knows every corner of her town.
🪸 Things to Do
La Parguera is a fishing village and the tourist heart of Lajas. Along its main street you'll find restaurants, bars and kiosks, and at the Plazoleta de los Artesanos you can find local artists. On weekends, the waterfront fills with families strolling among music and the smell of fried food.
From the docks, boats leave for the cays of the nature reserve, such as Caracoles, Enrique and Mata La Gata. With their clear, shallow waters, they are ideal for a swim, floating for a while or staying until sunset.
At night, the water in this bay glows with every movement, thanks to microorganisms that light up when disturbed. Tours leave from the La Parguera dock, some on glass-bottom boats.
For the best experience, choose a night without a full moon.
This freshwater lagoon is part of a national wildlife refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. More than 160 bird species have been observed in and around the lagoon, including herons, frigatebirds and the Puerto Rican oriole.
A short walk leads to an observation tower.
To get there, take PR-101 to kilometer 12.2, enter through Hacienda Desengaño and look for the pedestrian gate on the left.
👀 Platea Pick
A stretch of highway PR-303, south of the Sierra Bermeja, has been known for years as the Ruta Extraterrestre for the UFO sightings reported in the area. In 2005, the municipality recognized it with a proclamation. If you don't see anything in the sky, you'll at least come away with the valley scenery.
🍍 Where to Eat
For fresh seafood, this La Parguera restaurant is a reliable stop. Regulars recommend the lobster, the trunkfish and the mofongo with tostones in criolla sauce. It has a large terrace, ideal for groups.
At this bar, the mojito is made to order with fresh fruit, same-day mint and white rum. The menu has nine versions, ranging from the Naked Original to blood orange, with passion fruit, mango and pink grapefruit options. To go alongside, there is ceviche, chorizo al vino and empanadillas. If you're heading to the beach, they also make them in pouches.
Right in the town of Lajas, this vintage-style house has been converted into a tapas bar. Its offerings include small plates, wine, whiskey, house sangria, margaritas and beers such as Medalla and Bravada. On weekends there is usually live music, from acoustic acts to local bands.
👀 Platea Pick
Open-air, in the barrio Palmarejo, this bar is a good place for an unhurried dinner after a day at the beach. Its mojitos are the most ordered, and to go with them there are house small plates, sliders and tacos.
A block from the tablado (an open-air stage) boardwalk of La Parguera, this small bar serves sharing tapas such as stuffed mushrooms and fish ceviche. It also has mofongo with shrimp and sangria.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
