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Heading south along the coast on Rt.2, you will come to the city of Mayaquez, a large industrial and port town with a lovely town square. This is also the eastern end of Ruta Panoramica and home of the University of Puerto Rico Mayaquez Campus which specializes in Agriculture and Engineering. Its port area houses one of the world's largest tuna canning industries. We held our 1996 reception at the Holiday Inn just north of town and a stones throw from Playa Del Mar.
Past Mayaquez to the south, you can take highway 2 through San German and Yauco to Ponce or you can slow down and take Rt. 102 along the coast past Joyuda and Puerto Real to the small town of Cabo Rojo and then on to Boqueron and the lighthouse at the end of the Island. There are several Paradors along the south west coast and one in San German. The coast is shabby along parts of Rt. 102, but the Parador at Joyuda allows entrance to a great beach. The small Playa Buye off Rt. 307 is a gem.
Puerto Real (Rt. 308 off Rt. 102 south) is a working port but just to its south is one the the western shore's best beaches adjacent to the port of Boqueron. The town sits protected by mangrove forests at the base of Bahia Boqueron, a very popular boating and fishing area. The roads through town are narrow and many of the houses are built over the bay. There are several hotels and the Parador, El Boquemar with a great restaurant, in town. 
This is a good place to rent a boat or join a diving or sailing party. On the north side of town is a local park with a boardwalk over one of the mangrove swamps. The bars on the water front are active well into the evening. The beach is lined with palm trees and sail boat are anchored just off shore. Like most Balnearios, there is a $2 charge to enter the park by car. Cabins can rented which lie a short distance from the beach.
Just south of town off Rt. 301 south, is the entrance to the Boqueron Nature (Bird) Reserve. There several nice hikes which start at the Ranger Station. Bring your binoculars to view the birds. The large "growths" in the trees are old termite nests. Continuing south on Rt. 301 eventually gets you to the lighthouse, "Faro de Cabo Rojo", which is dramatically situated on a pinnacle at Punta Jaguey, the very southwestern tip of the Island.
Turning west Rt. 3301 off Rt. 301, puts you at the beach at El Combate near Punta Melones. This is a beautiful, unpopulated area with places to eat and stay as well as rent watersport equipment. You can walk south along the coast here for miles. Rt. 301 winds south through Pole Oleja and past the salt beds to a parking lot at the base of the lighthouse. This packed dirt road floods during storms and is very potted. The drive is well worth the trouble. Mangrove trees line the western shore.
The lighthouse is located near the edge of a very steep cliff 200 feet above the ocean. The area around the lighthouse is craggy and full of paths which provide different views of the windswept terrain and coastal cliffs. Take extra film! Just east of the lighthouse parking lot is Playa Succia, one of my favorite white sand beaches. The beach provides good snorkeling when waves are not entering the bay from the south. 
Rt. 303 east from Rt. 301 takes you to the Phosphorescent Bay at La Parguera. While Rt. 303 is not shown as a through road on most maps, it is. A 5 mile stretch of this road might be better suited for jeeps, but it presents no problems when dry and adds to your sense of adventure. There is a Parador at La Parguera and special boats take you to the eerie bay in late evening when you can best see the "lighting" effects. 
Rts. 116 to Guanica or Highway 2 to the north through San German continue the eastern journey. Route 116 to Guancia goes through one of the Island's driest areas. Many different types of cactus grow here in stark contrast to the rain forest of El Yunque. The low trees remind one of the Serengetti Plains in Africa. Brahma bulls graze the fields followed by cattle egrets. Guanica is an industrial port town wrapped around a bay.
The large Guanica Forest Reserved lies on both sides of town. To the west follow Rt. 325 to Pt. Jorobado which offers god snorkleing. To the east on Rt. 333 you will go by a small but beautiful situated park at the base of a cliff and past Cana lighthouse, now in disrepair. Rt. 333 follows the coast which is lined with mangrove clusters to Balneario Cana Gora which borders the Copamarina Resort. There are several good seafood restaurants at the end of this road. This is also a favorite bird watching area.
IIT's 1995 reception was held at the Ponce Hilton and Casino, in Ponce, which you can see across the bay from the beach just south of the harbor area. The plaza in the old part of town is a great place to wander around. The center attraction is the Lady of Guadelupe Cathedral backed by the old firehouse. IIT students Maban, Cesar , and Roxanna met their guests and spoke of their experiences in Chicago and at IIT. On the way out, a 50 cent bet in the slots won 200 quarters.
North of Ponce are the mountains of the Cordillera Central. Rt. 10 north from Ponce winds its way past Hacienda Buena Vista, a restored coffee plantation, half way to Adjuntas and then past Mt. Novillo to Utuado, deep in the mountains. West from Utuado on Rt. 111 is the Indian Park at Caguana with its field of carved stones.
Northeast of Ponce off Rt. 143 (Ruta Panoramica east from just south of Adjuntas) is the Islands highest peak, Cerro de Punta (1336m, 4390ft). A one-lane semi-passable road goes to the summit. Futher east on Rt. 143 is the Dona Juana Recreational Area in the Toro Negro Forest Reserve. It is popular for its several large natural pools and is home of a scenic waterfalls. Remember these roads travel slowly.
Further Southeast on coastal Rt. 1 is Santa Isabel with its beach and on Rt. 153 north from Rt. 52, the mountain town of Coamo which is noted for the hot springs thought to be the "Fountain of Youth" sought by Ponce de Leon. A magestic Parador, Banos de Coamo, now sits at the site.
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