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About La Parguera

La Parguera Puerto Rico

The fishing village of La Parguera in the town of Lajas, Puerto Rico, is a a dreamy Caribbean destination. Located on the southwest coast of the island, La Parguera is one of four areas in Puerto Rico that is near a Bioluminescent Bay. The Bioluminescent Bay, or phosphorescent bay, is actually made up of two bays, Bahia Monsio Jose and Bahia la Parguera. Visit the bay at night to see a remarkable natural phenomenon as when the still waters are disturbed they glow with millions of microscopic organisms known as dinoflagellates which sparkle and create a spectacular light show. This phenomenon occurs only in tropical areas and generally in mangrove-protected bays. Puerto Rico is the only place on the planet that has three sites where you can depend on this phenomenon to occur every night, and La Parguera is our favorite. The bay is best observed during a dark moonless night.

Though visiting our Bio Bay in Puerto Rico is an amazing experience, another great reason to visit La Parguera is due to our people. Our village is clean and our people live a simple life. We’re fishermen, farmers, and and enjoy showing tourists our little village. For the most part La Parguera has not changed much, but you easily find restaurants, shops, and a supermarket. La Parguera is both a tourist and residential community with plenty of things to do. Explore La Parguera by biking, hiking, or having fun off the island with water sports like kayaking and kit surfing.

Diving:

The continental shelf that wraps around Puerto Ricos’ southern is closest to shore at La Parguera. The coral reefs are considered by many to be the finest and best coral reefs off Puerto Rico; aficionados rank La Parguera among the top dive destinations in the world. The waters off the coast of La Parguera are extremely clear, spectacular to say the least; they are free of currents and very warm. Daily excursions to ‘The Wall’, a 22 mile coral reef wall, and many of the near by Islands and Cays are available from several dive shops that also rent out equipment. La Pared, is some 45 minutes from shore; the wall starts at about 55 ft. of water and drops to just over 1500 ft. at its deepest spot. A submerged reef line marks the edge of the shelf beyond which depths of several thousand meters are quickly encountered. You may run into Moray Eels (bright green) huge Stingrays and hammerhead sharks if you go deep enough and tunnels that provided breathtaking views, decent to vertical cliffs, and many underwater rarities. The most spectacular dive spots are the Black hole, Boya Vieja, Fallen Rock and Los Pinaculos. The sights are endless, don’t read about it just come an explore La Parguera.

Snorkeling:

The area has excellent snorkeling opportunities, try la Mata De la Gata; just a short boat ride from the Parguera. Night time snorkeling of the bioluminescent bays can be a real treat. Drop us a line for more information. For instructions and getting to la Parguera see our Maps Link page.

Parguera Natural Reserve:

No Camping allowed. The reserve, run by the DRNA, is mainly a coastal forest area that features mangrove swamps, estuaries and coral formations. By far one of the greatest coastal mangrove systems in Puerto Rico, over 12,000 acres; it is great for, snorkeling, mountain biking, horseback riding, sailing, kayaking, fishing, and much more. The reserve is home to manatees and over 66 species of birds both local and migratory, ideal for bird-watching. Also home to the Bioluminescent Bay; call for further information, (787)899-7484 or 999-2200 ext.5158, 8:30AM – 5:00PM. If you like hiking then pack your equipment and get ready for the numerous trails in and around La Parguera. Explore the winding dirt roads and the incredible coastline, ideal for ecotourism.

Sailing In La Parguera:

Sailing, boat and Kayak tours are available at the various docks along the shore. Equipmental rental is also available for ten to fifteen dollars and hour. Night tours with with glass bottom boats are also available.

Kite Boarding/Surfing:

La Parguera is also home to one of the most exciting sports to hit the area in the last seven years, kite surfing. Winds are a steady 15 to 20 knots just about every day and the water pristine clear. Some of the best wind and water conditions for the sport that you can hope for anywhere will be found here at La-parguera. Getting here may seem difficult but once here you will realize the trip was well worth it and the price small for the pleasure to sail among the unspoiled, stunning enchantment of these spectacular mangrove islands and sand cays. Your best bet is to cruise into the town marina and rent a small boat for the day. Pack a cooler, load the gear and head out to Cayo Majimo or Cayo Enrique. For those looking for a tour ask for The kitehouse, see our directory for more details. A prime riding area is the Elevator, you will need a boat to get there so ask the locals to point you in the right direction to other launches, nightspots and places to stay.

Fishing:

World class deep ocean fishing is available at La Parguera from many of the local boat charters. Look up Capt. Mickey a trained Marine Biologist who owns one of the best local charters. Be it Dorado, Blue Marlin, Wahoo, Tuna, Pargo(Barred snapper), Groupers, Mackerel, Spearfish,Barracuda or Jacks you will find it all here in the pristine waters off the lazy shores of La Parguera.

Other points of Interest:

Isla de Magueyes, this 18 acre island is located some 155 feet off the coast of La Parguera. The island possesses a small hill in the central part and caves, Guayacán and Mattei which possesses Taino Indias remains in its soil. Since 1954 the Department of Marine Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez runs a research facility on the Island. Graduate students have access to modern laboratories equipped with state of the art equipment for marine and oceanographic research. Research facilities for warm water aquaculture include some 8 acres of earthen ponds, two hatcheries and numerous concrete tanks, plastic pools, and aquaria facilities with running water are available for controlled environmental studies. A NOAA tide and weather station wave-data recording station is also housed and operated at the facility. The facility also has a vast fleet of small to medium size vessels; boats include the 127 foot R/V Chapman, a 51 foot Thompson trawler, and a 35 foot diesel Downeast. The facility is administered by the DMS and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Los Canales:

A brisk freshness in the air accompanies one while roaming through the paradise of the canales and one seems to be transported back in time, as if for a moment civilization is left behind; this is the romance of the canals. The canals, “Los Canales”, of la Parguera are formed by more than 30 cays and small “islotes”, islets, mostly mangroves trees through which the canals now flow. These exotic canales are believed to be the work of the Taino Indians that lived in this region hundreds of years ago. The Indians carved out canals for protection against the bad weather during hurricane season. To this day the canals are still used for protecting small craft during the hurricane season. Nesting in the branches of a tree one may see a resting pelican, tropical birds, small monkeys jumping from branch to branch and many more surprises indigenous to this ecosystem. If one watches silently you might be surprised by the surfacing of a friendly aquatic mammal, the Manatee. A trip to Isla Cuevas is recommended but be very carefull the island may be full of monkeys; we advice caution if you plan to come ashore.

Los Cayos:

The cays are located south of La Parguera; there are 30 or so cays but the most famous of these is Caracoles. Surrounded by shallow waters the cay seems to form a natural pool in the middle of the ocean and the only accesses to these beautiful cays are via boat. The canals are teaming with tropical fish due to the constant flow of fresh filtered water that emanates from the mangroves. Medialuna Key is known for the herds of friendly manatees that visit its waters from time to time; seaturtles and dolphins are also frequent visitors of the area. Mata de la Gata, Enrique, Májimo, Collado, Laurel and San Cristóbal are the largest of the cays. Frequented by local and international tourists as well as Parguereños themselves these cays provide fantastic snorkeling. Of all the cays only Enrique, Medialuna and Májimo are suitable for camping. Isla Cuevas may be full of monkeys; we advice caution if you plan to come ashore. Be prepared to spend the night under a star filled sky surrounded by the Milkyway and shooting stars crossing the heavens and falling in the sea or fading in to the night.

History:

La Parguera was founded in the first quarter of the XIX century by fishermen from Guánica and Cabo Rojo, two adjacent municipalities.  Families began populating the area, among those families were the Cancel, Quiñonez, Rosado, Ramos, Fabiani, Lagarde, Irizarry, Pagán, Hernández, López, Pancorbo, and Piñero. The tourism industry was begun by the Cancel and Quiñonez families; Luis Irizarry Cancel built the first fishery in the village. Don Segundo “Gundo” Hernández built a small float at the “varadero” for the local fishermen. By 1945 the village was inhabited by 24 fishermen families from the neighboring barrios, growth was right around the corner, for better or worse. Till this day many of the original founding families reside here at La Parguera, some in the same lots allocated many years ago others have become the Parguera power house families owning many of the local businesses.