PATILLAS, PUERTO RICO

Patillas is a town in Puerto Rico which is situated on the east of Arroyo and Guayama, west of Muanabo and Yabucoa, San Lorenzo’s south and in the south eastern coast. The town was founded in 1811 after a mill for sugarcane production was established that provided a substantial amount of income to the neighbors of the Patilla valley.

The very name of the town comes from the name of an indigenous variety of watermelon, the Patilla. It is believed that the large scale production of watermelons in the area might have led for the town’s name. These days Patillas is also popular for the regions that grow grapes under private plantations and market it to USA to produce wine. The areas that surround the town produce oranges and sugarcanes.

Patillas is called the “emerald of the south” owing to the extensive green cover on the mountains and because of the color imparted to them by the sun’s reflective rays.

Towards the north of the town is located the astounding Lago Patillas which serves a dual purpose, of a recreational area as well as of the chief hydroelectric reservoir.

One should not miss going to Parraquia Inmaculado Corazon de Maria which was destroyed by the hurricane of San Felipe but was built again 1930. Also, Carite Forest that is nearby with the recreational area having a small natural pool known as the Charco Azul which is the hot favorite of the locals must not be missed.

Lodging

To enjoy the scenic beauty of Patillas, a lot of choice regarding accommodation is available in Patillas. You can go for the hotels as per your budget choosing from a variety of options. Many hotels of the area provide you with the facility of shuttle buses that help you to commute between the hotel and the airport.

Travel

The international airport of the Luis Munoz Marin (SJU) mostly takes care of the flights that come into or depart from the country. Otherwise there are some smaller airports such as the international airport of Rafael Hernandez in Aguadilla that receive the flights coming from delta, continental and the Jetblue. A lot of cheap flights heading towards Puerto Rico make these airports full of activity.

Usual US custom and immigration rules apply to Puerto Rico. The airports come equipped with many modern facilities like the starbucks latte. You can grab one while the wait for the luggage is on.