Estal de Guánica

Estatal de Guánica

We drove 18, 52, 2 116, and 334 to get to the dry side of the island. It was quite a switch driving there. The landscape became much more arid and desert like. Everything looked dry and the land was much flatter though mountains were always visible in the distance. It was also nice to drive good roads almost all the way there. It was hot and sunny when we reached the park. We got some maps from the ranger and headed down Ballena trail to the coast. It was mostly a dirt road lined with dry forest trees and later cacti. It was an absolutely gorgeous day for taking pictures. The sun was bright and the sky was blue with fluffy white clouds here and there. The Carribbean coast provided spectacular scenery including rocky pitted limestone shores, beaches, palms, and cacti. It was so neat to see cacti growing right next to the shore. We hiked out to the beach and Alan and I put on swim suits and snorkeled along the rocky coast and then checked out a corral reef. I saw sea urchin, a blue spotted-white type of angel fish, coral, sea fans, and fire corral. We swam back in and walked along the coast. Earlier I noticed a type of shell fastened to the rock near the shore. I got my boots wet checking it out. I first though they were fossils but Alan told me they were citrons. He later also pointed out another shell called a limpet. I took pictures of both. The coast was beautiful. I took many pictures. There was a small cave along the shore near a spot where I think I got a great desktop picture. The cave had a stoop walk entrance about 4’ high and 7’ wide. It included a circular standing room and was probably about 25’ long. We walked further down the coast looking for the Cueva trail. Marion had discovered there was a cave along the trail while we’d snorkeled. We hiked past it but did find an area with lots of Costal Melon Cacti. I got some good pictures of those. I also took some pictures of cacti with the sea in the background since it is such a strange contrast. We decided we’d gone to far and that the “you are here” on the posted map was wrong. We hiked back and began up the Cueva trail. We saw an area with limestone outcropping but had no luck finding the cave. The sun was quite hot making the long gentle uphill hike back to the ranger station more difficult at times. We had to be out of the park’s parking lot by 4:30 since it closed then. We had a snack and I did a little stretching. We decided to drive back to the coast and more thoroughly check the cueva trail. To Cueva Murcielago

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Fotos de Estatal de Guánica

Taken by Brian Killingbeck

Taken by Alan Cressler

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