Paradores in Puerto Rico

Last updated
Paradores de Puerto Rico
Industry Hospitality
Founded1973
HeadquartersPuerto Rico
Number of locations
13
Area served
Puerto Rico
Products Hotels, resorts
OwnerEach parador is privately owned

Paradores in Puerto Rico is a brand of small inns similar to bed and breakfasts that have government permission to call themselves paradores based on a set of criteria. These inns are scattered across the island countryside, outside the main metropolitan area of San Juan. Often called "country inns" in English, paradores in Puerto Rico are known for their hospitality, affordable rates, exotic locations, and traditional Puerto Rican cuisine. They are frequented by guests looking to enjoy the local customs and charm.

Contents

History

Parador El Buen Cafe in Hatillo Parador El Buen Cafe, Hatillo, Puerto Rico.jpg
Parador El Buen Café in Hatillo

Traditionally, a parador in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries was an establishment where travelers could seek lodging, and usually, food and drink, similar to an inn. In Spain since 1928, a parador is a state-owned luxury hotel, usually located in a converted historic building such as a monastery or castle, or in a modern building with a panoramic view of a historic and monumental city.

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company established the Paradores de Puerto Rico brand in 1973 [1] under the administration of Governor Luis A. Ferre, who wanted to enhance the tourism sector of the island. The company runs an enterprise known by the same name, Paradores de Puerto Rico, which are typically small, one-of-a-kind, locally owned and operated hotels located in rural areas throughout the island commonwealth. [2] [3]

The inns work with FEMA to provide temporary residence when a major emergency, such as a hurricane or earthquake, displaces people in Puerto Rico. [4]

Participation

Sign for Parador Villa Parguera near the bioluminescent night tours in La Parquera Cerca del Parador Villa Parquera en Lajas, Puerto Rico.jpg
Sign for Parador Villa Parguera near the bioluminescent night tours in La Parquera

In Puerto Rico for an inn to be included on its list of paradores, it has to be a privately owned hotel participating in a special government program. This program assures a certain level of quality in the service, cuisine and other aspects of a tourist's stay. Currently there are 13 of these inns in Puerto Rico, with the biggest concentration around the west coast of the island. In 2018, the brand announced they had invested more than a million dollars in renovations. [5] During the 2019 Easter spring holiday, some inns reported 100% occupancy rates, thanks also in part to local tourism. [6]

Current paradores

Palmas de Lucia Parador in Yabucoa in 2020 Palmas de Lucia Parador en Yabucoa, Puerto Rico.jpg
Palmas de Lucía Parador in Yabucoa in 2020

The following are the paradores that were operational as of 2019: [1] [7]

  1. Boquemar in Boquerón, Cabo Rojo
  2. Combate Beach Resort (Playa El Combate) in Cabo Rojo
  3. Costa del Mar in Yabucoa
  4. El Buen Café in Hatillo
  5. El Faro in Aguadilla
  6. Guánica 1929 in Guánica
  7. Mauna Caribe in Maunabo [8]
  8. Palmas de Lucía in Yabucoa
  9. Turtle Bay Inn in La Parguera, Lajas
  10. Villas del Mar Hau in Isabela
  11. Villa Parguera in La Parguera, Lajas
  12. Villas Sotomayor in Adjuntas
  13. Yunque Mar in Luquillo

Past paradores

In 2003, there were 23 paradores. Some of the paradores that were on the list then include: [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lajas, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Lajas is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Lajas Valley in southwestern Puerto Rico, on the southern coast of the island, bordering the Caribbean Sea, south of San Germán and Sabana Grande; east of Cabo Rojo; and west of Guánica. Lajas is spread over 11 barrios plus Lajas Pueblo. It is part of the San Germán-Cabo Rojo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yabucoa, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Yabucoa is a town and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the eastern region, north of Maunabo; south of San Lorenzo, Las Piedras and Humacao; and east of Patillas. Yabucoa is spread over 9 barrios and Yabucoa Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico</span> City and municipality in Puerto Rico

Cabo Rojo is a city and municipality situated on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico and forms part of the San Germán–Cabo Rojo metropolitan area as well as the larger Mayagüez–San Germán–Cabo Rojo Combined Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guánica, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Guánica is a town and municipality in southwestern Puerto Rico, bordering the Caribbean Sea, south of Sabana Grande, east of Lajas, and west of Yauco. It is part of the Yauco metropolitan statistical area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parador</span> Kind of luxury hotel in Spanish-speaking countries

A parador, in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries was an establishment where travelers could seek lodging, and usually, food and drink, similar to an inn. In Spain since 1928, a Parador is a state-owned luxury hotel, usually located in a converted historic building such as a monastery or castle, or in a modern building in a nature area with a special appeal or with a panoramic view of a historic and monumental city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puerto Rico Highway 116</span> Highway in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Highway 116 (PR-116) is a main highway in the southwest part of Puerto Rico, beginning in Guánica, Puerto Rico at Puerto Rico Highway 2 to Lajas, Puerto Rico at Puerto Rico Highway 101.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boquerón, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico</span> Barrio of Puerto Rico

Boquerón is a barrio in the municipality of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 5,373. The village of Boquerón, located on the Boquerón Bay is one of the main tourist attractions in the southwestern part of the island. In 2000, its population was 4,963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lajas Valley</span> Anticlinal valley in Puerto Rico

The Lajas Valley, or the Yauco-Boquerón Valley, is an anticlinal valley that runs 30 km long and 5 km wide east-to-west in southwestern Puerto Rico, within the municipalities of Lajas, Cabo Rojo, Guánica, and Sabana Grande. It is surrounded by the Cordillera Central and the Santa Marta hills to the north, the Sierra Bermeja to the south, the Boqueron Bay in Cabo Rojo to the west, and the Guánica Bay and southern karst to the east. The climate is considered moist to dry subhumid tropical. Its large extension and fertile soil have made it a good place for agriculture. However, it is one of the driest places of Puerto Rico, making irrigation necessary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porta del Sol</span> Tourism region in western Puerto Rico

Porta del Sol is a tourism region in western Puerto Rico. It consists of 17 municipalities in the western area: Quebradillas, Isabela, San Sebastián, Moca, Aguadilla, Aguada, Rincón, Añasco, Mayagüez, Las Marías, Maricao, Hormigueros, San Germán, Sábana Grande, Guánica, Lajas and Cabo Rojo. Porta del Sol was established in 2003 by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. The name translates to "Doorway to the Sun"

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puerto Rico Highway 101</span> Highway in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Highway 101 (PR-101) is a rural road leaving the town of Boquerón, Cabo Rojo and Lajas, to the town of San Germán. Among their intersections are the PR-100, PR-301, PR-103 PR-116, PR-166 and PR-102.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porta Caribe</span> Tourism region in southern Puerto Rico

Porta Caribe is a tourism region in southern Puerto Rico. It was established in 2003 by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, an agency of the Government of Puerto Rico. When created in 2003 it consisted of 14 municipalities in the south central zone. With the creation of the neighboring Porta Cordillera zone in July 2012, the municipalities of Adjuntas and Jayuya were transferred to the newly created Porta Cordillera zone and Porta Caribe became a 12-municipality tourism region. The name Porta Caribe translates to "Doorway to the Caribbean." Its executive director is Maritza W. Ruiz Cabán.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sierra Bermeja</span> Mountain range in Puerto Rico

Sierra Bermeja is a mountain range in southwestern Puerto Rico. It forms the southern boundary of the Lajas Valley and it is bordered by La Parguera in the Caribbean Sea coast. It extends from the municipality of Cabo Rojo in the west to Lajas in the east. It consists of a combination of volcanic rocks, completely crossed by serpentinite and amphibolite faults, which could well be the oldest known rock in Puerto Rico. The mountains were used by the Taíno people as refuge from the Spanish, and then by smugglers during the Spanish colonization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parguera</span> Barrio of Lajas, Puerto Rico

Parguera is a barrio in the municipality of Lajas, Puerto Rico with a population of 2,082 in 2010. La Parguera is the main settlement of the barrio, often referred to as Poblado de la Parguera. Parguera is home to La Parguera Nature Reserve, which encompasses the bioluminescent bay, its surrounding mangrove forests, wetlands and a number of keys such as Mata La Gata and Cayo Enrique. The name Parguera derives from pargo, the local name for the Northern red snapper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boquerón State Forest</span>

Boquerón State Forest is one of the 20 forestry units that make up the public forest system of Puerto Rico. Despite its name, the Boquerón State Forest is not only located in Boquerón, Cabo Rojo but also spans almost 5,000 acres across the municipalities of Cabo Rojo, Lajas and Mayagüez. The forest area is also known for its limestone cliffs, the lighthouse, and the salt flats which have been a source of salt since the pre-Hispanic era and, dating to 700 C.E., they are considered to be one of the oldest industries in the Americas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Poblado de Boquerón</span>

El Poblado de Boquerón is a coastal village which represents the downtown or main urban nucleus of the barrio (district) Boquerón of Cabo Rojo, located on the northeast of Boquerón Bay. The village is a major tourist destination, and it is renown in Puerto Rico for its gastronomy, boathouses, beach, nightlife and its yearly pride parade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry LaFont (comedian)</span> Puerto Rican actor, comedian, lawyer and businessman (died 2023)

Julio Enrique Pancorbo Ortiz, better known as Henry LaFont, was a Puerto Rican lawyer, businessman, television comedian and tourism official.

References

  1. 1 2 "De fiesta los paradores en la isla". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). October 11, 2019.
  2. ↑ Caraballo, Harry Rodríguez. "Preparados los paradores para celebración del 4 de julio". Metro (in Spanish).
  3. ↑ Montalvo, Víctor Torres. "Estos son los paradores con ofertas para Semana Santa 2019". Metro (in Spanish).
  4. ↑ "Preparados los paradores para apoyar a los damnificados en el área sur".
  5. ↑ "Paradores se cantan listos para recibir turistas tras millonaria inversión [Paradores boast their readiness to receive tourists after million-dollar investment]". Primera Hora (in Spanish). October 5, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Llenos los paradores en Semana Santa [Paradores at full occupancy during Holy Week]". Primera Hora (in Spanish). April 2, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Home - Asociacion de Dueños de Paradores de Puerto Rico". visitparadores.
  8. ↑ "Reabre sus puertas el parador Mauna Caribe". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). 3 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  9. ↑ Philpott, D. (2003). Landmark Puerto Rico. Hunter Publishing Landmark Visitors Guides. Landmark Publishing Limited. p. 78. ISBN   978-1-901522-34-1 . Retrieved 17 October 2019.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.