We went on a cross island camping trip. When we were 'planning'
or lack there of. We knew where we wanted to go, what we wanted to see and do was figured out; but the minor details such as where to stay, how to get to there and around and many other details were all left up in the air.
We packed up our minivan for a week long camping trip. We had a cooler filled with yummy foods, took out the middle seat so we could sleep in the car {tents are super expensive here} and headed on our way to Ponce.
Ponce is about an hour an a half drive from Rincón
when you know where you are going and just outside of Ponce is Centro Ceremonial Indígena de Tibes. Which is a Native American archeological site, that wasn't discovered till 1975. When this site was discovered they found over 130 skeletons, kids toys, kitchen utensils, weapons and so much more.
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This is the court where they believed a game similar to soccer was played.
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| This is the sun court. |
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| Where the tribe gathered to make life discussions and hold important ceremonies. |
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| Inside the mesume one of the skeletons found at the burial site. |
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| Their tools. |
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| Petroglyph. |
After we left this amazing archeological site we tried to find a place to camp. We drove around and around looking for any place to set up camp. We've never been in Ponce before and thought we could just find a beach to camp for the night. After we drove around for a few hours we finally found a perfect spot, we were in the middle of the jungle right next to the beach. As we were setting up camp we had the thought of how high is high tide?? Are wie going to wake up with our car flooded?? So we packed up and drove to Fajardo and stayed at the Fajardo Inn for the night.
After a good nights sleep and hot showers we started out on day 2 of our adventure. We were wanting to take the ferry over to one of the outlining islands either Vieques or Culebra and camp out for a few nights there. As we were trying to talk to the ferry people who aren't very friendly we found out we needed a reservation at least 2 weeks in advanced and even if you have a reservation most likely you will still get kicked off. We scratched that idea off our list till we actually planned it out. On to plan B, or maybe we are on plan D by now, who knows?!? Everyone in the area told us to go camp at Seven Seas Beach, boy were they wrong!! It wasn't tent camping or beach camping; it was pay $25 to park your car overnight, it was however an absolutely beautiful beach and we spent hours wondering around.
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| Pinacolada on the beach |
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| At the end of the world. |
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| Sea grass bed that went on forever |
Before the sun started to set we took off to find a better camp site for us. We drove to Luquillo and found a beach right off the road behind the Luquillo Kiosks.
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| Our campsite!! |
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| We thought the back seat would come out but it didn't so we had 2 beds. Not very comfy but its free!! |
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| Bradwell cooking Pinchos |
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| No better view than that!! |
The Luquillo Kiosks are awesome they are a bunch or restaurants, stores, bars whatever the owner wants. Each one is about 30X30 and there are probably about 50 or so, it looks like a flea market. Our favorite one was the Tattoo Tavern it was a bar and tattoo shop. The tattoo shop was like a fish tank and everyone could watch you get your tattoo or piercing.
The next morning we woke up and went on the FunCat, a sailing and snorkeling trip to the Spanish Virgin Islands. This boat was a million dollar costume made boat that could comfortably seat 60 people, we had 10 including the captain and deck hands. We went out to some of the bluest water and whitest sand beaches. One island was a private island and where they filmed Pirates of the Caribbean!!
After a long day and a few long nights of camping we drove home. It was quite the adventure and now know where to camp for the next time and that the island isn't that big so we can do day trips if needed.
