Tucked between the windswept headlands of Puerto Rico’s west coast, on the outskirts of the town of Isabela, is the “Big Sur of Puerto Rico,” to borrow a phrase from Leopoldo Rosso, a local guide with more than two decades of experience showcasing the sights and secrets of his native island. Playa Guajataca is home to the Guajataca Tunnel, one of the few railway tunnels that remain in Puerto Rico. The tunnel was used to transport sugar cane from Quebradillas and Isabela—today, the tunnel is the gateway to the beautiful Guajataca Beach, where visitors can swim and snorkel. On the Guajataca River, others paddleboard and kayak, and simply enjoy the peace and quiet of one of Puerto Rico’s untrammeled regions.
