{xtypo_dropcap}T{/xtypo_dropcap}reasures sometimes are discovered by outsiders. And that is the case of a small town in Puerto Rico. Maunabo, a coastal small city at the southeast of the main island of Puerto Rico also can see across the ocean the southwest part of of Vieques and Culebra islands.
Before a new builded road tunnel, it was difficult to reach by car the town, keeping it as the ‘Esmeralda del Sur’ (The South Emerald). This small city has already begun to be overrun by housing developers and luxury resort Investors. Palmas del Mar owners have purchased land at the bayfront looking toward the end of known Punta Tuna Lighthouse Beach. The rumors are that their future intention is to build a hotel and a marina with a casino.
{xtypo_quote}Following a protection of the natural resources, the beach next to the Punta Tuna lighthouse was in front of an expropiated land named Reserva Punta Tunas; and the beach is known as Playa Larga. Maunabo, currently has only one housing project condo that can be seen from the height of the Yabucoa and Maunabo guardarraya road, called Vistas del Faro.{/xtypo_quote}
But if you are traveling the Big Island, just take route from San Juan to the East toward Las Américas PR-52 Expressway, then Road 30 expressway, and then take route 3 to the southeast to reach the Maunabo town, after passsing a short tunnel that cross the middle of a big mountain.
Once in Maunabo, visit the Punta Tuna Lighthouse and take a break at the Punta Tunas Reserve Playa Larga beach. It is ideal for jogging on sand and surfing with mooreys as it is a wavy beach. During season please be careful with nesting sea turtles. If you go by car, it is better, for security, to park on a restaurant parking at the beach front and then walk/run thru all the coast to enjoy its 1 mile long beach.