Porta Cordillera

Porta Cordillera is a land-locked tourism region in the central mountainous region of Puerto Rico. It consists of 16 municipalities in the south central zone: Aguas Buenas, Cidra, Cayey, Comerío, Aibonito, Naranjito, Barranquitas, Corozal, Orocovis, Morovis, Ciales, Jayuya, Florida, Utuado, Adjuntas and Lares.[1]

Municipalities of Porta Cordillera

The zone is known for its stunning nature reserves, forests, coffee plantations, lakes, rivers, and caves as well as its protected karst area.[2] Puerto Rico's Ruta Panorámica notably cuts through the heart of this region.

Porta Cordillera was established in July 2012 by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. The name translates to "Doorway to the Cordillera", where "cordillera" refers to Puerto Rico's Cordillera Central - the central mountain range of the island. Utuado and Aguas Buenas are not part of the Cordillera Central, but they are part of the tourism zone nevertheless.[3] Adjuntas and Jayuya were part of the Porta Caribe region since the creation of that zone, but was moved to the Porta Cordillera region.[4][5]

History

The creation of the tourist region was the result of Puerto Rico Law 54 of 4 August 2009. Representative for District 28 - which comprises 4 of the 16 towns in the zone (Barranquitas, Corozal, Naranjito and Comerío) - Rafael ‘June’ Rivera authored the bill that became Law 54.[6]

Inventory

When the ragion was created in July 2012, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company already endorsed 136 rooms in lodgings located in Adjuntas, Cidra, Jayuya and Utuado.[7]

Attractions

On the western end of Porta Cordillera is the historical town of Lares, known for sparking the famous rebellion against colonial Spanish rule.

Porta Cordillera's attractions also include the Caguana Indian Ceremonial Center in Utuado. Nearby is also Lago Dos Bocas, where complimentary boats ferry visitors to lakeside creole restaurants, as well as Río Abajo State Forest and Cueva Ventana.

The Toro Negro State Forest which is extends over five municipalities also spans into the Porta Cordillera towns of Jayuya, Orocovis and Ciales, and has extensive views from the highest elevation in Puerto Rico, including Monte Jayuya.

Aibonito has Mirador Piedra Degetau (Piedra Degetau Rock Lookout) from which there are views, as well as an annual flower festival held every year at the end of June.

Carite National Forest has many natural wonders as well as restaurants located along the mountain slopes. The region also includes Ruta del Lechón (Pork Route) in Guavate State Forest. The "lechón asado" is a spit-roasted pig meal with all the local fixings.

Porta Cordillera is home to the time-honored Puerto Rican jibarito and the region brushes into the Monumento al Jíbaro Puertorriqueño, officially located in the Porta Caribe municipality of Salinas but long-claimed by Porta Cordillera's town of Cayey.

Other attractions

Adjuntas
- Casa Pueblo
- Inabón waterfall
Aibonito
- Casa Manresa
- La Trinchera de Asomante
Jayuya
- Hacienda Gripiñas
- Toro Negro State Forest
- Cemi Museum and Written Stone

References

Tourism Co. brands 16-town mountain region as ‘Porta Cordillera’. Michelle Kantrow. News Is My Business. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
“Porta Cordillera”, nueva zona turística de la Isla. Archived 2012-07-12 at the Wayback Machine 8 July 2012. Inter News Service. El Vocero de Puerto Rico. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
Nace la ruta Porta Cordillera: La Compañía de Turismo bautizó el Distrito Especial Turístico de la Montaña, que agrupa a 16 municipios. 15 July 2012. El Nuevo Dia. Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
Puerto Rico Tourism - Municipalities in the Regions Archived 2008-09-02 at the Wayback Machine
Now the South is known as Porta Caribe. Archived 2011-02-08 at the Wayback Machine Porta Caribe Official Website. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
Nace la ruta Porta Cordillera: La Compañía de Turismo bautizó el Distrito Especial Turístico de la Montaña, que agrupa a 16 municipios. 15 July 2012. El Nuevo Dia. Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
Nace la ruta Porta Cordillera: La Compañía de Turismo bautizó el Distrito Especial Turístico de la Montaña, que agrupa a 16 municipios. 15 July 2012. El Nuevo Dia. Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 20 October 2013.

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[1] Tourism Co. brands 16-town mountain region as ‘Porta Cordillera’. Michelle Kantrow. News Is My Business. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2013.

[2] “Porta Cordillera”, nueva zona turística de la Isla. Archived 2012-07-12 at the Wayback Machine 8 July 2012. Inter News Service. El Vocero de Puerto Rico. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 20 October 2013.

[3] Nace la ruta Porta Cordillera: La Compañía de Turismo bautizó el Distrito Especial Turístico de la Montaña, que agrupa a 16 municipios. 15 July 2012. El Nuevo Dia. Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 20 October 2013.

[4] Puerto Rico Tourism - Municipalities in the Regions Archived 2008-09-02 at the Wayback Machine

[5] Now the South is known as Porta Caribe. Archived 2011-02-08 at the Wayback Machine Porta Caribe Official Website. Retrieved 17 October 2012.

[6] Nace la ruta Porta Cordillera: La Compañía de Turismo bautizó el Distrito Especial Turístico de la Montaña, que agrupa a 16 municipios. 15 July 2012. El Nuevo Dia. Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 20 October 2013.

[7] Nace la ruta Porta Cordillera: La Compañía de Turismo bautizó el Distrito Especial Turístico de la Montaña, que agrupa a 16 municipios. 15 July 2012. El Nuevo Dia. Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 20 October 2013.