Joyuda

Joyuda is a stretch of the Cabo Rojo coast where around thirty seafood restaurants sit side by side along the road facing the water, most of them with terraces over the sea, and it is called the golden mile of gastronomy on the island. The specialities are whole fried red snapper, mofongo stuffed with seafood, and land crab. Isla Ratones, a small mangrove islet, sits offshore and boats run out to it. Sunsets from the terraces are the other draw.

History

Colonial sources say little about Joyuda until the 19th century, when a growing population brought new settlers to this coast. Later, scientists from the College of Agriculture, today the Mayagüez campus of the University of Puerto Rico, began to study the Joyuda Lagoon, and a coconut plantation grew up around it (Wikipedia, Joyuda, Puerto Rico).

The main sights

• The restaurant strip - around thirty seafood places along a mile of coast.
• The whole fried snapper - the dish the strip is best known for.
• Isla Ratones - a mangrove islet offshore, reached by boat.
• The sunsets - the sun going down over the water from the terraces.

When to go

December to April is the drier season. Weekends are busiest and reservations help at the well-known places. Sunset is the peak hour for tables on the water.

Good to know

Quality varies considerably between restaurants and the busiest are busy for a reason. Prices for seafood are high. The lagoon behind the strip has had water quality problems.

Nearby

Boquerón is south, and Mayagüez is north.

Key facts