The Ruta Panorámica (Scenic Route), officially the Ruta Panorámica Luis Muñoz Marín (Luis Muñoz Marín Scenic Route), is a 167-mile (269 km) network of some 40 secondary roads which traverse the island of Puerto Rico from west to east along its Cordillera Central (Central Mountain Range).[2][3] Most of the route consists of three roads, PR-105, PR-143, and PR-182.[4][5] The route starts in Mayagüez and ends in Maunabo. The first major segment of the route runs from Mayagüez to Maricao as Route 105, then from Adjuntas to Aibonito as Route 143, and then follows Route 182 toward Maunabo.[4]

Route information
Maintained by Puerto Rico DTPW
Length266 km[1] (165 mi)
Existed1970s–present
Major junctions
West endCalle Tamarindo in Mayagüez barrio-pueblo
Major intersections
East end PR-3 in TalanteMaunabo barrio-puebloQuebrada Arenas
Location
CountryUnited States
TerritoryPuerto Rico
MunicipalitiesMayagüez, Las Marías, Maricao, San Germán, Sabana Grande, Yauco, Lares, Adjuntas, Utuado, Ponce, Jayuya, Juana Díaz, Orocovis, Villalba, Coamo, Barranquitas, Aibonito, Cayey, Guayama, Patillas, San Lorenzo, Yabucoa, Maunabo
Highway system

Route description

edit
A sign on westbound PR-143 in Barrio Ala de la Piedra, Orocovis, pointing out Ruta Panorámica near PR-149
The Ruta Panorámica in Collores, Juana Díaz
View from Cerro Las Mesas Natural Protected Area (CLMNPA) in Mayagüez

As the Route is a two-way road, it can be traveled starting at either its western or its eastern termini. To travel the Route in a westerly direction (i.e., from Maunabo to Mayagüez), the course of the road is reversed from what is given here. Starting from Mayagüez and ending in Maunabo, as of August 2010, the course of the Route is as follows:[6][7]

PR-105 Municipality of Mayagüez (Eastbound)
PR-339 Municipality of Mayagüez (Eastbound)
PR-119 Municipality of Mayagüez (Northbound)
PR-106 Municipality of Mayagüez (Eastbound)
PR-106 Municipality of Las Marias (Eastbound)
PR-120 Municipality of Las Marias (Southbound)
PR-120 Municipality of Maricao (Southbound)
PR-120 Municipalities of Maricao and San Germán (Eastbound)[a]
PR-120 Municipalities of Maricao and Sabana Grande (Eastbound)[a]

Landmark: Maricao State Forest, site of Monte del Estado

PR-366 Municipalities of Maricao and Sabana Grande (Eastbound)[a]
PR-365 Municipalities of Maricao and Yauco (Eastbound)[a]
PR-105 Municipalities of Maricao and Yauco (Eastbound)[a]
PR-128 Municipality of Maricao (Northbound)
PR-128 Municipality of Lares (Northbound)
PR-135 Municipality of Lares (Eastbound)
PR-135 Municipality of Adjuntas (Eastbound)

Landmark: Lago Guayo[8]

PR-525 Municipality of Adjuntas (Eastbound)
PR-518 Municipality of Adjuntas (Eastbound)

Landmark: Lago Garzas[9]

PR-123 Municipality of Adjuntas (Southbound)
PR-143 Municipality of Adjuntas (Eastbound)
PR-143 Municipality of Ponce (Eastbound)

Landmark: Toro Negro State Forest

PR-143 Municipality of Jayuya (Eastbound)
PR-143 Municipality of Ponce (Eastbound)
PR-143 Municipality of Villalba (Eastbound)

Landmark: Salto de Doña Juana Waterfall (2 miles)
Landmark: Villalba Overlook

PR-143 Municipality of Orocovis (Eastbound)
PR-143 Municipality of Coamo (Eastbound)
PR-143 Municipality of Barranquitas (Eastbound)
PR-723 Municipality of Barranquitas (Southbound)
PR-7718 Municipality of Aibonito (Eastbound)

Landmark: Piedra Degetau Overlook

PR-7722 Municipality of Cayey (Eastbound)
PR-1 Municipality of Cayey (Eastbound)
PR-715 Municipality of Cayey (Southbound)
PR-7737 Municipality of Cayey (Eastbound)
PR-741 Municipality of Cayey (Eastbound)
PR-7741 Municipality of Cayey (Eastbound)
PR-742 Municipality of Cayey (Eastbound)
PR-179 Municipality of Cayey (Northbound)
PR-184 Municipality of Cayey (Southbound)

Landmark: Carite State Forest, Guavate

PR-7740 Municipalities of San Lorenzo and Patillas (Eastbound)[a]
PR-181 Municipality of San Lorenzo (Southbound)
PR-182 Municipality of Yabucoa (Eastbound)
PR-901 Municipality of Yabucoa (Eastbound)
PR-3 Municipality of Yabucoa (Southbound)
PR-3 Municipality of Maunabo (Southbound)

  1. ^ a b c d e f Whenever one of the roads of the Route is also the boundary between two municipalities, both municipalities are shown in the course of the Route above. For example, PR-120 Municipalities of Maricao and San Germán (Eastbound).

History

edit

Early in the 1970s, the Autoridad de Carreteras de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Roads Authority) developed a 220-kilometer (140 mi) route along the Cordillera Central. The route was finished in 1974. According to the original plans, the route started at Cerro Las Mesas in Mayagüez, ran along the full length of the central mountains, including along parts of the length of the Sierra de Cayey to end at Cuchilla de Pandura, in Yabucoa. The development of the route included the building of overlooks, rest areas, and recreational facilities at a cost of $4 million. In 1975, it was estimated that the cost of the necessary facilities to complete the Route - but excluding roads already built - amounted to $20 million.[10] National Geographic has called the route "an assemblage of 40-plus roads that cuts through the island's lush Cordillera Central."[11][12]

Major intersections

edit

Note: kilometer markers represent the distance along the numbered highways rather than the Ruta Panorámica.

MunicipalityLocationkm[13][14]miDestinationsNotes
MayagüezMayagüez barrio-pueblo0.00.0PR-Calle Tamarindo – MayagüezWestern terminus of the Ruta Panorámica
Limón9.6
0.0
6.0
0.0
 
 
PR-339 east (Ruta Panorámica) – Limón
Eastern terminus through PR-105; western terminus through PR-339
Montoso5.0
61.4
3.1
38.2
  PR-119 – Las Marías, Maricao, San GermánEastern terminus through PR-339; southern terminus through PR-119
Naranjales59.9
13.7
37.2
8.5
 
 
PR-106 west – Mayagüez
Western terminus of PR-106 concurrency; western terminus through PR-106
MayagüezLas Marías
municipal line
MontosoNaranjales line14.38.9  PR-119 – Las MaríasEastern terminus of PR-119 concurrency; northern terminus through PR-119
Las MaríasNaranjalesMaravilla Sur line18.9
26.9
11.7
16.7
  PR-120 – Las Marías, MaricaoEastern terminus through PR-106; northern terminus through PR-120
MaricaoMaricao barrio-pueblo20.2
24.7
12.6
15.3
 
 
PR-105 east (Calle Primero de Abril) – Lares, Yauco
Eastern terminus of PR-105 concurrency
See PR-105
Maricao Afuera23.1
20.1
14.4
12.5
  PR-105 – MayagüezWestern terminus of PR-105 concurrency
San Germán
No major junctions
Sabana GrandeSantanaTabonuco line11.0
0.0
6.8
0.0
  PR-366 (Ruta Panorámica) – Indiera FríaSouthern terminus through PR-120; western terminus through PR-366
MaricaoSabana Grande
municipal line
Indiera FríaTabonuco line4.4
5.2
2.7
3.2
  PR-365 (Ruta Panorámica) – Indiera BajaEastern terminus through PR-366; western terminus through PR-365
YaucoMaricao
municipal line
RubiasIndiera Baja
Indiera Alta tripoint
0.0
42.7
0.0
26.5
  PR-105 – Maricao, Yauco, LaresEastern terminus through PR-365; western terminus through PR-105
MaricaoIndiera Alta43.4
25.7
27.0
16.0
  PR-128 – Yauco, LaresEastern terminus through PR-105; southern terminus through PR-128
See PR-128
LaresBartolo37.9
0.0
23.5
0.0
  PR-135 (Ruta Panorámica) – AdjuntasNorthern terminus through PR-128; western terminus through PR-135
See PR-135
AdjuntasGuayo8.6
0.0
5.3
0.0
  PR-525 (Ruta Panorámica) – LimaníEastern terminus through PR-135; western terminus through PR-525
Guilarte5.8
4.1
3.6
2.5
  PR-131 – GuilarteWestern terminus through PR-525; northern terminus through PR-131
7.9
12.1
4.9
7.5
  PR-518 (Ruta Panorámica) – AdjuntasSouthern terminus through PR-131; western terminus through PR-518
See PR-518
Adjuntas barrio-pueblo0.0
34.3
0.0
21.3
  PR-123 – Adjuntas, PonceEastern terminus through PR-518; northern terminus through PR-123
Saltillo30.6
0.0
19.0
0.0
  PR-143 (Ruta Panorámica) – BarranquitasSouthern terminus through PR-123; western terminus through PR-143
See PR-143
BarranquitasCoamo
municipal line
HelechalHayales line54.1
9.6
33.6
6.0
  PR-723 (Ruta Panorámica) – Aibonito, PulguillasEastern terminus through PR-143; northern terminus through PR-723
AibonitoAsomantePasto line0.0
45.9
0.0
28.5
  PR-14 (Carretera Central) – Aibonito, CoamoWestern terminus of the Carretera Central concurrency; southern terminus through PR-723; western terminus through PR-14; the Carretera Central continues toward Coamo
46.8
3.5
29.1
2.2
 
 
PR-7718 east (Paseo Don Julio Francisco "Paco" Santos Vázquez) – Aibonito
Eastern terminus of the Carretera Central conrurrency; eastern terminus through PR-14; western terminus through PR-7718; the Carretera Central continues toward Cayey
PastoRobles line0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
  
 
PR-162 / PR-722 east (Ruta Panorámica) – Aibonito, Salinas, Cayey
Eastern terminus through PR-7718; western terminus through PR-722
Robles2.7
6.3
1.7
3.9
 
 
PR-7722 east (Ruta Panorámica) – Cayey, Salinas
Eastern terminus through PR-722; western terminus through PR-7722
CayeyPasto ViejoPedro Ávila line0.0
66.0
0.0
41.0
  PR-1 – Cayey, SalinasEastern terminus through PR-7722; western terminus through PR-1
SumidoMatón Arriba line61.1
0.0
38.0
0.0
  PR-715 (Ruta Panorámica) – CercadilloEastern terminus through PR-1; northern terminus through PR-715
Sumido2.2
3.4
1.4
2.1
  PR-7737 (Ruta Panorámica) – Cayey, GuayamaSouthern terminus through PR-715; western terminus through PR-7737
Culebras Bajo0.0
20.0
0.0
12.4
  PR-15 – Cayey, GuayamaEastern terminus through PR-7737; northern terminus through PR-15
Jájome AltoCulebras Bajo line18.5
0.0
11.5
0.0
  PR-741 (Ruta Panorámica) – Culebras AltoSouthern terminus through PR-15; western terminus through PR-741
Culebras Alto1.8
6.9
1.1
4.3
  PR-7741 (Ruta Panorámica) – CariteEastern terminus through PR-741; western terminus through PR-7741
GuayamaCarite0.0
0.6
0.0
0.37
  PR-742 – CariteEastern terminus through PR-7741; northern terminus through PR-742
0.0
9.8
0.0
6.1
  PR-179 – Guayama, CayeySouthern terminus through PR-742; southern terminus through PR-179
CayeyGuavate20.2
24.2
12.6
15.0
  PR-184 – Cayey, PatillasNorthern terminus through PR-179; northern terminus through PR-184
PatillasMuñoz Rivera19.3
7.7
12.0
4.8
  PR-7740 (Ruta Panorámica) – San LorenzoSouthern terminus through PR-184; western terminus through PR-7740
San LorenzoEspino0.0
20.6
0.0
12.8
  PR-181 – San Lorenzo, PatillasEastern terminus through PR-7740; northern terminus through PR-181
YabucoaGuayabota15.1
15.9
9.4
9.9
  PR-182 (Ruta Panorámica) – YabucoaSouthern terminus through PR-181; western terminus through PR-182
See PR-182
Juan Martín0.0
99.0
0.0
61.5
  PR-3 – Maunabo, HumacaoEastern terminus through PR-182; northern terminus through PR-3
MaunaboTalanteMaunabo barrio-pueblo
Quebrada Arenas tripoint
106.9
0.6
66.4
0.37
  PR-939 – Quebrada ArenasSouthern terminus through PR-3; northern terminus through PR-939
Maunabo barrio-puebloQuebrada Arenas
Emajagua tripoint
0.0
0.6
0.0
0.37
  PR-760 (Avenida John F. Kennedy) – Patillas, YabucoaSouthern terminus through PR-939; western terminus through PR-760
Emajagua1.5
15.1
0.93
9.4
 
 
PR-901 north (Carretera Ernesto Carrasquillo) – Yabucoa
Eastern terminus through PR-760; southern terminus through PR-901
See PR-901
YabucoaYabucoa barrio-pueblo0.00.0  
 
PR-9910 (Calle Cristóbal Colón) to PR-182 – Yabucoa
Eastern terminus of the Ruta Panorámica
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority. "Plan de Manejo de la Ruta Panorámica" (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  2. ^ Josh Eells. "Road Trip: La Ruta Panorámica." Budget Travel. Dec 2011/Jan 2012. Page 27.
  3. ^ Tourist Routes: Panoramic Route. Puerto Rico Boriken. By Hector F. Davila. Retrieved 27 November 2009
  4. ^ a b Mapa Informativo de Puerto Rico Retrieved March 14, 2010.
  5. ^ Maps: Road Map. Caribbean Business. Archived 18 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 27 November 2009
  6. ^ Autoridad de Carreteras y Transportación. Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas. Prepared by MetroData, Inc. San Juan, Puerto Rico. August 2010.
  7. ^ "Plan a Trip Along la Ruta Panorámica". Discover Puerto Rico. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Lago Guayo". Geographic Names Information System. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Lago Garzas". Geographic Names Information System. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  10. ^ Original length and completion year. Originally published by Primera Hora on March 13, 2006. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  11. ^ National Geographic.
  12. ^ "Cerro Las Mesas". Para la Naturaleza. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Ruta Panorámica west" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  14. ^ "Ruta Panorámica east" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
edit