Founded in 1917, Villalba is a picturesque mountain town in the centre of Puerto Rico. It was severely damaged in 2017 by Hurricane Maria but has since been rebuilt, with spectacular lookouts, hiking trails and fishing lakes on its doorstep.
Sweeping views across the Central Mountain Range can be enjoyed from the Miradero Villalba-Orocovis, which boasts several picnic gazebos. Stretch your legs on the boardwalk trail and peer at natural landmarks through one of the telescopes. Nearby is Las Cabañas de Doña Juana, which serves up homestyle Puerto Rican fare.
Villalba is a good base for visiting Toro Negro State Forest, which protects Puerto Rico’s highest-altitude cloud forest. It’s also home to the island’s three tallest peaks, plus an observation tower and a network of hiking trails. Anglers can cast a fishing line at Lago El Guineo, which is renowned for its largemouth and peacock bass.
Getting there
Villalba is around 40 minutes’ drive from Ponce and 20 minutes from Mercedita International Airport, which has regular flights to Orlando and New York. San Juan and Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport are 1.5 hours away. Buses connect to Villalba and the town is small enough to explore on foot.