2025-04-13 Change of plans with the weather - now in Luperon

We were thinking of going all the way from Puerto Rico to the Florida Keys.  Good thing we don't live to a schedule, or firm plans most the time.   

It was a 6 to 7-day trip from Puerto Rico to Key West, and we could not find a long enough weather window for the entire trip.   It seems odd, since usually you would have steady easterly trade winds, but we saw north winds, no winds, and strong east winds up to 30 knots, all lasting more than a day, so we decided instead to take an upcoming weather window to sail to Luperon, Dominican Republic instead.  That would cut 260 miles out of our almost 1,000-mile trip.   

Signpost at Puerto Real.  I think the Galapagos distance is a bit off.

Monday we rented a car in Puerto Real to go to shopping for provisions.  We did a brief drive tour of the Southwest corner of Puerto Rico first, going to Cabo Rojo, and then through San German before heading to Mayaguez to the Walmart, and Pueblo (grocery)  stores.

We were going to go to the lighthouse, but the road was closed to cars, so it would have been a 4-mile roundtrip walk which we were not prepared for, so we didn't go.

Stopped at the view tower for the Cabo Rojo salt flats

 

Viewtower

View of the SW 

Salt flat ponds

After the view tower, we hit the road and drove through San German.  Cute little town on a hill, but the roads were so narrow, there was nowhere to pull off, and Google Maps got us a little lost for some reason, so we did not stop for photos.  Had a quick lunch at a McDonald's near the highway, then onto Walmart and Pueblo for groceries and then back to boat.

 

We did buy a new microwave at Walmart, as our old one was getting a bit rusty on the door and was starting to flake off pieces.

New non-rusty microwave.   It's the small things that make you happy sometimes

Tuesday afternoon we left Puerto Real and sailed to Luperon, arriving midday on Thursday.   Uneventful sail, which is always good, a bit lumpy in 5' seas with a 5 to 6-second period off the stern quarter for the first 12 hours or so, then it got better withe lesser seas, and we could turn more downwind.

 

In Luperon we checked in, first with Immigration where we could pay with credit card for about $65, then to Customs, only $30, then to the department of Agriculture, another $10, then to the Navy, which was no charge.  It was nice, they all took US dollars.   It took about an hour to do it all, even though the offices were all in the same area, just time for everyone to fill out their forms, and stamp them.  Still better than Trinidad, and everyone very helpful and friendly.

 

Across the street, cross the crumbling bridge and up the hill to the Navy office

 

Navy office parking.  Motorcycles are more prevalent than cars here

 

 

After check in - back to boat to relax, as after a couple of nights underway, we were both a bit of brain weary from lack of sleep, so good to just relax. 

Friday we headed into town to see the sights.

 

Statue of General Luperon - where the town got its name

 

Nice tile work outside a pharmacy

Town square

As with most towns, there is part that is nicer looking, and parts that are poorer looking.  In Luperon, they are mixed together, so there is no transition between them.  

Laundry hanging to dry on the side of the main street.  You use the space you have

Across the street is a car wash, with nice cars getting washed.   Everything clean and well-kept.

Right outside the clean car wash, trash in the street, with people picking through the bottles to find ones they can return for money

Make a fence with what you can find.

Luperon does have a nice dinghy dock.

Dinghy dock

 

We had a nice lunch out at a pizza restaurant, which seems to also be a bit of a local hangout.  A 10" round pizza cost 250 Dominican Republic pesos - which is about $4 USD.   We had two pizzas with two large cokes for under $10 USD.    

With the very protected bay, and very cheap cost of living, you can see why Luperon is a place where people stop on their way to the Caribbean from the US or Canada, and never leave.   Many people here have been here more than 2 years, and there is a very active live-aboard community.   We were told you can even get free medical at the local small hospital here.

 

Luperon mooring field

Luperon mooring field

Almost everyone is on a mooring, which cost of $25 USD for a week.  Could have gotten a month for $75 USD.   

A couple of local people cater to the yachts, supplying diesel, water, gasoline, dive services, car rental, tours - any help you need at very reasonable (cheap)  prices.

We will wait here for a good weather window to head to Florida, which looks like at least a week away, but who knows.  Looks like the Keys are out for this year, as we want to make it to Norfolk by first of June.