Mary Lee's by the Sea

A special place for Special People

P.O Box 394  Guanica, PR  00653  787.821.3600  e-mail maryleesbythesea@aol.com

Hacienda Buena Vista - Located in Ponce about 40 minutes from Mary Lee's you will find  that a visit to the farm today is a journey into the past. It is a “working” coffee plantation, that recaptures rural life in 19th century Puerto Rico. The original owners donated many of the furnishings, and the Conservation Trust has purchased other authentic pieces.

Porta Coeli Church - Located in San German - about 20 minutes from Mary Lee's the Porta Coeli Church/Museum - Porta Coeli (“The Gate to Heaven”) was built in 1606, and is believed to be among the oldest churches on U.S. territory. It contains many of its original furnishings as well as a collection of religious art that includes colonial paintings and wooden statues dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Among its treasures is an altarpiece by José Campeche, the first—and by many considered to be the greatest—artist born in Puerto Rico.

Arecibo Observatory/Arecibo Radio Telescope - Located about 1hr 1/2 drive from Mary Lee's you will find the Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory, or Radio Telescope, the largest of its kind and one of the most important research facilities on the face of the earth.  The huge dish—more than a dozen football fields could fit inside—sits in a sinkhole and is forever aimed at the sky, tuned to detect the slightest sounds emitted by the farthest stars.

The Ponce Museum of Art - Art lovers should not miss the fine collection of more than 850 paintings, 800 sculptures, and 500 prints culled from five centuries of Western art that is featured here. The building alone, which was designed by famed architect Edward Durrel Stone is well worth the 40 minute drive from Mary Lee's.

Guanica Dry Forest - Right in our backyard - the Guanica Dry Forest encompasses 10,000 acres of dry land inhabited by over 600 uncommon types of plants and animals, including 48 endangered species and 16 that are unique to Puerto Rico!                                    

Phosphorescent Bay in La Parguera - Located about 20 minutes from Mary Lee's.  Imagine the blackness of the sea on a moonless night. Now watch it sparkle with the darting lights of a million fireflies. Nature lovers will not want to miss the phenomenal experience of visiting a tropical phosphorescent bay.

Bird Watching - Bird calls can only be compared to a colorful musical concert. In Puerto Rico, you can get front-row accommodations for a unique performance. The island boasts up to 284 bird species, ranking second in the Caribbean. Bird fanciers are in for a treat because accessible roads and trails around the island easily lead to and through every habitat within short time spans.