How It All Got Started… Mud, Trails, Beaches and Cows!

It all got started with a Jeep. In 2008, my wife got me a 2007 Jeep JK Wrangler Unlimited for a present, (actually she gave me permission to buy it). The 4 door type.


The thing about Jeeps is that it gives you this automatic feeling of freedom and adventure the minute you sit on one. The other thing about Jeeps is that almost automatically starts exponentially increasing your Social Network base. People want a ride on the Jeep. People want adventure and get off the beaten path, even if it is for a little while. Also, you start making acquaintances with other people who also have Jeeps.

And so it was my case. Soon after I purchased my Jeep, I made some awesome friends I still have to this date, and have become my partners in some of the most awesome adventures I’ve had in many years. I’m not sure how exactly it happened, but we gave ourselves a name, and even a Logo. The Off Road Xperience Scout Team. (ORX for short). Through networking we heard of a group called 4x4 Puerto Rico who had been hosting an event called Camino de las Vacas, (“The Cow’s Trail”). So we decided to enroll on the next event which turned out to be Camino de Las Vacas IX and was to be held on some trails on the beautiful area of Cabo Rojo and Boquerón. ORX was going to have its first structured Off Road Xperience ever.

Cabo Rojo would definitely have to be one of my favorite places in Puerto Rico, and quite probably in the whole wide world. The name Cabo Rojo, (Red Cape) comes from both the reddish color of its salt-flats and the reddish tint that characterizes the seaside cliffs along its southern coast. It is located at the most southwestern tip of the main island. At 18° 5′ 12″ N, 67° 8′ 45″ W .

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People from Combate are known as mata con hacha, ("those who kill with axes"), based on an old folk tale about a fight over the Salinas, (Salt-Flats), where those from Cabo Rojo fought with axes against people from the adjacent town of Lajas. The latter apparently fought back by throwing stones and are thus known as tira piedras, ("those who throw stones"). But don’t let the mata con hacha nickname fool you. The Cabo Rojo folk are among the warmest, gentler, laid back and most serviceable people I know. The whole western and southwestern region people are well known for this characteristic.



One of the most amazing sights, and among the most visited places on the southern coast of Puerto Rico is the Cabo Rojo Light House, known as Faro Los Morillos, adjacent to La Playuela, (Little Beach), and Playa Sucia, (Dirty Beach), but the name has nothing to do with the quality of the waters. The name is given because during the winter season, an extraordinary amount of kelp is accumulated on its shores, but it doesn’t take anything away from the natural, wild and magical beauty of this place. Playa Sucia is one of the best beaches in the southwest of PR. It is a little hard to get to, since the roads aren’t paved.  But most SUVs don’t have problems getting to it. It is part of the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge, which in turn is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.



Among other well known places at Cabo Rojo are:



• Bajura.
• Boquerón Village.
• Cabo Rojo Pueblo.
• Guanajibo.
• Llanos Costa.
• Llanos Tuna.
• Miradero.
• Monte Grande.
• Pedernales.
• Betances.
• El Combate.
• Buye.
• Puerto Real.
• Joyuda.



But one little known place is an area called Los Pozos Beach, (The Wells). This is where ORX was going to meet its maker. Los Pozos is an area known mostly by its locals. It’s an arid high ground on a predominantly flat town. On its western most slopes you’ll find a beautiful and pristine pebbly beache. And its high grounds are mostly visited by Mountain Bike, (MTB), hiking and All Terrain Vehicles, (ATVs) enthusiasts.



The Camino de Las Vacas IX event was going to start the next morning. The day prior, I was introduced to Tato and his family. And one thing I must say is, that it was love at first sight with this lovely bunch. We’ve been in quite some adventures together.


Later on the evening of the day prior, somehow we convinced ourselves, that with an also mutual friend that lived and knows the area well, we could do a night scouting run of the area. And so it was, and ORX was on its first Night Off Road Run. Needless is to say that the levels of expertise were varied in this group. The team consisted of three vehicles for this run; Tato with a supped-up Charcoal Black Jeep Liberty Renegade, “La Prieta”, Yiyo with a Yellow 2007 Jeep JK Wrangler Unlimited, “La Rubia”, and mine a Silver 2007 Jeep JK Wrangler Unlimited, “La Chilla”. At the time the only vehicle who had auxiliary lights was “La Prieta” so it took lead.

The initial trail at night was fine, pretty smooth and manageable, ...until we got to the top of what it seemed a dead-end hill. The GPS Phones came out, we looked at maps, and we scouted the area by foot until we found the trail which would lead us to the other side of the hill. This trail wasn’t really made for large off road vehicles. More than likely, smaller ATVs like 4-tracks or even MTB would easily go down this trail. But we gathered, we planned, we discussed and with flashlights in hand we walked on foot the length of the trail to determine whether it was feasible or not. We decided it was. We lowered the pressure of our tires to gain better traction and once ready we gave the signal for all to mount up. As we started our descent I couldn’t help to start thinking, “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea”. Previously we had talked about techniques for breaking and steering and I’m glad we did, because we had to use them all. 15 minutes seemed like an hour. As soon as we came down the hill, I got off the Jeep, my legs were trembling, my heart was racing, I was sweating and my head was pounding. I literally kissed the ground, and then, …I looked up. Los Pozos Beach was right there. Lit up beautifully by the light of a full moon and nicely framed by mangrove. It was truly an amazing sight.

We then got back on our Jeeps and trailed, not on, but along the beach. We then came up to what it seemed a wide open area with no defined trail. As I’m trying to adjust my night sight to determine our best approach, I hear the roaring sound of a Jeep Liberty Renegade, taking off like a wild beast and kicking off dirt while doing figure eights on the flats. That person whom I just met, and to whom I entrusted my life and that of my friends and family to a little while back, Tato, was going Off-Road-Crazy. So I followed suit. It was great!!! (What? ...you thought I was going to leave all the fun for him?)



We then reached the northern tip overlooking Bahia Boquerón across to Boquerón Beach and the Boquerón Wildlife Refuge. We couldn’t move forward anymore, so we decided to stay there for a while and enjoy the view… and what a view. Really, ...Words Can’t Describe.



The next day we decided not to go with the 100+ vehicles that were getting lined up for the event. So we went ahead for ourselves, after all, how harder could the route be by day, if we survived by night? Well, the experience was totally different. Not better, Not Worst. Just different. During the day the Los Pozos area hosts some of the most amazing views of the western shore. I must visit again.

This experience baptized ORX by fire, and it set the foundation for an amazing friendship.