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City and municipality in Puerto Rico
Photo: Joseacaraballo, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Mayagüez is the largest city on the Western side of the island of Puerto Rico, in the Porta del Sol region. It has roughly 90,000 inhabitants (2010), plus a floating population of about 15,000, on weekdays, particularly when the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPR-M) is not in recess. In its heyday, Mayagüez was a major manufacturing center, particularly famous for food processing (tuna canning and beer). Besides being a college town, it has an industry mostly based on trade of goods and services. Tourists may use it as a base for exploring the western coast of Puerto Rico.
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downtown Mayagüez
See the historic Roman Catholic church, Spanish-style recreational plaza, and the municipal buildings surrounded by streets and shops.
You can drive around the pueblo or park your car and walk around the square and into the plaza. The Spanish law, which regulated life in Puerto Rico in the early 19th century, stated the plaza's purpose was for celebrations and festivities.
The historic central plaza is a nice place to visit.
City Hall
facing east by the Plaza de Colón, dates from the Spanish colonial era. It was remodeled by the United States Army Corp of Engineers after the 1918 Mayagüez Earthquake. The project manager for the remodeling added a personal touch to the building: a spire resembling that of New York City's City Hall (since he was a New Yorker). The building is rather small, and mostly houses administrative offices.
The zoo contains a nice selection of animals which are divided into two groups, the African Forest and the African Savannah. The zoo was renovated and it is well kept. A favorite feature of the zoo is the bird sanctuary where you go into an open outside room with a netting ceiling where colorful tropical birds and parrots are free to fly and hang out with you. (It closes before the zoo.) You may see friendly iguanas walking by seeking a cool shaded spot.
El Circo
Great pizza for a good price with fantastic service. There is also a good selection of sandwiches and Italian food. Must try the home-made gelato as well - it's a treat.
Talk with a tobacconist and buy Puerto Rican tobacco.
Discount department store.
By car
Mayagüez is served by PR-2, a primary four-lane road that links San Juan and Ponce and passes through most towns in the northern, western, and southwestern coasts of Puerto Rico.
By plane
International charter flights from Spain, Canada and the United Kingdom arrive at nearby Rafael Hernández Marín International Airport, (BQN), about 20 mi north of Mayagüez.
By boat
You can travel by ferry from the Dominican Republic from the city's port. Please check schedules, since the ferry alternates arrivals and departures between Mayagüez and San Juan.
Mayagüez is a small city, roughly shaped like a crescent. Many of its landmarks are within walking distance of each other, but the location of some will demand that you use alternate means of transport.
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Mayaguez · Regional · MAZ
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