Most Puerto Ricans associate Naguabo with the pastelillos de chapin, a trunkfish fritter popular around the island but believed to have its origins from here in the seaside town of Naguabo. Each February the town hosts a seafood festival with the fritter as the main event.
The spectacular view from the malecon in Naguabo allows you to view the first rays of the rising sun over the waters of the Caribbean. The seaside promenade offers a view of the infamous Monkey Island as well as Vieques and Culebra in the distance.
The seaside around Playa Hucares was the original site of the town but due to attacks by the indigenous Caribe’s the site was moved to a more defensible position inland. The town resides in the southernmost acreage of El Yunque rainforest.
Popular places to visit in Naguabo include: boating around Cayo Santiago (Monkey Island), visiting the town’s movie theater which is a historic monument built in the 1920’s and visiting the town square with a Catholic church- Nuestra Senora del Rosario- dating back to 1856.
Two popular beaches in the area are Playa Hucares with a tourism office that is open daily from 8am-4pm (787-874-3040) and also Playa Tropical on PR3 toward Humacao.
Naguabo offers a monthly party on the promenade every second Friday so tonight will be the night to visit.
GPS COORDINATES: 18.218916,-65.735033