Aguada
Aguada is a town and municipality located in northwestern Puerto Rico, in the Porta del Sol tourism region. The town is one of the oldest settlements in the island and has popular beaches and a historic sugarcane refinery.
Understand
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Before being founded, the area of Aguada was settled by the indigenous Tainos and was known as "Aymamon" or "Aymaymon". Aguada is also one of the oldest European settlements in Puerto Rico, founded as Villa de Sotomayor in 1510, and renamed in the 16th century San Francisco de Asís de la Aguada after the town was rebuilt due to indigenous attacks during the Taino rebellions against the Spanish conquistadors. The municipality is considered one of the possible sites of Christopher Columbus's landing in modern day Puerto Rico, and the town has multiple monuments dedicated to that event. The town had a population of 38,000 in 2020.
Get in
[edit]- Aguadilla: Rafael Hernández Airport, 11 mi (18 km) away
- Ponce: Mercedita International Airport, 66 mi (106 km) away
- San Juan: Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, 89 mi (143 km) away
By car
[edit]The main roads to Aguada are PR-115 when driving from the north and PR-2 when driving from the south.
Get around
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Map of Aguada
As with most towns in Puerto Rico, public transportation in Aguada is highly limited and the area is very car-centric, so driving is the best way of moving around town.
See
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- 1 Aguada Pueblo (downtown Aguada). 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 San Francisco de Asís Church is located across from the plaza.
- 2 Church of San Francisco de Asís (Iglesia San Francisco de Asís de la Aguada), 225 La Paz Street, ☏ +1 787-868-2630. Su-F 9AM-3PM, Sa 9AM-11AM. This is the main Catholic parish in the town of Aguada. The current structure dates to 1919 as the former church building was destroyed by the 1918 earthquake.
- 2 Church of San Francisco de Asís (Iglesia San Francisco de Asís de la Aguada), 225 La Paz Street, ☏ +1 787-868-2630. Su-F 9AM-3PM, Sa 9AM-11AM. This is the main Catholic parish in the town of Aguada. The current structure dates to 1919 as the former church building was destroyed by the 1918 earthquake.
- Coloso Sugarcane Refinery (Central Coloso), PR-418 (just off PR-2), ☏ +1 787-882-6855. Daily 8AM-4PM. Historic sugarcane refinery ruins ideal for urban exploration and learning about the history of sugar in Puerto Rico's western coast. The site also has a garden and plant nursery.
- 3 Coloso Bridge (Bridge Number 1142), State Road No. 418, km .5. This historic rail bridge crosses the Culebrinas River. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2010.
- 3 Coloso Bridge (Bridge Number 1142), State Road No. 418, km .5. This historic rail bridge crosses the Culebrinas River. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2010.
- Columbus Landing Historic Monument (Cruz de Colón) (Right next to Espinar Beach). This historic monument marks one of the proposed sites where Christopher Columbus first landed in Puerto Rico in 1493. Another similar monument can be found in nearby Aguadilla.
- Espinar Hermitage Ruins (Parroquia Santuario Protomártires de la Inmaculada Concepción), PR-442 (Close to Espinar Beach), ☏ +1 787-891-2989. M-Sa 6AM-7PM, Su 7AM-5PM. The ruins of the historic Espinar Hermitage can be found inside this Parish church.
- Museum of Aguada (Museo de Aguada), Nativo Alers Avenue (just outside of downtown Aguada). Municipal history museum at the site of the former railway station.
Do
[edit]- Go to one of the many beaches in Aguada:
- Aguada Beach (Balneario de Aguada), PR-115 (close to Pico Piedra Beach). 24 hours. One of the larger beaches in town.
- Espinar Beach (Playa de Espinar), PR-441 and Camino Playa. One of the most popular beaches in town close to downtown Aguada. The beach also has a small seaside park (Parque Artesano Javier Gonzalez) and many seafood restaurants close by.
- Pico Piedra Beach (Playa Pico de Piedra), Camino de la Playa. 24 hours. One of the beaches closest to downtown Aguada. There is parking, bathrooms, showers, gazebos, a restaurant and food kiosks.
- Positas Beach, Moret Street (just off PR-115 road). 24 hours. Small beach with tidal pools good for swimming.
- Rio Grande Beach (Playa Rio Grande), Km 19.3, Int. PR-115. 24 hours. Sandy beach located in one of the hotel areas of Aguada.
- 1 Salón Vidrios (Salón Vidrios), Off PR-2, ☏ +1 787-633-4444. events venue; great for weddings, or parties.
Buy
[edit]- La Guarapera, PR-115, ☏ +1 787-631-9945, info@laguarapera.com. Daily 10:30AM-6:30PM. Selling homemade typical Puerto Rican candy and fresh juice.
- Wild Culture Mushrooms, 308 Colon Street (downtown Aguada), ☏ +1 707-418-8235. W-Su 10:30AM-3PM. Puerto Rico's first mushroom market and Lion's Mane and Reishi cultivators. Also has a small café that serves mushroom-related coffees ("myco-lattes").
Eat
[edit]- Cava Baja, ☏ +1 787-589-3410. M-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F 11:30AM-11PM, Sa Su noon-11PM. Spanish restaurant serving lunch and dinner, in addition to tapas, cheese, wine and cocktails.
- GrandMa Steak House & Restaurant, PR-2, Naranjo (Along PR Route 2), ☏ +1 787-868-4206. Daily 11AM-11PM. Variety of Angus cuts. Lunch and dinner.
- Helab Creamery & Café, 274 Colon Street (Downtown Aguada (Aguada Pueblo)), ☏ +1 787-252-8700. Daily 8AM-8:30PM. Ice cream made with liquid nitrogen in addition to coffee, breakfast and lunch specials.
- Lechonera Rolo, PR Route 417 Km 1.3, ☏ +1 787-391-4525. Lechon (pork) and Puerto Rican food.
- Mimosa Brunch Farm To Table (Mimosa's), PR Route 417 km 2, ☏ +1 787-605-3782. Th-Su 8AM-3PM. Vegetarian and vegan-friendly brunch place serving breakfast and lunch meals from fresh ingredients brought from their farm in San Sebastian.
- Platano Loco, Pico de Piedra Beach, ☏ +1 787-252-1409. W-Su 11AM-9PM. This popular restaurant specializes in plantain-focused dishes. It has two locations, this one in Pico de Piedra Beach and another one in Rincon.
- Tip Top Ice Cream Shop, 195 Colon Street (Downtown Aguada (Aguada Pueblo)), ☏ +1 787-868-6325, tiptoplovers@gmail.com. Daily 10AM-10PM. Ice cream.
- Waves Seafood Restaurant, PR Route 441, Km 1 (Next to Espinar Beach), ☏ +1 787-291-7133. Th-Su 11AM-10PM. Fresh seafood and Puerto Rican dishes.
Drink
[edit]- Me "Latte" un Capricho, 220-250 La Paz Street (The public square (plaza) in Downtown Aguada (Aguada Pueblo)), ☏ +1 787-400-2294, melatteuncapricho@live.com. Coffee place at the Aguada public square serving coffee beverages and snacks.
- Olajas Bar (Olajas Bar & Grill), Pico de Piedra Beach, ☏ +1 787-629-4770, olajasbarandgril@gmail.com. Su-Th 11AM-midnight, F Sa 11AM-2AM. Wide variety of cocktails and seafood snacks.
Sleep
[edit]- Aguada of the Seas, Km 2.1 Sector Playa Bo. P.R., PR-442, Aguadilla Pueblo, 00602, Puerto Rico (Near Espinar Beach), ☏ +1 787 412-6372. Check-in: 3:00 PM - 11:30 PM, check-out: 6:00 AM - 11:00 AM.