Bayamón
Bayamón is a municipality in the San Juan metropolitan area and the second largest city in Puerto Rico with about 185,000 residents. It is in the Northern Coast region and has a small historic downtown, numerous parks, malls and family attractions.
Understand
[edit]Bayamón is San Juan's largest suburb located about 6 miles (10 km) from Puerto Rico's capital. It is the site of some of Puerto Rico's famous attractions such as Parque de las Ciencias, a science and technology-themed park, and the Francisco Oller Museum dedicated to the famous Impressionist painter.
Get in
[edit]Airports:
- San Juan: Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
- Aguadilla: Rafael Hernández Airport
- Ponce: Mercedita Airport
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Bayamón is easily reached from San Juan by car, bus and the Tren Urbano rapid transit system.
Routes PR-2 and PR-22 are the fastest roadways connecting the municipality to Santurce and Hato Rey respectively. Bayamón also is well connected to some of the main roadways of the western portion of the San Juan metropolitan area and the Atlantic coast of Puerto Rico.
Bayamón is also served by the sole line of the Tren Urbano rapid transit or metro system of the metropolitan area. The stations serving the municipality are Bayamón station, serving the historic downtown or Pueblo, and Deportivo station, serving the outer downtown and the municipal sports complex home to Puerto Rico's most successful soccer team.
Get around
[edit]The main public bus terminal is located by Bayamón station, and most of the urban area of the municipality is well connected through the Puerto Rico Metropolitan Bus Authority service[dead link] (AMA). The city also has several bike lanes. As with most cities in Puerto Rico, Bayamón is still very car-centric.
See
[edit]- 1 Bayamón Pueblo (downtown Bayamón). 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.
Attractions and historic sites
[edit]
- Agustín Stahl Stamm House (Casa Stahl), 14 José Martí Street. Historic Neoclassical-style house and former residence and medical office of Agustín Stahl Stamm, considered the father of biological and natural sciences in Puerto Rico, and, according to legend, the first person to install a Christmas tree in the island. The house has been acquired by the municipality and it is being restored with plans of turning it into a museum dedicated to the scientist with planned exhibits including his natural history collections.
- Bayamón City Hall, Km11 PR-2, ☏ +1 787-780-5552. M-F 8AM-4:30PM. Modern city hall building famous for its glass-window bridge located on the second floor, from where the visitors can cross from one side to the other, while looking at cars pass by. The building also has a visitors information center, a small theater and it occasionally hosts special events.
- Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center (Centro de Conservación de Manatíes), 500 Highway Av. Dr. John Will Harris, ☏ +1 787-400-2782, info@manatipr.org. Regular tours at 9AM, 10:30AM, 1:30PM, 3PM. Special tour at 8:30AM and 1:30PM. Rescue, conservation and research center for the West Indian manatee administered by the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. The center offers visitors a "behind the scenes" one-hour tour showcasing the manatees and the efforts by researchers and volunteers. There is also a 3 hour-long tour where visitors become volunteers by preparing food and feeding the manatees. Regular tour: Adults $19, children aged 3-14 $16. 3-hour tour and feeding: $98. The admission fee goes fully to the manatee research and conservation efforts.
- Farmacia Serra Building, 11 Degetau Street. Historic yet eclectic Romantic/Modernist-style structure listed in the United States Register of Historic Places.
- Iglesia de la Invención de la Santa Cruz (Invención de la Santa Cruz Parish Church), 12 Degetau Street, ☏ +1 787-785-2134. M-Sa 9AM-noon, closed on Sundays except for religious services. This is the main Catholic church of Bayamón. The original structure dated from 1772 but was destroyed by an earthquake in 1867. The current structure dates from 1868.
- Marqués de la Serna Bridge, Highway 890, km 24.1. Historic rolled iron segmented arch bridge also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Plata Bridge (Bridge #374), Highway 167, km 0.9. Historic bridge consisting of two Parker truss spans. The bridge closses La Plata River, Puerto Rico's longest river.
- Puerto Rico National Cemetery, 50 Cementerio Nacional Avenue, ☏ +1 787-798-8400. Daily 7AM-5PM. A historic United States national cemetery located in a small valley surrounded by limestone mogotes. The cemetery is the burial site of more than 40,000 people, including three Medal of Honor recipients and famous individuals such as Spanish-American War veteran Bailey Ashford, WWII hero Mike Gilormini Pacheco, Fernando Chardón, and Teófilo Marxuach who was the first American to fire a shot during WWI.
- Ron Del Barrilito at Hacienda Santa Ana, Edmundo B Fernández Inc PR-5, ☏ +1 787-415-8601. Daily 9AM-6PM. Rum distillery located at Hacienda Santa Ana, a former sugarcane plantation-turned distillery. It is the oldest functioning rum distillery in Puerto Rico. Themed tours are offered such as the Heritage Tour, the Mixology Tour and the Tasting Tour. The Hacienda features a small park with some short trails through the old refinery.
Museums
[edit]- Bayamón Museum of Art (MAB), 1500 Ramón Luis Rivera Avenue (in the Parque de las Ciencias area), ☏ +1 787-269-4433, museodeartedebayamon@gmail.com. Tu-Sa 8:30AM-5PM, closed Su M. Municipal art museum with permanent exhibits dedicated to religious art, Puerto Rican art history and modern art. The museum also hosts special exhibits, cultural events and guided tours. Free admission, reservation required.
- Casa Museo Francisco Manuel Oller y Cestero (Francisco Oller Museum of Art) (Located next to the central town square.), ☏ +1 787-780-5411, museofrancisco.oller@gmail.com. Tu-Sa 8:30AM-4PM, closed Su M. Art museum in the historical former residence of Impressionist painter Francisco Oller, one of the most renowned Puerto Rican artists.
- Casa Museo Dr. José Celso Barbosa (Dr. José Celso Barbosa Museum), 16 Calle de Barbosa, ☏ +1 787-798-8085. Tu-Sa 8:30AM-4PM, closed Su M. Historic residence and museum dedicated to José Celso Barbosa who was born in the house. Celso Barbosa was a sociologist and politician who is considered the father of the Puerto Rican statehood movement.
Parks and gardens
[edit]- Bayamón Central Park (Parque Central de Bayamón) (next to the Bayamón City Hall). Daily 9AM-7PM. Municipal park along the Hondo River canal, next to the City Hall. The park has bathrooms, food kiosks, an artificial lake, short trails and a playground for children called Parque Central de los Niños.
- Parque de las Ciencias Luis A. Ferré (Bayamón Science Park), 1500 Ramón Luis Rivera Avenue, ☏ +1 787-799-1898. Daily 8AM-6PM, closed on Sundays. Parque de las Ciencias is an educational and recreational park offering exhibits focusing on natural sciences, space exploration, engineering, health, transportation and arts. The park also hosts a miniature golf course, a carousel and other amusement park rides. Adults $10, children 2-12 $8, seniors (65+) and disabled $5..
- Plaza de Bayamón (Bayamón Square). The historic central town square of Bayamón, site of the former city hall and the main parish church.
Theaters
[edit]- Braulio Castillo Theater (PR-2, next to the City Hall), ☏ +1 787-710-5540. Largest and most important theater in the city. Contact the ticket office (+1 787-710-5540, or at their website) for information on plays, season schedules and prices.
Do
[edit]
- Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, in the municipal sports complex (Deportivo), ☏ +1 787-785-5525. Go see a basketball game at the Vaqueros de Bayamón home arena. This arena also hosts boxing matches, professional volleyball games and occasionally concerts.
- Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, ☏ +1 787-526-2825. Go see a soccer match at this baseball field-turned soccer stadium home of Bayamón Fútbol Club and Puerto Rico's most successful soccer team, the Puerto Rico Islanders.
- Julio Enrique Monagas Park, Carr. 28 Km. 4 Buchanan, ☏ +1 787-269-6600, bfeliciano@drd.pr.gov. Daily 7AM-7PM. The so called "national park" is a small park located in a hilly area of the municipality. Located at a former military site (the bunkers are still visible), the park features hiking trails through the mogotes, mountain bike trails, picnic areas, a horse riding school and bathrooms. Free.
- Paseo Lineal (Bayamón River Park) (Entrances at La Cambija, Rio Bayamon Park and Riverside Park), ☏ +1 787-779-4550. Daily 5:30AM-9PM. Lineal park with trails for walking and biking along the Bayamón River extending from the downtown area up to the river mouth at the Atlantic Ocean. Free.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Walmart, 501 W Main Ave, ☏ +1 787-269-2200. 6AM-11PM. Department store.
- Plaza del Sol, 725 W Main Ave, ☏ +1 787-778-8724. Daily 9AM-9PM. Considered one of the main shopping malls in the city. It has numerous American, international and local stores, a food court, an arcade and a movie theater. The mall is anchored by Bed Bath & Beyond, Caribbean Cinemas, Walmart, H&M, Dave & Buster's and Home Depot.
- Plaza Rio Hondo, 60 Río Hondo Avenue, ☏ +1 787-795-6490. Daily 10AM-9PM. One of the main shopping malls in the city, anchored by Marshalls Megastore, Caribbean Cinemas, TJ Maxx, and Best Buy, with one vacant anchor spot last occupied by a Kmart. The mall has a food court and movie theaters.
Eat
[edit]Bayamón hosts a wide variety of options for dining, from American and Puerto Rican fast food joints, seafood and Criollo restaurants, American chain restaurants, pizzerias, sushi, tacos and, more famously, Chinese-Puerto Rican food.
- China Delicioso, Av. Magnolia, ☏ +1 787-778-2006. Daily 11AM-11PM.
- China Palace Restaurant, Calle Marginal Carr 167 Forest Hills Bloque A1, ☏ +1 787-785-8354. Daily 11AM-11PM.
- El Gigante Dormido, W-7 River View 20 Street, ☏ +1 787-640-7889. M-Sa 10AM-3PM.
- El Mesón Sandwiches, W Main Avenue Esq. N Main Avenue, ☏ +1 787-269-3896. Daily 6AM-9PM. Puerto Rico's most popular and beloved fast food chain serving Cuban, Puerto Rican and American sandwiches, sorullitos ("Puerto Rican hushpuppies") and breakfast meals.
- IHOP Plazoleta del Cantón, 1 W Main Avenue, ☏ +1 787-545-8804. Daily 6AM-9PM.
- LongHorn Steakhouse, 1 W Main Avenue. Daily 11AM-11PM.
- Los Gorditos, A-10 Granada Street, ☏ +1 787-798-3457. Daily 10AM-10PM. Popular Puerto Rican chain of pork and BBQ restaurants.
- Martin's BBQ, AA-8 Ramón Luis Rivera Avenue, ☏ +1 787-798-1234. The popular Puerto Rican chain of BBQ restaurants.
- Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, W Main Avenue, ☏ +1 787-395-7044. Su-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM.
- Oscar's Restaurant, Calle Marginal #D3 C. 1, ☏ +1 787-979-1322. M-W 11AM-10PM, Th F 11AM-midnight.
- Red Lobster, W Main Avenue, ☏ +1 787-945-2736. Daily 11AM-10PM.
- Rica China, PR-863, Pájaros, ☏ +1 787-251-5710. Daily 10AM-11PM.
- Starlyn Grill & Seafood, W Main Avenue Esq. 10 Street, Urbanización Sierra (+1 787-368-3652). Daily, 24 hours. Traditional Puerto Rican seafood, meats and popular dishes.
Drink
[edit]- Berny's Wine Bar & Grill, C26 Cll Marginal, Urb. Santa Cruz, ☏ +1 787-356-8458. W-Sa 4PM-midnight. Bar and grill serving wine, beer, cocktails and tapas.
- La Esquinita Jardín Cervecero, 23-32 Martí Street. W Th 3-9PM, F Sa 3-10PM. Beer garden located in the downtown area.
Sleep
[edit]- Hyatt Place San Juan/Bayamón, Av. Ramón Luis Rivera, next to Parque de las Ciencias, ☏ +1 787-779-5000. Upmarket hotel with modern rooms & suites, plus free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool & 24-hour dining.