Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

Travel distance from San Juan: 97.3 mi (about 2 hours 4 mins)

Background:

Bordered to the north by surfing town Rincón, to the south by the red cliffs of Cabo Rojo, and to the east by historic San Germán and the mountains and rainforests, the charms of Mayagüez may be less concentrated than those in San Juan, but they are no less spectacular. The Taino Indians were the first settlers in what has grown to be Puerto Rico's third largest city.

The word "Mayaguez" means "place of many streams" in the Taino language. The harbor, the second largest in Puerto Rico, has played a key role in the history and development of Mayagüez. It was originally built to maintain control of the Mona Passage when this strait dividing Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic was a major shipping route for the Spanish colonials. Today the harbor helps Mayagüez maintain its status as a major industrial town. Sixty percent of the tuna consumed in the United States is canned in Mayagüez.

Other Western Cities: