Caguas
Discover Caguas
Caguas, located in the valley of the same name, is the largest city in the mountainous region of Puerto Rico with a population of 127,000 in 2020. Founded as an agricultural town, Caguas has since transformed into a commercial and industrial hub, now serving as a popular suburban area for San Juan. Caguas, known as La Ciudad Criolla ("The Creole City") and El Valle del Turabo ("The Turabo Valley"), is celebrated for its history, culture, cuisine, sports and scenic mountain views, making it an inviting destination for visitors eager to experience the island’s authentic heritage without stepping too far from San Juan. Caguas can be easily reached by car from San Juan through highway PR-52 and the old central road PR-1, as it is on the same route that connects San Juan to Ponce.
Taste of Caguas...
There are many restaurants with all of Puerto Rico's authentic foods in Caguas. The mofongo is excellent at Raíces restaurant near south-central Caguas (H31 Calle Pino, ☏ +1 787 258-1570. The waiters wear authentic-looking uniforms, and the atmosphere is upbeat. Entrees average $10-18. One famous restaurant that sells international food is El Cantinflas, which serves Mexican food and is a popular place among locals. The Four Points Sheraton hotel, off the highway south of Caguas, has a nice pool area with slide and fountains for the kids, a hot tub, a nice restaurant that looks out onto the pool, a workout room, very comfortable accommodations, and excellent service. However, it is co-located with a small casino run by the same company and sharing the same parking lot. Parking is $9/night (as of January 2010), even for hotel guests. Much of the property is well-built; the parking garage has a glass elevator, there are colored accent lights, a glassed-in walkway that goes by a large outdoor fountain, etc. However, as is common in Caribbean countries, all of it has a soon-to-be-run-down feeling about it. (Most online mapping tools will place the Four Points' address, "500 Alhambra En Granada Boulevard," a few miles north of where it actually is. Follow the directions on their website instead.)
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsCaguas can be easily reached by car from San Juan through highway PR-52 and the old central road PR-1, as it is on the same route that connects San Juan to Ponce. ALSA – National Express operates a modern coach service between Caguas and San Juan, with service seven days a week in modern coaches which have air conditioning and a bathroom. ALSA has two routes to San Juan, both starting at the Caguas bus terminal, with stops at Catalinas Mall in Caguas, the Río Piedras Medical Center and Plaza las Américas mall in Hato Rey. At this point, the buses will follow two routes, depending on one’s destination: one route ends at Covadonga in Old San Juan, with stops at Minillas and Paseo del Caribe and the other route ends at Isla Verde Avenue, with stops at the Urban Train stations in Hato Rey and the Sacred Heart area. The routes operate daily from 5:30AM to 9PM. The buses from Caguas leave every half hour to 1 hour, depending on the route. Tickets vary in price from $2.50 to $4....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Within Caguas, there are several buses and taxis serving the municipality and surrounding towns. Make sure to ask the driver before you go in for your destination. As with most of Puerto Rico, driving is the easiest way to get around in Caguas as it is a very car-centric city. You can go to Las Catalinas Mall, Plaza del Carmen Mall or Plaza Centro Mall. There are many restaurants with all of Puerto Rico's authentic foods in Caguas. The mofongo is excellent at Raíces restaurant near south-central Caguas (H31 Calle Pino, ☏ +1 787 258-1570. The waiters wear authentic-looking uniforms, and the atmosphere is upbeat. Entrees average $10-18. One famous restaurant that sells international food is El Cantinflas, which serves Mexican food and is a popular place among locals.
Where to Stay
The Four Points Sheraton hotel, off the highway south of Caguas, has a nice pool area with slide and fountains for the kids, a hot tub, a nice restaurant that looks out onto the pool, a workout room, very comfortable accommodations, and excellent service. However, it is co-located with a small casino run by the same company and sharing the same parking lot. Parking is $9/night (as of January 2010), even for hotel guests. Much of the property is well-built; the parking garage has a glass elevator, there are colored accent lights, a glassed-in walkway that goes by a large outdoor fountain, etc. However, as is common in Caribbean countries, all of it has a soon-to-be-run-down feeling about it. (Most online mapping tools will place the Four Points' address, "500 Alhambra En Granada Boulevard," a few miles north of where it actually is. Follow the directions on their website instead.)
Money & Budget
You can go to Las Catalinas Mall, Plaza del Carmen Mall or Plaza Centro Mall. There are many restaurants with all of Puerto Rico's authentic foods in Caguas. The mofongo is excellent at Raíces restaurant near south-central Caguas (H31 Calle Pino, ☏ +1 787 258-1570. The waiters wear authentic-looking uniforms, and the atmosphere is upbeat. Entrees average $10-18. One famous restaurant that sells international food is El Cantinflas, which serves Mexican food and is a popular place among locals. The Four Points Sheraton hotel, off the highway south of Caguas, has a nice pool area with slide and fountains for the kids, a hot tub, a nice restaurant that looks out onto the pool, a workout room, very comfortable accommodations, and excellent service.
Safety Information
Glimpses of Caguas
black car on road during daytime
Termac fifteen52 Car wheels
black car on road during daytime
Termac fifteen52 Car wheels
black car on road during daytime
Termac fifteen52 Car wheels
black car on road during daytime
Termac fifteen52 Car wheels
black car on road during daytime
Termac fifteen52 Car wheels
black car on road during daytime
Termac fifteen52 Car wheels
black car on road during daytime