West Region

Aguada, Puerto Rico Sotomayor’s Villa Aguada (ah-GWAH-dah) is known as “El Pueblo Playero” (Beach Town), “La Ciudad del Vaticano”, “Sotomayor’s Villa” and “Villa de San Francisco de Asís”, this last name in reference to the town’s patron saint. There’s also a say, “Por Aguada fue” which means that Aguada was the first place where Christopher Columbus landed. Aguada is located on the island’s western region. On the north, it borders the Atlantic ocean and the municipality of Aguadilla; on the south, are the municipalities of Rincón and Añasco; on the east are Aguadilla and Moca, and on the west is Rincón. Geographically, it belongs to the zone known western...

Aguadilla, Puerto Rico The Water Hole Villa Aguadilla (ah-gwah-DEE-yah) is known popularly as the “city of springs.” The nickname comes from the spring or Río Chiquito, known today as the Parterre. Aguadilla is also known as the “town of sharks”, the “new garden of the Atlantic” and the place where “even the stones sing”. A town of traditions, Aguadilla celebrates a festival in honor of its patron saint, Saint Charles Borromeo, in November. Aguadilla is located on the northwest coast of the island. It is bordered on the north by the Atlantic Ocean and Isabela; on the south by Moca and Aguada; on the east by Isabela and Moca;...

Añasco, Puerto Rico Where The Gods Die Añasco (ah-NYAHS-ko) is known as “the town where the gods die,” “the puff pastry town,” “the blood sausage town,” and “the natives.” The patron saint is Saint Anthony the Abbot. Añasco is located in the valleys of the west coast of the island, and is bordered by the Río Grande de Añasco. It is bordered by the towns of Rincón, Aguada, and Moca to the north; Mayagüez to the south; San Sebastián and Las Marías to the east; and the Mona Channel to the west. The land is largely flat, but there are some elevations that belong to the San Francisco mountain...

Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico Cofresí’s Town Cabo Rojo (KAH-bo, ro-ho) is known as the “Cofresí’s town,” “the hatchetmen,” “Betances birthplace” and “the capital of internal tourism in Puerto Rico”. The geography of this town is characterized by the diversity of its geography, its natural resources, and the diversity of its ecosystems. Its beautiful landscapes include beaches as Combate, Boquerón, Playa Sucia, Puerto Angelino, Joyuda, lagoons (Atolladero, Joyuda, Guaniquilla, and Boquerón Channel), bays (Bramadero, Puerto Real, Boca Prieta, Boquerón, Salinas and Sucia), salt flats, the Boquerón State Forest, and the Bermeja range. These features make this an important destination as well as a site for scientific research in Puerto Rico....

Guánica, Puerto Rico Friendship City Guánica (GWAH-nee-kah) is known as “El Pueblo de la Amistad,” “Los Jueyeros,” “El Pueblo de las Doce Calles,”and “La Puerta de la Cultura” (Friendship Town, The Crabbers, Town of the Twelve Streets, Portal to Culture). The town’s patron saint is Saint James the Apostle, whose festival is celebrated on July 25. Other important celebrations are the Fish Festival held every year in April, and the annual commemoration on August 12 of the day when Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León landed at Guánica’s bay. Guánica is situated on Puerto Rico’s southwestern coast, and is bounded by the Caribbean Sea to the south and by...

Hormigueros, Puerto Rico Town of Our Lady of Monserrate Hormigueros (or-mee-GAI-ros) is known as the “Town of Our Lady of Monserrate”, “miracle town” and “the pilgrim’s town”. The patron saint is Our Lady of Monserrat. Hormigueros is located in the western coastal plains and western side of Puerto Rico. It is bordered on the north by Mayagüez, on the south by Cabo Rojo and San Germán, on the east by San Germán and on the west by Cabo Rojo. The town is located in the western humid mountains and the western valleys. The municipality”s economy is based on commerce and manufacturing. Manufacturing includes pharmaceuticals, needlework, machinery, and electrical and...

Lajas, Puerto Rico Cardinal City Lajas (LAH-huz) is known as the “Cardinal City” and “The rock throwers”. The patron saint is the Virgin of Candelaria, whose festival is held in February. The municipality has become a favored site for tourism, both for locals and foreigners. La Parguera is a tourism center that includes the phosphorescent bay and mangrove canals. The municipality is situated in the southwest part of Puerto Rico. It is bordered on the north by the town of San Germán and slightly by Sabana Grande on the northeast, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, on the east by Guánica and on the west by Cabo Rojo....

Mayagüez, Puerto Rico Sultan of the West Mayagüez (mah-yah-GWES) is known as “the Sultaness of the West,” because, according to legend, there was an extraordinarily beautiful woman of Arab features with whom everyone fell in love. It has also been called the “the city of pure waters”, “the birthplace of Eugenio María de Hostos,” the “jelly roll city,” “the city of the Indios (a baseball team), and “the mango town”. The patron of the city is Our Lady of Candlemas. This municipality is located on the west coast of Puerto Rico. It is bordered on the north by Añasco and Las Marías; Cabo Rojo, Hormigueros and San Germán on...

Moca, Puerto Rico The Mundillo Lace Capital Moca is known as the “Capital of Mundillo Lace” and the “Town of the Vampires”. The patron saint is Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate. Moca is bordered on the east by the municipality of San Sebastián, on the west by Aguada, on the north by Isabela and Aguadilla and on the south by Añasco. Geographically, it is part of the sub-region called the western coastal valleys. This zone is characterized by very fertile alluvial soils, with abundant rain from May to November and a dry season that prevails from December to March. Agricultural products from Moca include plantains, bananas, pigeon peas, yautia,...

Rincón, Puerto Rico Town of Beautiful Sunsets Rincón (ring-KON) is known as the “Town of the Beautiful Sunsets” and “Surfing Town,” its residents are called “The Surfers”. Its patron saint is Santa Rosa de Lima. Rincón is visited by thousands of tourists each year. Since the celebration of the World Surfing Championship almost twenty years go, Rincón’s six beaches have turned into the winter mecca for people who practice surfing. Whales in danger of extinction can be observed in the area during the months of winter. Rincón is located on the extreme western point of the island. Rincón is bordered on the north by the municipality of Aguada and...

Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico Town of Prodigies Sabana Grande (sah-BAH-nah GRAHN-de) is known as the “Town of Prodigies”, the “Town of the Virgen del Rosario del Pozo,” the “City of the Petate” and the “Town of the Petate Makers”. The petate is a mat made from a type of palm (Thrinax morrisii) that grows in the area. This palm weave had diverse uses, among them: sleeping mats, and mats to dry coffee and other grains. The patron saint of the municipality is San Isidro Labrador. The municipality is bordered on the north by the municipality of Maricao, on the south by Guánica, on the west by San Germán and...

San Germán, Puerto Rico The City of Hills San Germán (sahn her-MAHN) is known as the “City of the Hills”, the “City of the Swallows”, the “Founding City”, the “Cradle of Puerto Rican Basketball” and the “Pilgrim City.” The patron saint is San Germán de Auxerre and residents are called sangermeños. San Germán is bordered on the north by the municipalities of Mayagüez and Maricao, on the east by the municipality of Sabana Grande, on the west by Hormigueros and Cabo Rojo and on the south by the municipality of Lajas. Geographically, it is part of the region called the western plains or coastal valleys. Its land is alluvial...