Things to do in Mayagüez
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
Teatro Yagüez
The beautiful Teatro Yagüez would be an architectural icon in any European capital, let alone quiescent Mayagüez, a city that sometimes struggles to assert its understated cultural identity. Dubbed the ‘Cathedral of Sonorous Art’ by enamored locals, the building was the brainchild of Francisco Maymón, the son of Italian immigrants who was an early pioneer of silent movies in Puerto Rico at the beginning of the 20th century. Maymón inaugurated his first theater in 1909, an opulent neobaroque structure that was filled with Italian ceilings and tiles imported from Spain. Hosting opera, orchestral concerts, silent movies and plays, it rapidly became the font of polite societ…
reviewed
-
E Franco & Co
Most of Puerto Rico’s culinary legends are less than 20 years old, but this salt-of-the-earth grocery-store-cum-café has been here for over a century and a half and is still drawing in punters from as far away as San Juan for a monthly stock up. Cocooned in the waterfront warehouse district, Franco’s is an upmarket place with tables scattered around a glass-topped deli counter in the style of an old English tearoom. Order your lunch from a set menu and you’ll receive a complimentary brazo gitano that goes down well with a cup of fine Puerto Rican coffee. Stocked with assorted condiments, fresh baked goods and opulent hampers, the store affords plenty of people-watc…
reviewed
-
B
Estación Experimental Agrícola Federal
Strolling is an attraction at the Estación Experimental Agrícola Federal, the tropical agricultural research station of the US Department of Agriculture. and in the adjacent city park known as Parque de los Próceres. These grounds lie just southeast of the RUM campus. At the agricultural station you will see plantations of yams, plantains, bananas, cassavas and other tropical ‘cash crops’ as researchers evaluate new hybrids and species introduced to the island (including a cinnamon tree from Sri Lanka). The gardens have one of the largest collections of tropical plants in the world known to have beneficial effects on human health. The Parque de los Próceres, on the so…
reviewed
-
C
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria
Consecrated in 1760, the city's original Catholic church was replaced by the current model in 1836. The cathedral suffered many blows over the subsequent 100 years, culminating in the 1918 earthquake which destroyed its ceiling, and a lightning bolt that toppled one of its bell towers. Ambitious renovation plans were drawn up by architect Luis Perocier in 1922, but due to lack of funds they were never truly realized. The full refurbishment wasn't actually completed until 2004.
The cathedral now sparkles afresh and survives as one of Puerto Rico's most evocative ecclesial monuments with gilded scenes from the life of Christ behind the altar.
reviewed
-
Ferries Del Caribe
Mayagüez is Puerto Rico’s gateway to the Dominican Republic, at least by sea. Ferries Del Caribe, on the docks of Mayagüez north of the tuna canneries, offers the serious ‘off-island’ adventure across the Pasaje de la Mona. Its massive M/S Caribbean Express sails every other day across the Pasaje de la Mona for Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic (a 12-hour trip). On board you will find a restaurant, cafeteria, bar, casino and disco, as well as conference rooms, private cabins, a sauna and a Jacuzzi. There is room for 250 cars along with 1125 passengers.
reviewed
-
D
Zoo
The only serious zoo in Puerto Rico is just to the northeast of the university, off Hwy 108, in the same neighborhood as the agricultural research station and city park. Here you can see some 300 species of reptiles, birds, amphibians and mammals moving around in habitats somewhat similar to what they would have in the wild. Refurbished a couple of years ago, the zoo’s still not exactly on the cutting edge, but it has done a lot to get away from steel cages.
reviewed
-
E
Vegetariano La Familia
Bankers, teachers, students, office workers and itinerant travelers; they all line up here at another Mayagüez classic where the portions are huge, the tastes are rustic and the price is…well…peanuts. The lunch buffet on its own is a sight to behold – tofu dishes and salads stretching across a big table. Then there are the rice dishes, the pasta, the beans and the strangely tasty vegan lasagna. Even incurable carnivores have been known to lick their lips.
reviewed
-
F
Ricomini Bakery
The Ricomini bakery and deli has been on this corner for well over a century and is still packing in the punters. Business deals are made here, relationships forged (and broken), and gossip boisterously exchanged. Ricomini’s is always happy to serve the odd stray traveler and you can roll up for steaming coffee, scrambled eggs or a slice of the famous brazo gitano. The decor is open and clean and the atmosphere local.
reviewed
-
G
University
Over 12,000 students are enrolled at this university in a host of disciplines. Over the years, RUM has become the premier math and science campus of the University of Puerto Rico system and boasts internationally respected programs in agriculture and engineering, as well as in the physical and biological sciences. The campus lies just out of town off Calle Post (Hwy 2).
reviewed
-
H
Rex Cream
Rex is a small Puerto Rican ice-cream chain that was founded in Mayagüez in the 1960s by Chinese immigrants who came to the island via Costa Rica. This signature store near the central plaza is still something of a local tradition and gets full, particularly on public holidays. Among the numerous weird and wonderful flavors you can sample are corn sherbet and tamarind.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
I
El Garabato
In the same building as Red Baron but on the 1st floor, El Garabato is more of a typical pub than a dance hall. Here students swing by for a quick one between classes or stop to play dominoes with the regulars. Happy-hour prices are laughably low – $2 for a mixed drink and $1 for a beer.
reviewed
-
J
Chapas Lounge
On the ground floor of the faded 1970s Hotel Embajador is a rather plush restaurant and cocktail lounge that has developed into something of a hotspot in the city’s nightlife. Come for a filet mignon and stick around for a few mojitos afterwards.
reviewed
-
K
Red Baron Pub
The dance club above El Garabato, Red Baron often has a DJ spinning reggaeton, rap, hip-hop and Spanish rock. Lots of students get tanked up downstairs and then come up to work the dance floor until the small hours. Cash only.
reviewed
-
L
Parque de los Próceres
Strolling is an attraction at the city park known as Parque de los Próceres. These grounds lie just southeast of the RUM campus. The Parque de los Próceres, on the south side of Hwy 65, has more verdant walkways.
reviewed
-
M
Restaurante Estoril
Estoril is known for its romantic setting and authentic Portuguese food. It’s got murmuring fountains on the patio, festive plates on the walls and a stellar lunch buffet.
reviewed
-
N
Buffalos Café
On the Calle Post crawl is this amiable place where you can munch on hot wings, sip on cold beer and dance salsa with people who know all the moves.
reviewed
