17 Things to Do in Caguas that are Worth It

Located in the mountain center of the island and known as the heart of Puerto Rico, there are a lot of awesome things to do in Caguas.

Though not frequented by travelers, Caguas is just a short ride from San Juan. It’s home to museums, outdoor parks, and some of the best stuff to explore in Puerto Rico.

I’m a Puerto Rico local that’s been to the city, and I can promise you that if you’re looking for Puerto Rico cities to explore outside San Juan, Caguas has plenty to offer.

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17 Best Things to Do in Caguas

Plaza Santiago R. Palmer

Enjoy a snack while listening to music in the town square.

📍 Google Maps

Caguas’ main plaza is not only beautiful, but it’s also home to frequent festivities the whole family can enjoy.

In and around the plaza you’ll find multiple food kiosks where you can enjoy some of the best Puerto Rico foods like a piña colada in la Almendrita or a warm coffee in Café Palmer. The plaza also has a carousel your toddlers will love! And, every Saturday you’ll find live music in the town square.

👉 Short on Time? Book this multi-city Puerto Rico tour with a stop in Caguas. 

Paseo de las Artes Abelardo Díaz Alfaro

Eat, dance, and buy local crafts at this popular promenade.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 653-8833 x1800 | Hours: Open 24 hours daily | Entrance: Free

Paseo de las Artes is a promenade in Caguas where multiple cultural activities take place. If you’re an art lover, then you’ll especially enjoy Paseo de Los Artistas on the third Saturday of the month. This activity in Paseo de las Artes brings together dozens of local artists, musicians, dancers, and performers. 

On the last Friday of the month, foodies can attend Al Fresco Culinary Show. Also a cultural activity, Al Fresco Culinary Show has food as the main attraction of the night.

Herminio Torres Grillo Tobacco Museum

Learn about Puerto Rican tobacco history at this museum.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 744-2960 | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Tue-Sat, Closed Sundays and Mondays | Entrance: Free

If you’re interested in the history of Puerto Rico’s tobacco production and want to check out Puerto Rico’s museums, then make a stop at the Tobacco Museum of Caguas.

This small museum in the city of Caguas is the only one dedicated to tobacco making in Puerto Rico. Besides learning about the production of tobacco, visitors will also get to see the relationship between Cuban and Puerto Rican tobacco. Cigars are sold as souvenirs here.

Jardín Botánico y Cultural de Caguas

Stroll in a peaceful garden in the middle of the metropolitan area.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 653-0470 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 3 pm Wed-Fri, 10 am – 4 pm Sat-Sun, Closed Mondays and Tuesdays | Entrance: $5, adults, $3 under 12 

The Botanic Garden of Caguas is a great place for people looking for a getaway from the city. The 67 acres of land host beautiful green scenery with endemic trees. 

The garden also has a lake, the ruins of a Spanish plantation, and Taino petroglyphs. Pet lovers can visit with their dogs as long as they are on a leash.

🚗 How to Get There: Although public transportation does reach Caguas, renting a car in Puerto Rico allows you to explore with flexibility. Discover Cars lets you find the best car rental deals in Puerto Rico.

Caguas History Museum

Immerse yourself in Caguas and Puerto Rico’s history.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 744-8833 | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Tue-Fri, Closed Mon-Wed | Entrance: Free

The Caguas History Museum is located in a historical building from 1887 that’s listed in the National Register of Historic Sites of the United States. This museum has multiple exhibition rooms that narrate the history of Puerto Rico and Caguas from pre-Columbian to the modern era. 

The Caguas History Museum also narrates how Puerto Rican identity and culture came to be. History lovers can take a guided tour to explore this hidden gem close to the city hall.

F.O.K. Brewing Company

Enjoy tap beer in one of Puerto Rico’s most popular brewing companies.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (939) 437-0365 | Website | Hours: 4 pm – 10 pm Wed-Thurs, 3 pm – 11 pm Fri-Sat, 3 pm – 10 pm Sun, Closed Mon-Tues | 👉Book a Tour on Viator

If you’re more of a tap beer lover than a sangria connoisseur, then head over to F.O.K. Brewing Company, one of the most popular places to visit in Caguas. 

This brewery sports more than 18 flavors for beer lovers including one of the original names of the city, Caguax. On Fridays, the location boasts a lively atmosphere with live music and food trucks, with security all over the area.

Oh, and if you love beer, be sure to see my guide to the top breweries in Puerto Rico.

The Sangria Factory

Get a taste of Puerto Rico’s most awarded sangría.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 747-0000 | Hours: 12 pm – 5 pm Saturday, Closed to the public the rest of the week 

If you’re a connoisseur or mixology enthusiast, one of the stops you need to make is at The Sangria Factory, a tasting room for Sangría Los Hermanos. 

This homemade sangría has more than 12 refreshing flavors like coconut, passion fruit, and grape. Visitors can enjoy their preferred flavor and a variety of snacks when visiting The Sangria Factory.

Caguas Real Golf & Country Club

Conquer this golf course in the countryside of Caguas.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 653-4653 | Website | Hours: 6:30 am – 9 pm Tue-Sat, 6:30 am – 7 pm Sun, Closed Mondays 

Hidden in the countryside of Caguas, Caguas Real Golf & Country Club offers golfing fans a discreet and relaxing place to practice their skills. The golf course has 18 holes among lakes and trees, all surrounded by a landscape of mountains. 

The site has a driving range for practice, an on-site restaurant, and a golf shop. This parkland-style course is budget-friendly so it’s a great option for visitors doing Puerto Rico on a budget.

Centro Criollo de Ciencias y Tecnología del Caribe

Explore a world of science interactive exhibitions with your kids.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 653-6391 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 5 pm Thur-Sat, Closed Sun-Wed | Entrance: $9-14, adults, $7-12 under 12 depending on package 

The Centro Criollo de Ciencias y Tecnología del Caribe is a science museum in Caguas worth visiting with your kids. This large museum boasts an impressive structure with interactive exhibitions about science, space, and sustainability. 

One of the main attractions of the museum is its large theater. The building also has a green roof with great views of the surroundings. You can find out about events and workshops on the museum’s social media.

Catedral Dulce Nombre de Jesus

Admire a historical cathedral in the town center.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 743-4311 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 12 pm Tue-Sat, Closed Sun-Mon 

The Dulce Nombre de Jesus Cathedral is a beautiful church across the main town square of Caguas which hosts the remains of the beatified Carlos Manuel Rodríguez. 

The current structure dates back to 1930 when a second tower was added to the original 1830s structure. The cathedral’s facade boasts a neogothic style with multiple arches. The interior is somewhat simple, but it hides beautiful mosaics worth seeing.

👉 Not sure what to bring? My Puerto Rico packing list will make sure you have everything you need for a great trip!

Museo de Arte – Casa Amarilla Dra Concha Meléndez

Tour this small museum with a legacy of Puerto Rican art.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 258-3505 | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Tue-Sat, Closed Sun-Mon 

One of the best gems of Caguas is the Art Museum of Caguas. Although small, this museum hosts a permanent exhibition with great pieces from Caguas and Puerto Rican artists that highlight the culture and history of the country. 

Inside Caguas Art Museum, you’ll also find an exhibition hall with a temporary exhibition that change every six months.

El Salto San Salvador Waterfall

Hike through the forest until finding a unique waterfall.

📍 Google Maps

While it’s true that Caguas is a concrete jungle, it hides some natural treasures like El Salto San Salvador Waterfall. One of the unique waterfalls of Puerto Rico, El Salto offers a waterfall adventure for the complete family.

Getting there is a challenge due to the uneven terrain, but travelers can take a waterfall tour with Rocaliza Adventure Tours. El Salto is located inside the Carite Rainforest where you can do rappelling, rock climbing, or enjoy the rainforest zipline park.

Teatro Luis M. Arcelay

Watch a play in this historical theater.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 746-4354

Founded in 1912, the Luis M. Arcelay theater is a charming small theater perfect to enjoy a play while you’re visiting Caguas. The theater presents plays almost all weekends and is home to multiple festivals throughout the year. 

Most of these festivals are free and open to all public. You can find upcoming events and calendars on Caguas city’s social media.

Don Rey Cigars

Indulge in a cigar or enjoy a drink at this cigar lounge in Caguas.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 241-8605 | Website |  Hours: 10 am – 8 pm Monday – Wednesday, 10 am – 9 pm Thursday and Saturday, 10 am – 12 pm Fridays, 12 – 8 pm Sundays

There are two great indulgence options in Caguas for cigar lovers: the Tobacco Museum and Don Rey Cigars. Don Rey Cigars is a combination of a bar, a lounge, and a store where visitors can buy handmade cigars and enjoy them paired with a drink.

Connoisseurs can ask for a customized order too! Don Rey once had the Guinness World Record for the longest cigar in the world.

Heladería Artesanal Jendy’s

Taste unique ice cream flavors and escape the city’s heat at this artisanal ice cream shop.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 745-1110 |  Hours: 12 pm – 9 pm Fri-Sun, 12 pm – 8 pm Mondays, and Wed-Thurs, Closed Tuesdays

Puerto Rico is home to many unique ice cream shops and one of them is in Caguas. Heladería Artesanal Jendy’s is a small ice cream shop that sells peculiar ice cream flavors like pumpkin, garlic, and beans. 

But if you have a more conventional sweet tooth, you’ll also find traditional flavors like chocolate and vanilla. Besides its variety of flavors, the ice cream shop offers vegan, sugar-free, and lactose-free options.

Urbe Apie

Take workshops and see street art created by this non-profit organization.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (939) 945-8736 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Tues-Fri, Closed Sat-Mon

Urbe Apie is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring Caguas’ abandoned buildings. Their mission is to promote cultural and economic growth and to prevent the displacement of locals.

The NGO organizes workshops, art exhibitions, classes, pop-up markets, and community meets. It occupies 8 buildings in downtown Caguas that are used as an art gallery, a refuge, a museum, a garden, and a clothing store.

Urbe Apie also hosts a festival called Despierta Verano every summer where dozens of artists take over the urban center of Caguas to create murals. 

Some of the streets with murals include Calle Jiménez Sicardo, Baldorioty, and Vizcarrondo. 

Montadero Chocolate

Make your own chocolate bar at Montadero Chocolate.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 436-6618 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm Tues-Sat, Closed Sundays and Mondays

Montadero Chocolate is a bean-to-bar chocolate shop in Caguas that sources its cacao directly from cacao farms in Puerto Rico. Besides buying their delicious chocolate, you can also take a chocolate-making workshop in the facilities. 

During the workshop, you’ll learn about the company’s history and cacao. Best of all, you’ll get to create your own chocolate bar.

FAQs

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Thanks for reading my guide to Caguas, one of the best Puerto Rico cities. If you’re wondering what else you can do while visiting the island, here is my pick of the top sites in Puerto Rico you can’t miss.

Enjoy Caguas!