Humacao, Puerto Rico

Humacao, Puerto Rico with about 60,000 inhabitants was founded on April 1722 and became autonomous (town) in 1793. Humacao derives its name from a local Indian Chief Jumacao, a beautiful monument of whom welcomes visitors from the San Juan area.

Humacao, town and port on the east coast of Puerto Rico, is located 30 mi  (48 Km) southeast of San Juan. It is also known as "La Perla del Oriente" (pearl of the orient) and "La Cuidad Gris" (gray city).

The town has light industry, including textiles, plastic products, and castor-oil extracting. The surrounding area produces coffee, sugarcane, rice, and tobacco.

Its attractions are world renown and get visitors from the furthest reaches of the globe. Nightlife offers entertainment from evening to the early hours of the morning and during the day you can spend your time shopping in any of the many fine stores.

The Breadfruit Festival (Festival de la Pana) in Humacao, Puerto Rico is celebrated during the first weekend of September and it's organized by the Mariana's Recreational and Cultural Association (ARECMA).  

Its main theme is about the preparation of dishes whose main ingredient is breadfruit and typical Puerto Rican music, crafts and foods as well as other cultural and sports activities can also be enjoyed.

Humacao is famous all over Puerto Rico for its granitos, a greasy snack food, which is composed of fried rice flour with cheese in its center. People have for years driven to Humacao from other cities just to taste this snack food. Locals joke about this tastiful 'fritura': el granito es EEE: engorda, estriñe y embrutece (fattens, constipates, stupefies).

One of Puerto Rico's most important charity fund-raising activities, La Buena Vida Festival, takes place every year in Palmas del Mar, a Luxury Resort Community in Humacao, Puerto Rico.

They gather several hundred good-hearted Puerto Ricans and visitors from abroad, to enjoy fine art, excellent food from our foremost chefs-de-cuisine, and the best wines available in Puerto Rico. A silent art and wine auction is held at the peak of the activity.

Humacao Natural Reserve (HNR), has a brackish water lagoon system that was created by Hurricane David and Tropical Storm Frederick in 1979. Important fisheries have developed in the reserve's lagoon system and most of them supported by marine species using the lagoons as nursery areas.

One of the many nature reserves in Humacao, Puerto Rico that is know for its diverse and spectacular collection of approximately ninety bird species and also a few families of monkeys that roam the reserve.

Over half a mile off shore of Punta Santiago beach in Humacao there is a small Island called Monkey Island. It's an island inhabited by hundreds of Rhesus monkeys once used for scientific experiments in the early 1930's.

Contact with these monkeys is discouraged as they are wild and very unpredictable. The reserve is located next to the Caribbean Sea and is within walking distance of a public beach and large public marine fishing pier.

Although research policies strictly limits the number of visitors to Monkey Island, but you can sail, snorkel, and dive nearby to keep an eye on the monkeys from a distance, which may be safer for both you and the animals.

Don’t miss out on a visit to Punta Santiago Beach, a long-stretched beach situated in a natural environment that consists of rocks and cliff faces and is well worth exploring. 

This public beach is a popular overnight beach as it offers seaside cabins and villas for rent.  Here you can lay down on sand that is both coral white and volcanic black in places while the emerald green waters lap at your feet and the soft sound of turf soothes away the stresses of every day life. Open Hours: 8:30am-5pm, Tues-Sun.

In 1919 he Czech architect Antonin Nechodoma designed a home for the Roig-Guzmán family.  This unique and graceful structure is now open to the public as the Museo Casa Roig.  While the museum features displays of contemporary art, it is a work of art in and of itself.

This museum offers exhibitions of mostly puertorican artists and server as a stage for cultural performances. It is part of the UPR at Humacao. Located in 66 Antonio López Street, Humacao, phone: 787-852-8380. Open Hours: 10am-4pm, Wed-Fri & Sun.

There are various supermarkets as well as two big shopping malls with over 30 stores (Plaza Palma Real and Humacao Shopping Mall).

For horse back riding check the Rancho Buena Vista (http://www.ranchobuenavistapr.com) at Palmas del Mar Resort with carefully planned trails that run for miles around the resort.

Where to Stay

Palmas Del Mar is one of the largest master planned communities in the Caribbean with approximately 2,750 acres of land devoted to a variety of residential, commercial and resort uses.

With its combination of primary and secondary homes, lodging facilities and resort amenities, Palmas is the Caribbean's most fully integrated premier destination resort and residential community.

Enjoy a truly luxurious lifestyle in the Caribbean.  Palmas del Mar is a Luxury Resort Community.  These facilities include: Horseback Riding, Marina & Yacht Club, two 18-hole Championship Golf Courses, other amenities and miles of golden sand beaches. 

The Villas at Palmas invites you to discover an escape like no other. The experience begins with warm Caribbean breezes across 3 ½ miles of sandy beaches and lush tropical terrain boasting a dozen species of palm trees.

Four Points by Sheraton Resort & Casino it's a nice hotel, although not a full scale resort. This hotel is entirely contained within the Palmas del Mar resort community.

Map Puerto Rico provides most of Humacao, Puerto Rico information as accurate as possible but keep in mind that changes beyond our control may make some of this information inaccurate. If you have questions or want to report problems to us, please contact us.