The northern region of the island is a sweep of land that begins on the slopes of the central mountains, crosses coastal plains and forests, and ends abruptly on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. There are ten towns in the region—if you exclude those of the San Juan metro area.
The first towns you encounter when you leave San Juan and head west are Toa Alta, Toa Baja and Dorado. Once considered “out on the island,” with the advent of modern expressways, they are now virtually suburbs of San Juan.
Toa Alta, founded in 1751, was an important agricultural area. In addition to notable poets and musicians, Toa Alta is the birthplace of one of Puerto Rico’s five Miss Universe winners, Dayanara Torres. Toa Baja— you can see it across San Juan Bay—is home to El Cañuelo Fort, part of the San Juan National Historic Site. Dorado is best known for its hotels, golf courses and beaches. This town is a short commute from San Juan and many upscale communities are found there.
Vega Alta and Vega Baja, which began life as a single town but split after 1775, is an agricultural and manufacturing area. Among the many attractions are Cerro Gordo Beach, Bosque de la Vega and Casa Alonso.
The town of Manatí (founded in 1738) is the pineapple center of Puerto Rico and home to many manufacturing operations. Barceloneta, originally part of Manatí, was once a major sugarcane producer and is now home to one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical complexes.
Arecibo is the largest city of the north. Settled in 1556, it is the third oldest town on the island (after Caparra / San Juan and San Germán). The Arecibo Observatory receives thousands of visitors annually, and the Arecibo Lighthouse Park is one of many popular attractions.
Hatillo is known for its dairy farms—it produces about a third of the milk consumed on the island—and, for shoppers, for its Plaza del Norte mall. Its neighbor Camuy is home to the Río Camuy Caves Park.
With its forests, beaches, colonial towns and unique attractions, the north is a rich area to explore.
