Porta del Sol Puerto Rico

Welcome to Mayaguez

Porta del Sol, Puerto Rico

"La Sultana del Oeste"

Most of Mayaguez's important buildings were destroyed back in 1918 in an earthquake. In the past years a great effort has been made to restore many of the buildings. The plaza got a brand new fresh look and the center of attention is still the Cristopher Columbus bronze statue proudly standing at the center of the plaza facing "La Alcaldia" / The Mayor's office.

Quick Facts about Mayaguez, PR

Attractions in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico

If you are a tourist, you may want to block an afternoon of your vacation to see the attractions that Mayaguez, Puerto Rico has to offer.

The Zoo - Zoològico Dr. Juan A. Rivero

Mayaguez's most interesting attraction. The zoo features an open bird sanctuary and it's divided into the African Forest and the African Savannah. More about Zoologico Dr. Juan A. Rivero.

USDA - ARS Tropical Agriculture Research Station

Take a break from the beach and go on a guided tour of 127 acres of containing more than 70 plant species of native plants. This facility is one of three tropical / subtropical research centers of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Great educational attraction for everyone especially those interested in botany and ecology will love this attraction. Open M-F 7am-12pm & 1-4pm. Admission is free. (new window) More about Tropical Agriculture Research Station.


La Plaza de Colòn

Walking around the city is very enjoyable, most of the action is around the plaza surrounded by restored European style homes and buildings. You can visit various unique shops, delight your taste buds with the best ice cream in town, and relax at elegant plaza which proudly houses a statue of Christopher Columbus right in the center. More info and photos - La Plaza Colon de Mayaguez

Today Mayaguez is a college town and considered the shopping district of Porta del Sol.

Facts for the Traveler

Getting to Mayaguez

• By car: If you are coming from San Juan, the fastest route is to take the northern route west of San Juan on Rt 22, then west on Rt 2 from the town of Arecibo (stop here for the Observatory), it's pretty much a straight easy drive and it may take you from 1 1/2 hour to 2 hours to get there. You may also take the southern route, from San Juan take Rt 52, and then go west on Rt 2 from Ponce (a great place to stop for a few hours). The souther route takes about 3 hours to get to Mayaguez but the scenery of the mountains is beautiful.
• By ferry: - If you are traveling to Puerto Rico from the Dominican Republic you may take the very popular Ferry del Caribe. (787) 832-4800 & (787) 832-4905. A 1125 passenger and 250 cars ferry travels from Santo Domingo to Mayaguez. It is recommended that you reserve your ticket ahead, at least 1 day. There is an additional fee if you book the same day as the departure. You may bring your car to Puerto Rico and of course take it to the Dominican Republic (DR) if visiting the DR. Click here for more information, rates and schedule on the Ferry del Caribe.

• By Air:
You have various flying options to Mayaguez:

Option #1: You may also take a short plane ride of about 40 minutes from the International Airport of San Juan to the Mayaguez - Eugenio Maria De Hostos Airport. Daily flights are available through Cape Air. The largest aircraft available to Mayaguez from San Juan is a 9 passenger plane. The approximate cost is about $110.00 round trip. For the best rates, we highly recommend you get your flights through Priceline.com Airfare - Choose your flight or Name Your own Price

The airport in Mayaguez ofers rentals cars. For the lowest car rental rate we recommend Priceline.com Rental Cars - save up to 30%

Option #2:You may take a flight to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico from your departure city and then drive to Mayaguez (driving time is from 30 - 60 minutes depending on traffic). Not all cities and airlines offer direct flights to Aguadilla. Jet Blue and Continental airlines offer direct flights from Newark and JFK airports. For the lowest airline rates we recommend you book your Aguadilla flights with Priceline.com Airfare - Choose your flight or Name Your own Price

The airport in Aguadilla have rentals cars available. For the lowest car rental rate we recommend Priceline.com Rental Cars - save up to 30%

Option #3: You may take a direct flight to the Mercedita Airport in the town Ponce, then get a car rental and drive to Mayaguez. Continental offers daily flights to Ponce. For great rates on flights to Ponce we recommend you book online at Priceline.com Airfare - Choose your flight or Name Your own Price




Getting around Mayaguez, Puerto Rico

if you are a visitor / traveler, we highly recommend you rent a car so you can enjoy the sights in Mayaguez and the beautiful surrounding towns and all the attractions that Porta del Sol has to offer.

Car Rentals

Most of the car rental companies operate from the airport. Major car rental companies such Avis, Thrifty and Budget are there to serve you. You can book when you arrive, we recommend you book ahead online to secure your car, especially during the holiday season. For great low rental car rates we recommend Priceline.com Rental Cars - save up to 30%

If you prefer not to rent a car, you can get around by pùblicos (public transportation) or taxis.

• Pùblicos:The terminal is located at the end of Calle Pablo Maiz, near the Parque de los Proceres. Pùblicos drive to the towns of Añasco, Aguadilla, Cabo Rojo, Ponce, and Rincòn. You may also get to San Juan and Rio Piedras through publicos. The drivers are very courteous and if you call ahead you can be picked up at your hotel.

• Taxis: Most taxi companies operate from 6am - 12am. Following are some companies and their phone numbers: City Taxi (787) 265-1992, Western Taxi (787) 832-2562 and White Taxi (787) 832-1154.