Arecibo Tourist Places to Visit in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, America

Arecibo Tourist Places to Visit in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, America

Arecibo is one of the municipalities of Puerto Rico (an unincorporated territory of the United States) situated on the northern coast of the island at an elevation of 7 meters. It is located about 80 km away west of San Juan, the capital city of Puerto Rico. Arecibo Observatory (which houses the largest radio telescope of the globe) and Diocese of Arecibo are the major landmarks of Arecibo.

Geography of Arecibo:

Arecibo is placed on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Hatillo in the west, Barceloneta in the east and Utuado towards south. It spans over a total area of 443.5 sq. km.

History of Arecibo:

Arecibo derives its name from the Taino Cacique Xamaica Arasibo who was one of the early rulers of the town Abacoa and also Arecibo is popularly called by different names such as La Villa del Capitan Correa, El Diamante Del Norte and La Ribera del Arecibo. Arecibo was formed as a city on May 1, 1616.

Connectivity to Arecibo:

Arecibo is accessible with Antonio (Nery) Juarbe Pol Airport which operates only domestic flights and the nearest prominent international airport to Arecibo is Rafael Hernandez Airport which offers flights to and from New York, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Newark, served by JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines.

Arecibo is connected with the capital city, San Juan through Highway 22 by frequent bus services, and cars and taxi are other modes of transportation.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Arecibo:

The major cultural events taking place in Arecibo are:

Arecibo Carnival (February)
Playero Festival (July)
Patron Festivities San Felipe Apostol (May)

Plaza del Atlantico Ave Miramar and Plaza del Atlántico are the prime shopping centres in Arecibo:

The famous food corners in Arecibo include:

Good Times Restaurant
Gustitos Criollos
MenTa Cuisine

Places of interest in Arecibo:

Arecibo Observatory:

The Arecibo Observatory is the largest radio telescope and one of the most dominant radar-radio telescopes of the globe. It witnessed the shooting of many Hollywood movies. Tourists are allowed between 9AM and 4PM from Wednesday-Friday and on general holidays. The entrance fee is $10 for adults and children and $6 for seniors. Must see.

Arecibo Lighthouse and historical Park:

Arecibo Lighthouse and historical Park showcase the history of Puerto Rico from the Spanish colonial era to present Puerto Rico including Spanish-American. Tourists can also see original marine artifacts and enjoy spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. It is open from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (Monday-Friday), 10:00 am – 7:00 pm (Saturday & Sunday).

Cathedral of Saint Phillip Apostle:

Cathedral of Saint Phillip Apostle is the 2^nd largest in Puerto Rico after the Cathedral of San Juan and was originally constructed in the middle of the 17^th century and later was destroyed by earthquake in 1787, it was rebuilt in 1882. Both interior and exterior of the structure are superb.

Other places of interest near Arecibo are:

City Hall
Cambalache Forest Reserve
Casa Ulanga
Cueva del Indio Cavern
Dos Bocas Lake
Paseo Victor Rojas
Manuel “Petaca” Iguina Coliseum
Museum of Art and History of Arecibo
Los Morillos
Los Negritos
Poza del Obispo
Las Tunas
Rio Camuy Cave Park

Best time to visit Arecibo:

The best time to travel Arecibo is during the months between December and April.

Accommodation options in Arecibo:

Tourists can have a comfortable stay at hotels in Arecibo and hotels ranging from budget options to top end resorts are available. A list of prominent hotels in and around Arecibo includes: