One thing we were excited to do while in Puerto Rico was go shopping, especially for groceries! Our refrigerators and freezers were getting thin, so It was time to re-provision. While there are a couple of large grocery stores in The Bahamas, they are few and far between, and the prices are pretty steep. Thus, we only bought our basic necessities while on The Bahamian islands, and waited to get to Puerto Rico to stock up.
Puerto Rico has all the major groceries stores you’d find in the U.S., like Costco, Sam’s Club, and Walmart. And these stores, and many more, were located in one convenient area in Caguas. So that was our next outing. We drove north to Caguas from Salinas on Route 52, winding through the mountains. It took us about 25 minutes to get there. If one were to go to Caguas from San Juan, it would be about 25 minutes on Route 52 heading south. So Caguas is pretty much in the center on the eastern part of the island.
(also known as Valle del Turabo after the Turbo River that runs through Caguas)
Caguas is located in the Central Mountain Range and is known as the “Center and Heart of Puerto Rico”. Although we mostly just took advantage of the shopping there, this city is known for a lot more than that. It is the 5th largest populated city on the island, but it still maintains a small-family feel. The locals take pride in keeping their traditions alive and have many festivals, plaza activities, museums, art centers, and historic sights to visit. The town also offers modern shopping, restaurants, Las Catalinas Mall, and attractions for all ages. We didn’t have time to do much exploring, but I hear that Jardín Botánico and the hiking trails through the mountains and rivers are must do activities for our next visit.
Before coming to Puerto Rico, I had heard the term “gastronomy” before, but it was never ingrained in my vocabulary. When in Puerto Rico, I was surprised to see this word everywhere. It describe the culinary delights of the island and has a much broader meaning than the term “cuisine” that we use in The States. The term “Gastronomy” describes Puerto Rico’s art of selecting, preparing, serving, and enjoying find food, while emphasizing its culture and tradition. It has been said that gastronomy has proved to be a stronger cultural force among the peoples than their linguistic or other influences. It just so happens that Caguas is “The Gastronomic Capital of Puerto Rico” so we were in a good spot to enjoy some good food. Caguas not only has a large number and variety of gastronomic establishments, but it has designated gastronomic routes where locals and tourists can make eating an all day affair, hopping from one restaurant to another, like going from one ride to the next at an amusement park.
“Hogar y Farmacia” is “Home and Pharmacy”
Ask most locals and they will tell you that Puerto Rico’s heart beats in Caguas. This is not only the “Center and Heart of Puerto Rico,” but it is a place of treasured heritage, history, and food, and a special gathering place for families and friends. Caguas also enjoys a natural wonderland of parks, gardens, rivers, canyons mountains, and scenic hiking trails. We have a lot more to explore in Puerto Rico, but Caguas gets special recognition in our book for its family-friendly vibe.