Caguas is located in the mountainous interior of eastern Puerto Rico,
about 25 minutes from San Juan. Universidad del Turabo has its campus
here. The city derives its name from an Indian chief, Caguax, who was an
early convert to Christianity.
Caguas is part of the Caguas, Puerto Rico metro area.
An old Puerto Rican tradition, cigar making is an interesting and
educational experience that you should enjoy. As you walk into the
facilities of Tabacalera National in Caguas, a complete cigar workshop
is revealed. Learn about the different kinds of tobacco and the cigar
manufacturing process, including leaf selection, rolling techniques and
packaging the finished product. Aficionados may buy their favorite
cigars on site.
Its community has enjoyed one of the best economies among Puerto
Rican cities since at least the 1980s. During the early part of the 20th
century, Caguas hosted one of Puerto Rico's most important sugar
manufacturers, which gave employment to thousands of Cagüeños.
Numerous business and important buildings have opened up there since
then, including the imposing 23 story apartment building Caguas Tower,
its adjacent competitors Bonneville Apartments, the 10 floor San Juan
Bautista Medical Center, the Plaza Del Carmen Mall, the Plaza Centro
Mall, the Las Catalinas Mall and various other important structures.
Caguas is also an important sports town, hosting the Criollos de Caguas
Baseball team in Puerto Rico's Liga Profesional De Beisbol, the Criollos
de Caguas Basketball team in Puerto Rico's 'Superior National Basketball
League' (or BSN), and the Criollas De Caguas Volleyball team in the
Women's professional Volleyball league. The Baseball team is considered
the greatest of all-time in all of Latin America, having won 13 national
Puerto Rico titles and 11 Serie Del Caribe (Caribbean championship
series) titles, both records. The basketball team has not enjoyed so
much success, but in the last 2 years has shown a lot of progress, both
times reaching the playoffs, and the women's Volleyball team is a back
to back to back national champion. Caguas also counts with the Bairoa
Gym, one of the most important boxing gyms in all of Puerto Rico and a
place where many visiting champions have trained at.
Caguas has also been the birthplace of many celebrities, both local and
international , such as Ricky Martin, most of the early members of
Menudo, Edgardo Diaz, illustrious Educator Jose Gautier Benitez,former
Criollos Basketball star Willie Quinones, boxing prospect Miguel Cotto,
former world title challenger boxer Juan Carazo, former boxing contender
Alberto Mercado and writer Abelardo Diaz Alfaro.
Former world bantamweight champion boxer Julian Solis and his brothers,
former world title challengers Rafael Solis and Enrique Solis were born
nearby.
