Naguabo, Puerto Rico

Naguabo
Municipio Autónomo de Naguabo
View of Naguabo from El Yunque
Nicknames: 
"Cuna de Grandes Artistas", "Los Enchumbaos"
Anthem: "Mi Naguabo del querer, Mi Naguabo del soñar"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Naguabo Municipality
Coordinates: 18°13′10″N 65°44′12″W / 18.21944°N 65.73667°W / 18.21944; -65.73667
Sovereign state United States
Commonwealth Puerto Rico
Settled1794
FoundedJuly 15, 1821
Founded byLuis de Gaztambide, Juan Viera, Antonio Viera, and Juan Méndez
Barrios
Government
 • MayorMiraidaliz Rosario Pagán (PPD)
 • Senatorial dist.7 - Humacao
 • Representative dist.35
Area
 • Total
60.07 sq mi (155.57 km2)
 • Land52 sq mi (135 km2)
 • Water7.94 sq mi (20.57 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
23,386
 • Rank52nd in Puerto Rico
 • Density449/sq mi (173/km2)
DemonymNaguabeños
Time zoneUTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Codes
00718, 00744
Area code787/939
Major routes

Naguabo (Spanish pronunciation: [naˈɣwaβo], locally [naˈwaβo]) is a town and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the east coast of the island bordered by the Vieques Passage, north of Humacao; south of Río Grande and Ceiba; and east of Las Piedras. Naguabo is spread over eight barrios and Naguabo Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). The municipality is composed of the barrios of Daguao, Río, Mariana, Peña Pobre, Pueblo, Río Blanco, Maizales, Santiago y Lima, and Duque. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Naguabo is renowned as the birthplace of the pastelillo de chapín, a popular dish in Puerto Rico. It is trunkfish wrapped inside deep-fried flour dough. Pastelillos de chapín can be found in almost any seaside establishment on the island. It is derived from the Taíno term Daguao, and the nickname "El Pueblo de los Enchumbaos" -an expression meaning "soaked"- comes from the abundant water sources and frequent rain. The latter is due to Naguabo's proximity to El Yunque, a large rainforest reserve.