About Caguas

The city of Caguas, founded in 1894, has been known as the city of great accomplishments. Caguas is also known as the heart of Puerto Rico because of its geografical location in the map. Caguas was born with the Taino indian life, descendants of South America and recognized for their humble, gentle and simple attitudes. The people of Caguas have a creole heart, which makes them unique and proud of being from Puerto Rico.

After Christopher Columbus arrived to Puerto Rico in 1493, with him came the Spaniards and Europeans. When the English and Dutch attacked the capital of San Juan, many people, who didn't want to lose their lives or their land, started moving to the center of the Island of Puerto Rico reaching the Turabo valley in Caguas.

The name of Caguas comes from a well known Taino indian chief named Caguax who ruled the Turabo River Valley of Caguas. Caguax taught the spaniards how to grow tobacco. The spaniards were responsible for Caguax's conversion to christianity.

Numerous arqueological findings have been found in the valleys and rivers of Caguas. In the 1600's the valley of Caguas was mainly used to raise cattle. In the 1800's the residents of Caguas lived mostly of agriculture including sugar and coffee plantations.

Caguas has a population reaching the 145,000 residents. His present mayor, William Miranda Marín, has been one of the best mayors in Puerto Rico. Caguas has enjoyed the best of the economies in the Island since the 1980's. and its built important business and buildings, including plenty of malls, a Center for Arts Performances, a Botanical Garden, and very recently, the first Krispy Creme in Puerto Rico. Caguas was the first municipality in Puerto Rico to adopt a municipal sales tax.

Caguas measures 58.7 square miles. It has an abundant systems of streams and rivers, including the Turabo River where today's San Salvador's Rainforest adventure will take place. This rainforest is part of the Sierra de Cayey, and is located in the Carite Forest System, which measures 300 acres. San Salvador's Rainforest is located in a mountainous area 2,300 feet high above sea level. In this mountains of Caguas the mineral resources include deposits of marble, copper and clay.