Guayama
Around Guayama
Photo: Guaraguao · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Puerto Rico · 64k people
Guayama
“La Ciudad de los Brujos”, “La Ciudad del Guamaní”
Where the coquí sings over sugar cane and sea.
Brujos RedBrujos BlackCane Green
Welcome to Guayama, where the plaza is always buzzing and the beaches are just a short drive away. Come for the sugar cane history, stay for the warm community and the sound of the waves.
Clubs for Guayama
No clubs for Guayama yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Guayama. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Guayama. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Plaza de Recreo de Guayama Central square with gardens and a gazebo.
- Balneario de Arroyo Popular public beach with facilities.
- Balneario de Patillas Family-friendly beach with calm waters.
- Malecon de Arroyo Oceanfront boardwalk with food kiosks.
- Outdoors Swimming at Balneario de Arroyo
- Outdoors Hiking in the Cordillera Central foothills
- With kids Beach day at Balneario de Patillas
- With kids Exploring the town plaza
- Evenings Live music at the plaza
- Evenings Bars on the Malecon
- Locals love Balnearios (public beaches)
- Locals love Town plazas
Through the year
- Festival de la Caña February Celebrates the sugar cane harvest with food, music, and crafts.
- Festival de la Playa de Arroyo June Beach festival with seafood, music, and water activities.
- Festival de la Música April Local musicians perform in the plaza and venues.
- Fishing Tournament Summer Competitive fishing off the southern coast.
Tropical climate with a rainy season from May to November. Best time to be out is during the dry season, when skies are clearer. Best: Dry season from December to April, especially mornings and evenings.
Talk like a local
- “Brujo”
- A resident of Guayama, derived from the basketball team name.
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Brujos de Guayama BSN
Eat and drink
- Mofongo Fried plantain mash, often stuffed with seafood or pork.
- Alcapurrias Fritters made from green banana and taro, filled with meat.
- Arroz con dulce Coconut rice pudding, a holiday and coastal staple.
- Pescado frito Whole fried fish, common in coastal towns like Patillas.
- Fresh coconut water Served straight from the husk at roadside stands.
Where people go
- Sugar cane fields and centrales Ruins of old sugar mills and vast green fields.
- Balnearios Public beaches with calm waters, like Punta Guilarte.
- Town plazas
- Cordillera Central foothills Mountain slopes rising just inland from the coast.
Heritage and traditions
Guayama is proud of its Afro-Caribbean heritage, once a sugar powerhouse, with a vibrant bomba and plena scene and a strong sense of community.
Say it like a local: “Costeño” — A term for a local dish or a person from the coast.
Festivals
- Festival de la Caña May Celebrates sugar cane heritage with music.
- Festival del Pescao July Showcases local seafood dishes.
- Festival de la Playa August Beach festival with live music and food.
- Fiestas Patronales de San Antonio June Honors the patron saint with processions.
Landmarks with a story
- Central Azucarera Ruins of a former sugar mill.
- Parroquia San Antonio de Padua Historic Catholic church in the plaza.
- Museo de la Caña Museum dedicated to sugar cane history.
- Fuerte de Arroyo Old Spanish fort overlooking the coast.
Food traditions
- Sugar cane juice Freshly squeezed, a sweet local staple.
- Bacalaitos Codfish fritters, popular at beach kiosks.
- Mofongo with seafood A local twist on the classic dish.
- Arroz con dulce Coconut rice pudding, a holiday favorite.
Music and arts
- Bomba and plena Afro-Puerto Rican drumming and dance traditions.
- Vejigante mask making Colorful papier-mâché masks for festivals.
- Local murals Depicting sugar cane history and culture.
A little history
- 18th century Founded as a sugar cane plantation town.
- 19th century Became a major sugar exporter in the 19th century.
- 19th-20th century Afro-Caribbean culture shaped local music and traditions.
Rivalries
- Brujos de Guayama vs. Leones de Ponce Basketball rivalry in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional.
- Brujos de Guayama vs. Cangrejeros de Santurce Another key basketball matchup.
- Game day Brujos de Guayama basketball games
- Game day Winter baseball
- Outdoors Swimming at Balneario de Arroyo
- Outdoors Hiking in the Cordillera Central foothills
- With kids Beach days at Balneario de Patillas
- With kids Exploring the town plaza
Locals speak Puerto Rican Spanish with a coastal accent, often using informal slang and Afro-Caribbean expressions.
Only here
- The sound of bomba drums echoing from community gatherings.
- Fresh sugar cane juice sold from roadside carts.
- A mix of African and Caribbean traditions in daily life.
New here? A few tips
- Try the local seafood at a kiosk by the beach.
- Learn a few Spanish phrases; many locals speak Spanish first.
- Visit the sugar cane museum to understand the area's history.
- Drive carefully on mountain roads; they can be narrow and winding.
- Join a bomba or plena class to experience local culture.
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Part of San Juan area
Nearby
Every areaCocoPuerto RicoSalt air, sugarcane, and the song of the coquí.CoamoPuerto RicoWhere the warm waters meet the mountain airSan JuanPuerto RicoCapital of the CaribbeanPoncePuerto RicoLa Perla del SurJayuyaPuerto RicoHigh in the mountains, rich in heritage and coffee.AdjuntasPuerto RicoCool breezes, rich coffee, and the warmth of the highlands.UtuadoPuerto RicoHeart of the island's highlands, where coffee grows and rivers sing.AreciboPuerto RicoWhere the Atlantic meets the karst, and pride runs deep.
Guayama, PR. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.