Overview

Things to see and do

Go Horseback riding on the beach! There are many beaches in Aguadilla allowing visitors the opportunity to join a group for an exciting ride across the sand. There are trails that weave through the woods onto the beaches, it's a great experience and a fun activity to enjoy. 

Spend the day at Parque Acuatico Las Cascadas, Aguadilla’s modern-day theme park and one of the top attractions in town. It is the largest theme park in the Caribbean. Kids can enjoy water rides, play areas, and toboggans. The onsite Merendero (restaurant/cafe/snack bar) offers diners sensational views over Aguadilla Bay and the Desecheo islet nearby. 

Wander around the heart of Aguadilla’s in the town square, aka Plaza de Recreo where the Ojo de Agua (water eye) is an underground water source used by the Aguadilla Harbor in times of Spanish Occupation back in the day. The town’s city hall and a Catholic Church are both located here. The town was settled around this popular square which is surrounded by many attractions, restaurants, cafes, and bars. 

Go Ice Skating at the Aguadilla Ice Skating Arena which is the only ice skating facility in the Caribbean. 

Check out Ruinas de Faro Punta Borinquen Lighthouse, a Spanish-style lighthouse that was originally built in 1889, it was an impressive brick structure. The tower with a light boasted elaborate architectural details,  and it has been designated a historic site worthy of preservation by the National Register of Historic Places. The lighthouse was destroyed in 1918 by an earthquake which caused extensive damage and rendered it irreparable. Walking around and exploring the grounds, and ruins is still possible. 

Visit the Museo de Arte de Aguadilla y del Caribe (MAAC) featuring works of art from prominent Puerto Rican artists that include Luis Hernandez Cruz, Rafael Tufino, Antonio Maldonado, and Francisco Cervoni. 

Take an evening stroll along the Paseo Miguel Garcia Mendez Malecon (waterfront promenade) that leads to Playa Rompeolas which is the main beach in downtown Aguadilla. The Fisherman’s Monument is also featured on the promenade. As well as a variety of restaurants, and bars to enjoy some food and drinks while capturing a spectacular view of the sunset. 

There are endless opportunities for water sports and water-related activities to be had in Aguadilla including surfing, fishing trips, jet skiing, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, banana boat rides, and so much more. There are a variety of reputable tour operators to choose from in Aguadilla. There are also several diving schools, dive shops, and rental shops for all your surfing needs.

Shopping

There is a vibrant shopping scene for visitors to explore in Aguadilla. The coastal town offers a mixture of local markets, unique boutiques, malls, and shopping centers that include Aguadilla Mall, Aguadilla Shopping Center, Plaza Ferram, and Plaza Victoria. These shopping destinations are a great place to wander around and see the locals producing handcrafted souvenirs and other locally made items. The malls sell major brands and designer clothing, there are some outlet stores too where visitors can shop for discounted items. The heart of the city is filled with busy streets that are lined with colorful shops and vendors selling everything from traditional Puerto Rican crafts to one-of-a-kind gifts.

Beaches

Aguadilla is home to 32 beaches, it is part of the Porta del Sol tourist region which is highlighted for its beaches and surfing. This town has the most beaches on the island some of the best surfing beaches are Surfer’s, Gas Chambers, Crash Boat, Wishing Well, and Wilderness Beach. Aguadilla has been the host of surfing competitions like the ISA World Championship in 1988.

Each of the beaches here offers its distinct appeal such as Crash Boat Beach, which is one of the most iconic beaches in the country boasting some fierce waves from the Atlantic Ocean for excellent surfing conditions. This beach is one of the top ten in the country and is recognized for its soft white sand and crystal clear waters that are great for swimming and snorkeling. There is a distinctive pier at Crash Boat Beach that people use to jump off into the turquoise waters, it was also formerly used by the US Air Force.

Pena Blanca is an idyllic beach nestled into a rocky cliff on Aguadilla’s coastal corners, it's a hidden gem on the west coast.

Parque Colon Beach is an iconic beach in Aguadilla with views of Aguadilla Bay, it features a long stretch of soft white sand and beautiful calm shallow turquoise waters. In front of the beach is Colombus Park known for its famous tree house that is built into a giant Banyan tree. It is a large wooden structure built around the tree with stairs, walkways, overlooks, and benches with signs along the route describing the tree itself as well as other ecological and historical facts, all written from the tree’s point of view.

Surfing

Aguadilla is home to several excellent surfing beaches, with its location on the northern portion of the west coast of Puerto Rico where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean creating some epic waves. Some of the popular surfing beaches include Crash Boat Beach, Crash Point Beach, Gas Chambers Beach, Surfer’s Beach, Wilderness Beach, and Wishing Well Beach. Both Surfer and Survival Beach are great for surfing but also offer visitors some excellent views, both are off the beaten path making their locations unique. You can walk from Surfer Beach to Survival Beach during low tide.

Cuisine

The charming downtown area of Aguadilla is brimming with fantastic restaurants serving up delicious dishes. There are restaurants dishing up tasty traditional Puerto Rican cuisine with iconic and unique dishes like mofongo. There are waterfront and beachfront restaurants boasting spectacular views and serving fresh fish and seafood as well as Boricua-style seafood dishes like yellow mofongo stuffed with shrimp and octopus. There's a wide variety of places to eat in Aguadilla which makes it a culinary haven for food lovers, there’s everything from Thai food to Venezuelan Arepas and Puerto Rican chocolate truffles. Puerto Rican Street food is very popular in Aguadilla there is a surplus of food carts scattered throughout the town serving up delicious eats like piping hot fresh empanadas, and other street food delicacies.

Food is a very important part of Puerto Rico’s culture blending elements of Spanish, African, and native Taino cuisine into delicious dishes full of flavor. Some of the staple dishes to try on the island include mofongo; deep-fried green plantains, and tostones; double deep-fried plantain wheels, and lechon asado; a slow spit-roasted* pork dish with mouthwatering meat and crispy skin which has been declared a Puerto Rican culinary legacy. Pinchos are a Puerto Rican version of kebabs either made with chicken, beef, or pork.

Nightlife