The town of Arecibo lies on the northern coast of Puerto Rico about 40 miles west of San Juan, 27 miles east of Isabela and 36 miles north of Ponce. Lush and green, the surrounding landscape contrasts the more arid landscape of locales found on Puerto Rico’s southern coast.

One of Arecibo’s claims to fame is the Arecibo Observatory, which is home to one of the world’s largest and most powerful radio telescopes. The dish of the telescope is actually a tiles surface built into the bowl of a mountain.

Arecibo was settled in 1556 and was the third Spanish settlement on the island. It wouldn’t be until sixty years later in 1616 when the town would officially adopt its name, which is from an old Indian leader that ruled the area.

The half-moon-shaped harbor here is not very well protected, save for a breakwatered area on the west end of the harbor, which is where the town anchorage is located. A flashing white light form the lighthouse atop Punta Morrillos will help guide you in from the Atlantic.

See our “Local Notices to Mariners” blog for updates on the latest conditions and advisories for this area.

Guide to Puerto Arecibo