Luquillo, Puerto Rico | ||
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Municipality | ||
Aerial view of Luquillo
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Nickname(s): "Capital del Sol", "La Riviera de Puerto Rico", "Los Come Cocos" | ||
Anthem: "Junto a las costas del mar Atlántico" | ||
Location of Luquillo in Puerto Rico |
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Coordinates: 18°22′21″N 65°43′00″W / 18.37250°N 65.71667°WCoordinates: 18°22′21″N 65°43′00″W / 18.37250°N 65.71667°W | ||
Country | United States | |
Territory | Puerto Rico | |
Founded | 1797 | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | Hon. Jesús Márquez Rodríguez (PPD) | |
• Senatorial dist. | 8 - Carolina | |
• Representative dist. | 36 | |
Area | ||
• Total | 34.26 sq mi (88.73 km2) | |
• Land | 26 sq mi (68 km2) | |
• Water | 8.00 sq mi (20.73 km2) | |
Population (2010) | ||
• Total | 20,068 | |
• Density | 590/sq mi (230/km2) | |
Demonym(s) | Luquillenses or Luquillanos | |
Time zone | AST (UTC-4) | |
Zip code | 00773 |
Luquillo (Spanish pronunciation: [luˈkiʎo]) is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northeast coast, northwest of Fajardo; and east of Rio Grande. Luquillo is spread over 5 wards and Luquillo Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the Fajardo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The city of Luquillo is 26 square miles and it sits on 12 miles of Atlantic coastline. It is nestled between the blue waters of the Atlantic and the El Yunque National Rainforest, giving it a diverse and unique ecology. Luquillo marks the beginning of the Northeast Ecological Corridor Nature Reserve which runs down the coast from Luquillo’s town square all the way down to the Seven Seas Beach in Fajardo. During certain times of the year, it is not unusual to encounter rare or endangered species of fauna (like the Leatherback Turtle) while visiting in Luquillo.
Luquillo was founded in 1797 and is known as "La Capital del Sol" (sun capital), "La Riviera de Puerto Rico" (Puerto Rico's riviera), and "Los Come Cocos" (The coconut eaters). The town was named after the Indian cacique Loquillo, who died a few years after the last Indian rebellion in 1513.
If you stay on the coastal highway going east from San Juan, you'll soon reach Luquillo Beach. This huge plantation of majestic coconut palms shades more than a mile of fine and shimmering sand. It is one of the most popular and nicest public beaches in the San Juan area. It offers cafeterias, public bathrooms with showers, access for disabled people, and an ample parking lot. Monserrate Beach is one of the public beaches most frequented by the locals. In 2006 El Balneario de Luquillo (The Luquillo Beach) was pronounced the most popular one in Puerto Rico.La Pared Beach is also very popular for its surf worthy waves.