Beginning in January of 2023, my wife Zoraida and I started visiting a different town in Puerto Rico every two weeks. That means that it will take us over 3 years to visit all 78 municipalities (taking into account unforeseen events such as climate and health issues. We started in the town of Carolina, going clockwise around the municipality of San Juan. Why didn't we cover San Juan (you might ask)? Because that's where Puerto Rico By GPS started, so we thought we could give it a rest and return in a near future as needed. As of June of 2025 we have covered 40 municipalities and the adventure continues.
Curated by: Puerto Rico By GPS (PRXGPS) (56 videos)
Get Our Exclusive Guide: “10 MISTAKES FIRST-TIME PUERTO RICO VISITORS MAKE” here: https://accrm.com/s/4849 Hormigueros may be Puerto Rico’s second smallest municipality, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in history, culture, and jaw-dropping views. In this episode of Puerto Rico By GPS, we explore a town that’s barely half the size of Manhattan, yet home to one of only two minor basilicas in Puerto Rico. Perched high on a mountain, the stunning Basilica of Our Lady of Monserrat dominates the landscape and offers sweeping views of Puerto Rico’s entire west coast. We walk you through Hormigueros’ unique geography—from fertile river valleys near sea level to peaks approaching 1,000 feet—and explain why this town looks nothing like the traditional Spanish colonial layout found elsewhere on the island. Along the way, we uncover archaeological evidence dating back to 820 BC, explore the origin of the town’s name—derived from “hormiguero,” or anthill—and explain how carbon dating beneath the basilica rewrites Hormigueros’ official founding timeline by nearly a century. Our visit begins early, climbing all 78 steps to the basilica to ensure we catch it open, and the reward is well worth the effort. Inside, the church’s European-inspired arches, Mozarabic bell tower, and rich history reveal why Pope John Paul II granted it minor basilica status in 1998. From there, we explore the town’s unconventional public spaces, including Ramón S. Vélez Ramírez Square, honoring the founder of New York City’s Puerto Rican Day Parade, before stopping at City Hall, where local officials help point us toward hidden gems. We then drive deep into the mountains to Mirador Vista a la Bahía, one of the most impressive viewpoints in western Puerto Rico, before visiting the Bobby Cruz Museum in Jagüitas Ward. There, we celebrate the legacy of Bobby Cruz and Richie Ray—two Hormigueros natives who helped shape modern salsa music. The journey continues with drone views of the abandoned Central Eureka sugar mill, a stop at the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Mausoleum, and a look at one of Puerto Rico’s nearly forgotten casillas de camineros. As always, we base ourselves at I Love Combate Rooms and Suites in Cabo Rojo, making it easy to explore western Puerto Rico without exhausting drives from San Juan. This episode proves that Hormigueros isn’t just a stop—it’s a destination worth slowing down for. VIDEO CHAPTERS 00:00 - Start 02:59 - I Love Combate Rooms & Suites - Our Basecamp 03:59 - Our Lady of Monserrate Basilica 07:25 - Hormiguero’s Non-Traditional Layout 08:11 - Pilgrimage House 08:39 - Ramón S. Vélez Ramírez Square 09:00 - Hormigueros Square 09:13 - Who was Ramón S. Vélez Ramírez 10:20 - Hormigueros City Hall 10:58 - Bay Viewpoint 11:42 - Bobby Cruz Museum 13:13 - Bobby Cruz’s Childhood Home 13:41 - Eureka Sugar Cane Mill 14:12 - Segundo Ruiz Belvis Mausoleum 14:50 - Roadworker Houses 16:00 - Back to Basecamp And of course, as in all our videos, every attraction includes the GPS coordinates for your convenience. ================= RELATED CONTENT Why I Do What I Do? — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr0pHfFfMJM&t=66sæ La Vuelta Del Bobo”, A Traffic Jam That Puerto Ricans Actually Enjoy — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H434m-b9v7A&t=4s Does GPS Work In Puerto Rico? [Complete Guide] — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6N9CcvsEC0 Is Puerto Rican Food Any Good? — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNtZz7j0NvE&t=8s Are Puerto Rican Beaches Any Good? — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n6PatNovTI 7 Facts About Puerto Rico And The Puerto Ricans — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=138AF0oIB44 When Is The Best Time Of The Year To Visit Puerto Rico And Why? — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEWRwu3bfXQ&t=23s ================================ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL HERE: https://www.puertoricobygps.com/YouTubeSubscribe ========== HASHTAGS #ourladyofmonserratebasilica #bobbycruzyrichieray #hormigueros #puertorico #orlandomergal ======================== ORDER OUR TRAVEL BOOKS “The Old San Juan Walking Tour” A step-by-step guide around Old San Juan presenting the city’s most important attractions. This book is available in traditional printed form and for the Amazon Kindle platform. It includes a detailed map showing each attraction with GPS coordinates and over 2 hours of video (only available to readers) that you can watch over and over again. ENGLISH: https://www.puertoricobygps.com/TheOldSanJuanWalkingTour “Puerto Rico Beach By Beach” A step-by-step guide to Puerto Rico’s most beautiful beaches. This book is available in traditional printed form and for the Amazon Kindle platform. It includes color photos of every beach, a detailed description and GPS coordinates so you’ll get there with ease, an online GPS map and an online video of each beach. ENGLISH: https://www.puertoricobygps.com/PuertoRicoBeachByBeach SPANISH: https://www.puertoricobygps.com/GuiaDelCaminanteDelViejoSanJuan