Naguabo is a town and municipality on the east coast of Puerto Rico, bordered by the Vieques Passage, the stretch of sea between the main island and the island of Vieques. It lies north of Humacao, south of Río Grande and Ceiba, and east of Las Piedras, and it is spread over eight barrios, including the downtown core of Naguabo Pueblo and the coastal community of Playa Húcares. The municipality covers roughly 52 square miles and had a population of about 25,800 in the 2020 census. Naguabo was formally established in 1821, though a settlement existed on the site as early as 1794. The town's growth has long been tied to the water. Its protected bay and east-coast location supported fishing and maritime commerce, and fishing remains part of the municipality's identity today. The Malecón, Naguabo's waterfront boardwalk, is lined with seafood restaurants and sits near the fishing activity that still brings in lobster, conch, and other local catch. The coastal district of Playa Húcares is another seaside focal point, known for its beach and informal seafood stalls. Naguabo is also defined by its geography at the edge of the Sierra de Luquillo. The municipality is one of eight that share El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the United States national forest system, and its rivers and foothills extend the forest's influence into daily life and recreation. The municipality is served by the Puerto Rico Department of Education through a network of public schools, and higher education is available nearby at the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao, Inter American University's Fajardo campus, and Universidad Ana G. Méndez in Gurabo. For residents, Naguabo combines a fishing-town coastline, a rainforest backdrop, and convenient access to the larger east-coast municipalities of Puerto Rico.