Coamo
Founded 1579 as Puerto Rico's third-oldest municipality, Coamo's thermal springs (43°C, 32,000-83,000 gallons/day) were rumored to be Ponce de León's Fountain of Youth. Hurricane Maria damaged the Baños de Coamo in 2017, and despite reconstruction efforts the tourist site remains closed as of 2025. The San Blas Half Marathon draws international runners each February.
Coamo claims to be the Fountain of Youth—or at least the Baños de Coamo do. These thermal springs, used by Taíno people in the pre-Columbian era, were once rumored to be what Juan Ponce de León actually sought when legend sent him to Florida. The springs discharge between 32,000 and 83,000 gallons daily at 43 degrees Celsius, and by the early 19th century, Spanish colonials had constructed a system of pools and a spa hotel to serve visitors seeking healing waters.
Coamo itself is Puerto Rico's third-oldest municipality, founded July 15, 1579—only San Juan and San Germán preceded it. The town received its title of 'Villa' by Spanish Royal Decree in 1778. At its founding, Coamo served as the administrative center for a vast interior region that would eventually subdivide into multiple municipalities including Guayama, Cayey, and Juana Díaz. The name may derive from Coamex, a celebrated local cacique, or from an indigenous word meaning 'valley.'
Hurricane Maria in 2017 damaged the thermal springs' infrastructure, and as of 2025 the site remains closed to tourists despite reconstruction beginning in 2023 and stalling in 2024. The community continues requesting action on this tourist asset that once drew visitors from across the Caribbean.
Mayor Juan Carlos García Padilla, first elected in 2000 and still serving under the Popular Democratic Party, presides over an economy supporting approximately 2,900 jobs—retail trade, public administration, and healthcare leading employment. The annual San Blas Half Marathon each February attracts runners from around the world.
By 2026, Coamo's trajectory depends on whether the thermal springs finally reopen. The geological asset that made this location valuable to Taíno healers and Spanish colonists alike sits damaged and unused. The municipality that claims the Fountain of Youth cannot currently show it to visitors.