Fajardo is a town and municipality on the northeast coast of Puerto Rico, the easternmost major population center on the main island. It lies along Route 3, roughly an hour and a half east of San Juan, and fronts the Atlantic Ocean with clear sightlines toward the offshore islands of Culebra and Vieques. The municipality is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Fajardo combined statistical area. Fajardo was founded in 1772 as Santiago de Fajardo, developing around its natural harbor and an agricultural economy before evolving over time into a maritime and tourism center. Its deep harbor and strategic east-coast position have long made it a gateway to the surrounding islands and a focal point for seafaring activity. Today Fajardo is best known as the hub of recreational boating in Puerto Rico. It is home to Puerto del Rey Marina, one of the largest marinas in the Caribbean with capacity for more than 2,000 boats, and serves as the primary launching point for Culebra, Vieques, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. The municipality's population stands at roughly 25,500. Beyond boating, Fajardo is a center for ecotourism. The Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve protects coastal forests and the historic Las Cabezas de San Juan lighthouse, and contains Laguna Grande, a bioluminescent bay visited by kayakers year-round. Seven Seas Beach offers calm, palm-lined waters. For residents and buyers, Fajardo combines a working coastal town, world-class boating infrastructure, and rare natural attractions on Puerto Rico's eastern shore, all within reach of the San Juan metropolitan area.