Hato Rey, Puerto Rico

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Hato Rey is a small peninsula in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is near Santurce and Río Piedras. It is also close to Carolina, Isla Verde and the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. Because of its location, a large part of Puerto Ricans traveling to Old San Juan must drive by Hato Rey first.

Hato Rey is a startling contrast between the barrio of the very poor and La Milla de Oro (The Golden Mile), a stretch that effectively covers only one mile but that is home to the headquarters of many large banks and is one of the most important centers of Puerto Rico's economy. Many housing projects (caseríos) in Hato Rey have faced illegal drug trade for years, some of which have gangs that have engaged in drug wars with rival gangs from Santurce, Isla Verde and Carolina.

Important buildings in Hato Rey include the Banco Popular headquarters, Plaza Las Americas, the Roberto Clemente Coliseum, the Centro Medico hospital and Puerto Rico's supreme court building. Puerto Rico's FBI headquarters are also located in Hato Rey. Because of the area's closeness to the airport, major airlines, such as Avianca and Iberia, have had their offices in Hato Rey.

Hato Rey is also home to a series of boutiques and restaurants (mostly among Roosevelt avenue). The José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum and the Tren Urbano (Urban Train) are reshaping Hato Rey and bringing people into the area after hours. The train is also helping to ease traffic woes in the area by decongesting the roads.