Fajardo is the hub of much of the recreational boating in Puerto Rico and a popular launching port to Culebra, Vieques, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. It is also home to the largest marina in the Caribbean, called Puerto del Rey. The town contains various hotels and inns.
Offshore, near Fajardo, a few islets can be found. These are Icacos, Isla Palomino, Palominito, and Diablo, among other uninhabited coral islands and barrier reefs.
Fajardo was founded in 1760, 1773 or 1774 (depending on the authority) as Santiago de Fajardo. It was one of the locations used by the American troops to invade Puerto Rico. On August 1, 1898 the USS Puritan under the command of Captain Frederic W. Rodgers, sailed the coastline near the city of Fajardo when he spotted the Faro de Las Cabezas de San Juan (Cape San Juan lighthouse), which was supposed to be the landing site for the US Army in Puerto Rico. Rodgers ordered some of his men ashore, including Puerto Rican volunteers, with the mission to post the American flag atop the lighthouse.
On November 14, 1824, in what was dubbed the "Foxhardo" Affair, US Naval Officer David Porter landed at Fajardo with 200 seamen and marines, threatening to destroy Fajardo because one of his men had been arrested in Puerto Rico. For taking this action without US approval, Porter was later court-martialed.<ref name="Sweetman">Template:Cite book</ref>
On September 20, 2017 Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico. In Fajardo, the hurricane triggered numerous landslides with its strong winds and significant amount of rainfall.<ref name="USGS_Maria_Landslides">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="USGS_Maria_Landslides map">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Fajardo is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as Template:Lang.<ref name="Pico_1969">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Law2015">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="US2010Census" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Barrios (which are, in contemporary times, roughly comparable to minor civil divisions)<ref name="Barrio-Pueblo"/> and subbarrios,<ref name="Census map 000">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Census map 001">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Census map 002">Template:Cite web</ref> are further subdivided into smaller areas called Template:Lang (sectors in English). The types of sectores may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref name="Law 1-2001">Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:See alsoTemplate:Lang (Special Communities of Puerto Rico) are marginalized communities whose citizens are experiencing a certain amount of social exclusion. A map shows these communities occur in nearly every municipality of the commonwealth. Of the 742 places that were on the list in 2014, the following barrios, communities, sectors, or neighborhoods were in Fajardo: Obrera neighborhood, Roosevelt neighborhood, Mansión del Sapo, Maternillo, Media Luna, Sector Camacho, Vevé Calzada, and Vieques en el Aire.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
Fajardo has 46 beaches.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Fajardo's beaches are bounded by calm, clear water ideal for snorkeling. Seven Seas Beach offers plentiful water sports facilities, offshore points for sailing, snorkeling and plenty of scuba diving.
Fajardo is also home to one of the few Bioluminescent Lagoons in the world. Nightly trips are offered by kayak by local companies who give educational tours.
Fajardo celebrates its patron saint festival in July. The Template:Lang is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="PR_Ency" /> The festival has featured live performances by well-known artists such as Tito Nieves, Johnny Ventura and Sonora Ponceña.<ref name="Fiestas">Template:Cite web</ref>
Other festivals and events celebrated in Fajardo include:
Fajardo Soccer Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium in Fajardo, Puerto Rico The 3,800 capacity stadium was developed at a cost of $3.9M,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and opened December 12, 2015 and is home venue of Puerto Rico Sol.
In 2007, the team returned once again to the BSN. The team known as the "Titanes de Morovis" was moved to Fajardo, and was renamed "Cariduros de Fajardo". Unlike the NBA and other sports leagues in the United States, Puerto Rican franchises rarely leave the original name of the franchise when they move to a different city.
Once, there was a basketball team for the Puerto Rican Basketball League known as the "Conquistadores de Fajardo".
Fajardo also has a AA Amateur Baseball Team Los Cariduros de Fajardo and have won over 10 sectional championships, 3 time national runners-up in 1974, 2003 and 2005, and 3 times national champions in 1954, 2004 and 2010.
Fajardo's flag is a tricolor triband. The upper band is gules (red), symbolizing the color of the shield's border. Silver (white), the center band, stands for the color of the main pieces that appear in the shield and the crown. Azure (blue), the lower band, represents the color of the sky and the sea of Fajardo. Centered is the coat of arms of the village (villa) in natural colors.<ref name="LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico 2020">Template:Cite web</ref>
The coat of arms is formed as a square with a rounded base and stamped at the top with a crown mural of three towers. It is supported by two dolphins, and underneath the base a banner with the inscription “Santiago de Fajardo”.<ref name="LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico 2020" />
File:Calle Hermanos Avila Fajardo, Puerto Rico.jpgCalle Hermanos Avila - Parcelas BeltránHermanos Ávila Esperanza - Military (Andrés; Pedro; Norberto; Justino; Guillermo y Tomás) - A street in Fajardo (Parcelas Beltrán) and Culebra (PR-251) is named after the Ávila Brothers. These six soldiers were honored for their exceptional work in the Korean and Vietnam wars and for returning home to Puerto Rico alive.
