Aibonito

Aibonito is a small mountain town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Cordillera Central, the central mountain range of the island. Aibonito is most famous for its relatively cold temperatures, its flower industry and yearly festival, its food and its beautiful nature.

Understand

Aibonito is located in the Sierra de Cayey, a subrange of the Cordillera Central. At 2,400 feet (731 m) in elevation, Aibonito's main town square is the highest in Puerto Rico. The San Cristobal Canyon, one of the largest and deepest canyons in the Caribbean, separates Aibonito from Barranquitas in the north. The area was originally settled by the Taino people, and the town's name comes from the Taino word "Jatibon" (from Jatibonicu, the name of the local tribe), meaning "black river" or "high river" (similar to Haiti's name origin). A local legend says the name comes from a Spanish settler who exclaimed "ay que bonito!" ("oh, how pretty!") at the natural scenery in the area.

Get in
  • San Juan: Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
  • Aguadilla: Rafael Hernández Airport
  • Ponce: Mercedita Airport

By car

Aibonito is connected to Cayey in the east through road PR-14, to Coamo in the west also through PR-14, and to Cidra in the east through PR-173. The Carretera Central and PR-1 also connect the municipality to Cayey in the east and Salinas in the south, although the road itself does not lead to the Pueblo (downtown).

Get around

As with most towns in Puerto Rico, Aibonito is very car-centric and driving is the easiest way to get around.

A word of caution: if driving you are sharing the road with trucks, and locals. The mountain roads have steep descents and ascents, hairpin turns, and steep cliff drops are not always protected by railing. The roads may look like one-lane highways but are made to handle two-lane traffic.

See
  • 🌍 Aibonito Pueblo (downtown Aibonito). See the historic Roman Catholic church, Spanish-style recreational plaza, and the municipal buildings surrounded by streets and shops.
    You can drive around the pueblo or park your car and walk around the square and into the plaza. The Spanish law, which regulated life in Puerto Rico in the early 19th century, stated the plaza's purpose was for celebrations and festivities. The historic downtown and administrative center of Aibonito is home to several historic buildings, such as the colonial-style Church San José, the city hall and the main town square.     (updated Apr 2022)     Some historic sites and tourist attractions in the downtown area are:
    • Church of San José of Aibonito (Parroquia San José), 55 Geronimo Martinez Street, ☏ +1 787-735-3741. The main church and Catholic parish in town. The current building dates to 1897 and it was listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1984. (updated Oct 2021)
    • Encanto Theater (Antiguo Teatro Encanto), Calle San José, ☏ +1 787-735-8181. Historic theater dating to the early 20th century. (updated Oct 2021)
    • Federico Degetau House and Museum (Casa Museo Federico Degetau), Cll Degetau, ☏ +1 787-991-7219. F Sa 10AM-3PM. Historic residence (now museum) of Federico Degetau, a German-Puerto Rican writer and lawyer who went on to become the first Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico in the US Capitol. (updated Oct 2021)
    • Moscoso Pharmacy (Farmacia Moscoso), 49 PR-14. Century-old historical pharmacy that still preserves its early 20th-century architecture and interiors. (updated Oct 2021)
  • 🌍 Asomante Battlefield and Trench (Las Trincheras de Asomante), Carr. 14, Asomante. Site of one of the most important battles in the Puerto Rico campaign of the 1898 Spanish-American War. Although the site hasn't been developed for tourism or visitors, the area is considered one of the most beautiful in Aibonito due to its views of the Caribbean and the southern coastal plains. A plaque in Aibonito's main town square commemorates this battle and the 100th anniversary of the American occupation of Puerto Rico. (updated Oct 2021)
  • Mirador La Plata (along PR-14). 24 hours. Scenic overview overlooking a high valley of the La Plata River, the longest in Puerto Rico. Free. (updated Oct 2021)
  • Piedra Degetau (Mirador y Parque de la Piedra de Degetau), PR-7718 (Ruta Panorámica). Daily 11AM-11PM. Park and vista point located at one of the highest points in Aibonito. Piedra de Degetau is the name of the mountain summit located in the park where according to tradition Federico Degetau, famous author and the first representative of Puerto Rico in Washington D.C., often found inspiration to write. The park has a watchtower providing breathtaking views of Aibonito. A pizzeria, food kiosks, parking and bathrooms are also available. (updated Oct 2021)
  • San Cristobal Canyon (Cañón de San Cristóbal). One of the largest and deepest canyons in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. The nine-kilometers-long gorge section found between Aibonito and Barranquitas is the most visited part of it due to its narrow gorges and beautiful waterfalls. (updated Oct 2021)

Do
  • Camping and hiking at San Cristobal Canyon. There other natural sites for outdoors activities such as: La Cuchilla and Finca Don Felix.

Buy

Aibonito is most famous in Puerto Rico for its floral industry. The constantly cool temperatures in the area allow for the growth of native and foreign flowers making Aibonito the flower capital of Puerto Rico. During the month of July the town hosts the yearly Festival of Flowers (Festival de las Flores de Aibonito) where visitors can learn about the floral industry and buy rare and exotic plants. A number of roads running through the municipality's flower crop areas is popularly known as Ruta de Las Flores ("The Flower Route"). There are numerous plant nurseries and gardens open to the public where visitors can buy all kinds of flowers:

  • El Coquí - Aibonito Garden (Jardín El Coquí), Carr. 723 KM 1.2 interior, ☏ +1 939-419-3235. M-Sa 8AM-4PM. (updated Oct 2021)
  • Jardín Emanuelli, PR-723 (Ruta Panorámica), ☏ +1 787-991-1736. Daily 8AM-4PM. Wide variety of bromeliads, orchids, anturios, heliconias. (updated Oct 2021)
  • Jardín Luriam, PR-162, ☏ +1 787-735-6817. M-Sa 7AM-4PM. (updated Oct 2021)
  • Jardines Asomante (Asomante Gardens and Nursery), Rd 14 Km 46.5 (next to the Trincheras de Asomante battlefield area), ☏ +1 787-735-8961. (updated Oct 2021)
  • Meyers Nursery, Bo. Pasto Carr. 718 km 2.5, ☏ +1 787-735-6177, . Weekdays 8AM-4PM. Considered the largest orchid and bromeliad farm in the Caribbean. (updated Oct 2021)

Eat
  • Aibonito Beer Garden and Restaurant, 5 Degetau Street (Esq. Geronimo Martinez), . M W Th 10AM-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight, closed on Tuesdays. Beer garden also serving Puerto Rican and American meals. (updated Oct 2021)
  • Claudio Pizza, Cll Federico Degetau, ☏ +1 787-215-1114. Daily 11AM-9PM. (updated Oct 2021)
  • El Balconcíto Criollo, PR-7718, ☏ +1 787-735-2005. M-F 10AM-10PM, Sa Su 10AM-midnight. (updated Oct 2021)
  • El Cantinflas, PR-722 Int 162 (Ruta Panorámica), ☏ +1 787-735-8870. M-F 11AM-9PM, Sa Su 11AM-10PM. (updated Oct 2021)
  • El Italiano Xpress, 49 PR-14, ☏ +1 787-735-7002. M-F 11AM-9PM, Sa Su 11AM-10PM. Pizza, pasta and Puerto Rican fares. (updated Oct 2021)
  • El Rincón Familiar, PR-162, Esq. Miguel Suarez Street, ☏ +1 787-735-7425. Daily 10AM-10PM. (updated Oct 2021)
  • Fiore-Trattoria, 54 Rius Rivera Street, ☏ +1 787-705-1335. Sa Su noon-11PM. Italian cuisine. (updated Oct 2021)
  • La Canasta Fried Chicken, Cll Geronimo Martinez (downtown Aibonito), ☏ +1 787-735-6594. Daily 7:30AM-4PM. BBQ, fried chicken and chicken meals such as milanesas. (updated Oct 2021)
  • Picadera Fine Food (downtown Aibonito), ☏ +1 787-694-0914. W-Su 2-11:30PM. Typical Puerto Rican fare and cocktails. (updated Oct 2021)
  • Rock & Birra, 51 Padial Street (downtown Aibonito), ☏ +1 939-334-1129. Th-Su 1-10PM. Tacos, Mexican and Puerto Rican fare. (updated Oct 2021)
  • Sushibonito (downtown Aibonito), ☏ +1 787-715-7000. W 4-10PM, Th-Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-8:30PM. Sushi and Japanese cuisine. (updated Oct 2021)
  • Tio Pepe, PR-723 (Ruta Panoramica), ☏ +1 787-735-9615. Th-Su 11AM-midnight. Popular spot serving traditional Puerto Rican fares and "antojitos". (updated Oct 2021)

Drink
  • Doble 3 Sport Bar, Cll Degetau (downtown Aibonito), ☏ +1 787-989-7241. M-F 1-10PM, Sa Su 12:30PM-12:30AM. (updated Oct 2021)
  • La Finca Mojito Bar, Carr 162 km 12.8, ☏ +1 787-942-3624. Sa Su noon-9PM. (updated Oct 2021)
  • Panoramic Liquor, PR-14 / PR-7718 (Ruta Panorámica), ☏ +1 787-366-7669. M-F 8AM-7PM, Sa Su 8AM-midnight. (updated Oct 2021)
  • Veseo Lounge, 1 Degetau Street (downtown Aibonito), ☏ +1 787-642-0479, . F Sa 6PM-1AM, Su 6PM-midnight. Gay bar in downtown close to the main town square. Often hosts special events such as drag shows and themed-nights. (updated Oct 2021)

Sleep

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