Cayey

Cayey, officially Cayey de Muesas, is a college town and municipality of central Puerto Rico. With a population of 42,000 (2020), it is the second largest cities located in the mountainous regions in the island after Caguas. It is home to a small historic downtown, the famous Guavate lechoneras (roadside Puerto Rican pork restaurants), and a state forest with high peaks and waterfalls.

Understand

Cayey is located north of the Sierra de Cayey, an eastward branch of the Cordillera Central, the main mountain range that crosses Puerto Rico from west to east. Some of the highest peak in the Sierra, such as Cerro La Santa in the Carite State Forest, are within Cayey's borders. Cayey is most renowned through Puerto Rico for its lechoneras - these are food establishments that prepare and serve lechón (roasted pig).

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

By car

Expressway PR-52 and road PR-1 connect Cayey to Caguas and San Juan in the north and to Salinas and Ponce in the south.

Get around

The best way to get around is by car.

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. Some roads may look like one-lane highways but are made to handle two-lane traffic.

See
  • Carite State Forest (Bosque Estatal de Carite-Guavate), PR-184, ☏ +1 787-999-2200. Daily 8AM-6PM. One of Puerto Rico's 20 state forest. It is located in the Sierra de Cayey between the municipalities of Cayey, Caguas, San Lorenzo, Guayama and Patillas. The portion of the forest in Cayey is closest to the Guavate lechoneras area and it used to host camping facilities which have not reopened after Hurricane Maria in 2017. (updated Nov 2021)
  • 🌍 Cayey Pueblo (downtown Cayey). 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.     (updated Apr 2022)
    • Casa Histórica De La Música Cayeyana (Casa de Juana Rodríguez Morales) (by the main town square). Tu-Th 10AM-5PM, F Sa 10AM-11PM. Former historic residence now a museum dedicated to the musical history of Cayey. (updated Nov 2021)
    • Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Puente de Arenas), 104 C. Núñez Romero, ☏ +1 787-738-7610. Historical parish church of Cayey listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. (updated Nov 2021)
    • La Tuna de Cayey Museum (Espacio Alegórico-Interactivo sobre la Historia de la Tuna de Cayey), 7 Nunes Romeu Street (by the Music Museum), ☏ +1 787-595-8900. Information center and small museum dedicated to the history of the Tuna de Cayey. Tunas are traditional Hispanic music groups often found in universities and academic institutions descending from the medieval Goliard tradition of Europe. (updated Nov 2021)
  • University of Puerto Rico at Cayey (UPR Cayey), 205 C. Antonio R. Barceló, ☏ +1 787-738-2161. The third largest campus of the University of Puerto Rico system on a former military base located just outside downtown Cayey. It is home to several small museums and places of historical interest. (updated Nov 2021)
    • Dr. Pío López Martínez Museum (Museo Dr. Pío López Martínez), Universidad Avenue (within campus), ☏ +1 787-738-2161. M-F 8AM-4:30PM, Sa Su 11AM-5PM. Museum and cultural research center dedicated to art, particularly serigraphy, photography, drawing and architecture. (updated Nov 2021)

Do

Buy

Eat
  • 🌍 Martin's BBQ, Carr #1, Km 59.4 Barrio Montellano, ☏ +1 787-738-4895. 10AM-9:30PM. A local favorite chain: serves mofongo, chicken with rice and beans, porkchops, and BBQ ribs. (updated Apr 2022)
  • 🌍 Delizias a Leña, PR-7737, ☏ +1 787-309-5353. F Sa noon-8:30PM, Su noon-7PM. Reservations are required. Dine-in, no takeout and no delivery. LGBT-friendly. (updated May 2022)

Lechoneras de Guavate

Cayey is often considered a cultural hub of Puerto Rican food due to its famous lechoneras, particularly those in Guavate. A lechonera is a place that specializes in Puerto Rican pork cuisine. Guavate is a barrio or district of Cayey located close to the municipal border with Caguas and San Lorenzo. Lechoneras are popular food establishments where locals and visitors alike for the delicious lechón, roasted pig that is most popularly eaten during the Christmas months (but also during the rest of the year). Although these establishments can be found throughout the whole island, those in Guavate, particularly along PR-184, are the most famous. In addition to the following lechoneras, Guavate is also home to several restaurants often serving popular Puerto Rican food.

Drink

All eateries offer drinks. Most have beer or other liquor available. Drinks, including beer, are readily available at gas stations, as well.

Sleep
    • 🌍 El Pretexto (El Pretexto), Road 715. Highly-rated culinary farm lodge. Bed & Breakfast. For adults over 18 only. LGBT friendly (updated Nov 2023)

Go next
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