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.

Do

 * Go to a concert by

Buy

 * Guavate (where most of the lechoneras are located) has some gift and souvenir shops.
 * Guavate (where most of the lechoneras are located) has some gift and souvenir shops.

Eat




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.

Go next

 * Aibonito
 * Caguas
 * Cidra
 * Guayama
 * Patillas
 * Salinas
 * San Lorenzo