Cayey

Both geographically and culturally speaking, Cayey is the eastern gateway to Puerto Rico [1]’s Cordillera Central [2]. The mountains here may not boast the dramatic heights of those found in Jayuya [3] and Utuado [4], but Cayey has something that attracts islanders far and wide, particularly on the weekends and during holidays. And that is its many lechoneras, [5] popular casual eateries that specialize in open-pit roasted pork.

Many locals make a day of visiting the area to dine at all-you-can-eat buffets, dance to the live bands, and shop at roadside vendors, who sell everything from local crafts to homemade cheeses and sweets to gallons of mavi, a traditional Taíno beverage made from fermented tree bark of the mavi tree.