Puerto Rico - Countryside Tours

Puerto Rico Highway 184 is a main, rural highway that connects Cayey, Puerto Rico, with plans to be extended to Cidra, to Patillas. It is the main and only access to the various famous roasted-pork restaurants (lechoneras) in the area of Guavate and the access to the forest park with the same name.

The destination is a highway. And a drive to “La Ruta del Lechón,’’ also known as “Pork Highway,’’ is deliciously distant from the standard tourist activities that often go with trips to this island. Drive 30 to 45 minutes from the San Juan metro area, and you’ll find this stretch of road and its regional offerings.

In this mountainous central-eastern part of the island, traditional spit-roasted pork shacks, called lechoneras, pop up every few feet. Despite its relative closeness to the capital, the lush surroundings and unmistakably porcine smells seem far away from the strip malls and fast food chains that line the roads immediately outside San Juan. The second the aroma of well-marinated whole suckling pig hits — and this happens as soon as you turn onto Route 184 — you know you’re in for something special.

Guavate located south of San Juan is not the only place on the island for find great lechon (roast pork), but it’s probably the most well known (it’s even been featured on the Anthony Bourdain No Reservations TV show). If you are looking for an authentic, popular with the local place then head to Guavate on a Saturday or Sunday.

The area is inundated with lechoneras (roadside cafeterias) whose specialty is seasoned slow roasted whole pig. Traditionally the pig is roasted over an open flame mounted on on a wooden spit called a varita, but now must use a steel spit. The pig is usually roasted for about 6 – 8 hours which ensures that the pork is pact with flavor, moist and tender. The roast pig is not the only delicacy on the menu; as you will find roast chicken, turkey, morcella (blood sausage) and numerous side dishes, including: rice and beans, rice with pigeon peas, tostones, mofungo, sweet potato and many more. If you happen to be there during the Christmas period you will also see pasteles, arroz con dulce and Puerto Rico’s very own egg nog ‘coquito’.