Guavate
4.5
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4.5
82 reviews
Excellent
55
Very good
17
Average
5
Poor
1
Terrible
4
Angela J
Greensboro4 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
We paid on 8/3/24 for our tour. Same day after payment , we get a text from the host stating he is sick and couldn’t take us on the tour. He offered a refund, but he never processed the refund by the end of the day as promised. I had to file a claim due to the poor customer service. Just be careful!
Written 4 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Toya G
Jeffersontown, KY28 contributions
Mar 2020 • Family
Guavate during the week is very slow. I’m visiting on a Thursday at 2pm. All of three restaurants open and a a few small kiosks. No live music, except weekends. I commuted from Fajardo. A beautiful drive on the state highways. About a 15 minute drive on one lane winding roads. Amazing views and landscapes. Guavate itself reminds me of Gatlinburg, TN.
Written 12 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lovetotravel47405
Canandaigua, NY59 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
Pork Highway in Guavate is a must do on your visit to Puerto Rico! Awesome food, music, scenery and prices!!! We ate at El Rancho Original and LOVED it! We worried about the area after the recent hurricanes, but fear not - pork Highway is doing great!!
Written 13 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vabchtraveler
Virginia Beach, VA639 contributions
Oct 2018 • Friends
What a tale to tell. I'd seen Bourdain and Zimmerman eating pork on la Ruta de Lechon and wanted to be able to do the same....what yum and fun! I was only in San Juan on a day with a cruise turn-around. I connected with a guy on Cruise Critic who referred me to a guy with a taxi in San Juan and the deal was made. Toro texted me the rate of $140 for the 3-4 hour trip with a maximum of 4 people. Perfect! Now, where do I find 2 more people? Back to Cruise Critic to 'put it out there' - Bingo! A couple from Alaska on the same cruise (also b2b) wanted to join us. Terrific now - $35 each!
Toro picked us up at the PanAm cruise terminal and off we went to the mountains (hills, actually). The roads were curvy and interesting and within the hour, we reached our destination. Lechonera after lechonera (pork cooking places) until we arrived at the one Toro chose for us. We were there on Saturday and the lechoneras are a mainly locals venue so it was already busy at mid-day. The Salsa music was rocking the house and the pig was in the window ready to be sliced. My plate had lots of pork and also fried plantains with rice and peas. Delicious. There are lots of little shops adjoining the restaurant where you could pick up a souvenir. I'll bet this place really rocks on Saturday night! Absolutely worth the trip. Not your everyday - or for everybody - cruise excursion! Great fun!
Toro picked us up at the PanAm cruise terminal and off we went to the mountains (hills, actually). The roads were curvy and interesting and within the hour, we reached our destination. Lechonera after lechonera (pork cooking places) until we arrived at the one Toro chose for us. We were there on Saturday and the lechoneras are a mainly locals venue so it was already busy at mid-day. The Salsa music was rocking the house and the pig was in the window ready to be sliced. My plate had lots of pork and also fried plantains with rice and peas. Delicious. There are lots of little shops adjoining the restaurant where you could pick up a souvenir. I'll bet this place really rocks on Saturday night! Absolutely worth the trip. Not your everyday - or for everybody - cruise excursion! Great fun!
Written 6 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carmen B
Guayama, Puerto Rico4 contributions
Aug 2016
I remember watching a very well known tv travel program where it's main travel guide came to Puerto Rico and took this route. He was so impressed that actually stated that he had been all over the world and could truly state that it was the best pork he had ever eaten. I could laugh because I know it can be true, my parents live an hour from that area. If you like pork, this a place you must try. Just try to go during the week, during weekends it happens to be packed with locals and tourists, good luck finding a parking. Also, packed with people during Christmas! Still, it is an experience in the middle of mountains.
Written 15 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenna H
Madison, WI19 contributions
Jan 2019 • Family
My husband is quite a foodie and his review was that not only was it worth the beautiful drive up the mountains (45 min. From San Juan) but it was one of his top 5 food experiences all time. Nothing fancy, very tasty. The roast pork, chicken and beans/rice were terrific. There are many roadside stands to choose from. We went to Mojitos. Family of five had drinks, sides, pork, and a whole chicken for $50.
Written 5 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
joenel476
Fort Myers, FL13 contributions
Aug 2016
Great area for roasted pork and other Puertorican food.From Sanjuan take highway 52 south and get off the first exit after the toll (Guavate).
Written 23 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Epic Experiences Travel
Augusta, GA86 contributions
May 2015
I had high hopes and they were fulfilled. We got lucky because we were going to turn around after not seeing a lot of action but decided to continue following the cargo line. At the front end of the road, there's a lot of houses and hole in the wall places that were not appealing. After what seemed like two miles, we start hearing and smelling the flavor. Up at the end of Pork Highway is where the action is, several delightful open air restaurants, sovereign shops and ton of people having fun with the live music and dancing. There was several couples, young and old, dancing their hips off to salsa and meringue music. Let the rhythm take you over. You will need it after all of the good food. El Rancho has several different meats, blood sausage, yucca, and sweets. Bring your appetite and your dancing shoes.
Written 9 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeb1217
Largo, FL284 contributions
Nov 2019
The trip to Guavate is a must. Typically tourists go to Old San Juan, the Rainforest and Beaches. However to experience the real Puerto Rico, you need to leave the typical tourist areas and visit where the locals go on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. The road through Guavate is nicknamed the Pork Highway because of the dozens of roadside barbecue stands along the road cooking whole pigs over an open fire. The aroma carries for miles. Along the road ever 1/2 mile or so you encounter a same group of stand and stores selling local merchandise and pork dinners. On weekends, there is usually live music also. These stands started at the end of the road and over the years new stands opened closer to the start of the road hoping to capture the business.We only when up about half way but it was a treat.
Written 8 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andres C
Newington, CT546 contributions
Nov 2019
I was born in Puerto Rico and have visited many times after moving away, but this was my first time in Guavate. I didn't know what to expect other than really amazing pernil (pork) according to every review.
After driving up we found reasonable parking for $3.00 USD. We crossed the street to the first location and there was a live band playing merengue. As soon as they finished another band would begin. There was nonstop music (merengue, bachata, salsa) and nonstop dancing. Whether you intend to dance or want to watch seasoned dancers show off their skills - this is the place to go. It was equally fun joining the dancers as it was seeing people enjoy themselves. I felt at home - and I was!
There were multiple places to get drinks and food and the pricing was extremely reasonable. A huge mojito was less than $8.00 USD. We got food across the street where $60-70 USD was enough to get food for about 8 of us: pernil, rice, guineito (type of boiled banana), and many other items. We ordered 6 shots for our group and that was less than $20.00 USD. This is the place to go if you're on a budget and want to have some authentic Puerto Rican fun!
You'll also find a few gift shops that are also reasonably priced.
I highly recommend visiting Guavete. My only advice for people who aren't used to driving in PR is that the road up is not for the faint of heart. I say that because driving back down can be tricky. If you're up for it, in my opinion, it's not too bad. Otherwise, there are some party buses that are part of excursions that will take you there.
Get there about 12:00pm and stay until it closes (7:00pm) You won't regret it! PR has more to offer than it's gorgeous beaches (and that have many of those) and this is definitely one place you don't want to miss.
After driving up we found reasonable parking for $3.00 USD. We crossed the street to the first location and there was a live band playing merengue. As soon as they finished another band would begin. There was nonstop music (merengue, bachata, salsa) and nonstop dancing. Whether you intend to dance or want to watch seasoned dancers show off their skills - this is the place to go. It was equally fun joining the dancers as it was seeing people enjoy themselves. I felt at home - and I was!
There were multiple places to get drinks and food and the pricing was extremely reasonable. A huge mojito was less than $8.00 USD. We got food across the street where $60-70 USD was enough to get food for about 8 of us: pernil, rice, guineito (type of boiled banana), and many other items. We ordered 6 shots for our group and that was less than $20.00 USD. This is the place to go if you're on a budget and want to have some authentic Puerto Rican fun!
You'll also find a few gift shops that are also reasonably priced.
I highly recommend visiting Guavete. My only advice for people who aren't used to driving in PR is that the road up is not for the faint of heart. I say that because driving back down can be tricky. If you're up for it, in my opinion, it's not too bad. Otherwise, there are some party buses that are part of excursions that will take you there.
Get there about 12:00pm and stay until it closes (7:00pm) You won't regret it! PR has more to offer than it's gorgeous beaches (and that have many of those) and this is definitely one place you don't want to miss.
Written 12 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sinceramente te puedo responder que no estoy seguro que habran las lechomeras y los negocios en guavate. Porque en 2018 no habrieron ya que la ley de comercios en PR esta el Viernes Santo y el Domingo de Resureccion que es hoy como dias oficialesde la ley de cierre. No creo que haban ningun comercio hoy.
Written 21 April 2019
We are planning to travel up there around 4:15-4:30 on a Tuesday. Would that be an ok time to get some food and see some entertainment?
Written 30 December 2018
I would like to know if this is open 7 days a week, and if so, does that include 1/1, 1/6?
Written 26 December 2018
They are open 7 days a week and almost or maybe all year around but i dont know those specific days, Im almost 90% sure that they open 1/6 but I really dont know about 1/1, Let me check for you this week.
Written 27 December 2018
Will there be vendors open on Christmas Day?
Written 23 September 2018
Oh, no! My family is traveling on Monday. The posts indicate pork roast locations are open on weekends only. Is this iron clad or is there hope?
Written 24 May 2017
There are only a handful of vendors there during the week. It is not "closed". But you will not experience the same atmosphere during the week.
Written 10 June 2017
can we go to the highway pork roast by ourselves or do we/should we go with a private tour company?
Written 22 October 2015
ladyleia21
Kissimmee, Florida
No, you can actually go by yourself. Private or rented car.
Written 17 May 2016
What is the address for the restaurant? I want to visit but I need to be able to find it.
Written 12 May 2015
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