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RON'S GUIDEBOOK
Jayuya: Exploring the Mountains of Puerto Rico
By Ron
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Join us as we explore one of the towns in the central mountainous region of Puerto Rico: Jayuya. Where to go, what to see, and where to stay.
A few years ago, my wife and I went on vacations around the Island. We realized we didn't have enough money to go on a full-blast vacation, so we decided instead on going internal. When you want to take a vacation on the Island, there are so many options to consider. Do you want, beach, or mountain? Or do you want to go big city, or small town? All these factors come to play when planning your vacation in Puerto Rico.
Living on the city, we decided to try something different. We chose to explore the mountain side of Puerto Rico. Our target: one of the most beautiful and less mentioned towns of the island: Jayuya.
Jayuya is located in the Central mountainous area of the Island. A while back, you had to take some old and pretty curvy road to get there. Now, however, the town is easily accessible through road PR-10. This road connects Ponce to Adjuntas, and allows easy access to both towns. Click here to learn more about PR-10.
CAR SICKNESS WARNING: Again, we are going to take some curvy parts here, so make sure you make the necessary arrangements. Dramamine and a six-pack of 7-Up or Sprite often do the trick.
Getting There
Ok, let's go! To get to PR-10, simply drive to Ponce through PR-52, "Expreso Luis A. Ferr�", from San Juan about an hour and a half, and from Mayaguez about 40 minutes. Once you get to the PONCE Letters, take exit 99A towards Adjuntas. You are now in PR-10. Drive north for a few (btw, the scenery on road PR-10 is amazing).
Once on PR-10, drive north a few minutes and take the exit towards Jayuya. This is where the curvy part begins. The road to Jayuya can be pretty intense for some, so the best way to enjoy it is to go slow. This road leads you directly to the town of Jayuya and the main road of the city.
What to explore in Jayuya
There are many places to explore in Jayuya, the most important being the Written Stone, the Casa Canales Museum, and the Cem� Museum.
The written Stone (DETAILS) is a large boulder sitting right in the middle of the Coabey River. This stone is particularly interesting because it is covered with petroglyphs, drawings and images carved in the stone by the pre-Columbian Indians that thrived in the area. To get to the river below, you need to pass through a beautiful downwards boardwalk. The boardwalk is an attraction by itself, but it is indeed a long walk. Make sure you wear sneakers and comfortable clothes. Once you get down to the rock, you can walk to it and take pictures. But beware, the rock is on a river bed and it is not recommended to visit if it has been raining. If its been a sunny week tho, you can get into your bathing suit and enjoy a dip in the often cold but refreshing water.
Cem� and Canales House Museums
Once out of the Written Stone, you can get to two very interesting museums. First, the Cem� Museum hosts a good exhibit of ta�no and pre-colombian artifacts and body remains found in the area. Also on display are some artwork by some of Puerto Rico's most known painters. The museum structure is a treat all by itself. Shaped like a cem�, a figure of significant religious value to the local ta�nos, the museum stands as an eerie memorial to the race that existed before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.
At the same site and a couple of steps ahead is the Casa Canales museum (DETAILS). This house, built in the latter part of the 19th century, was constructed by Don Rosario Canales Quintero, one of the founders of the town of Jayuya and later its first mayor. Important puertorrican figures like Nemesio R. Canales and Blanca Canales were born and raised in this house, and was the center of operations of what was called the Jayuya Revolt. Currently, the house has been preserved and brought back to its origins, with several exhibits and artifacts of what was the culture and society of Puerto Rico at the turn of the 19th century.
From this valley you can spot the Tres Picachos hills, an important landmark in the life of ta�nos and post-columbian Puerto Rico and the culture that developed in the area.
Where To Stay
You can take a trip to Jayuya in less than a day's worth, so there's no need to stay. However, you can go to Jayuya on your way to Utuado with the Caguana Ceremonial Ball Courts site, the Camuy Caverns, and the Arecibo Telescope. There are some nice places where you can stay in Jayuya, the most important are Casa Ta�na and Hacienda Gripi�as.
We chose to stay at Hacienda Casa Ta�na. The place is amazing! The rooms are neat and clean, awesomely decorated and prepared. The area around the Parador is spectacular and beautifully decorated. However, the most spectacular spot is the entrance to the second floor and pool area, from where you have a wide view of the Jayuya landscape and mountains. Surely, an unforgettable experience!
For more information and places of Jayuya, visit our City Guide!
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