Central region · Puerto Rico
Cayey
~25 mi from San JuanInland
Happening in Cayey
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Concepción: Regreso a Cayey, November 13
Cayey is a mountain town in central Puerto Rico, set within the Sierra de Cayey in the Central Mountain range, about 25 miles inland from San Juan. It is bordered by Salinas and Guayama to the south, Cidra and Caguas to the north, Aibonito to the west, and San Lorenzo to the east, and is organized into 21 barrios plus Cayey Pueblo, with 40,917 people (Census estimate, 2020–2024) in 51.9 square miles. It is officially known as Cayey de Muesas and forms part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Founded in 1773, Cayey has long been shaped by its mountainous inland setting within the Sierra de Cayey. The town is home to Guavate, known for La Ruta del Lechón, a stretch of eateries and stands centered on roast pork and drink.
- Mountain setting in the Sierra de Cayey
- La Ruta del Lechón in Guavate
- Cerro La Santa
For visitors
Visitors come mainly for La Ruta del Lechón in Guavate, a well-known destination for roast pork and drink set in Cayey's mountain landscape.
- Hiking
- Outdoors
- Eat and drink
- Fiestas patronales
For living hereResidents live in a mountain town within the Central Mountain range that, despite its inland, rural setting, is connected to the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo metropolitan area.Living in Cayey: rent, commute, schools & safety
At a glance
- Region
- Central
- Setting
- Inland
- Distance
- ~25 mi from San Juan
- Population
- 40,917 (Census estimate, 2020–2024)
- Founded
- 1773
- Median rent
- $540/mo
- Median income
- $30,129/yr
- Area
- 51.9 sq mi (134.5 km²)
- Fiestas patronales
- Our Lady of the Assumption · August 15
- Guide spots
- 3
- Stories, last 30 days
- 5
- Water & power
- Water by sector · Power outages
- Living here
- Rent, commute, schools & safety
Right now in Cayey
Road closures in Cayey
No closures reported in Cayey as of 1:08 PM AST on Thu, Nov 12.
Water rationing in Cayey
No rationing plan names Cayey. None of the plans the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (AAA) has published includes the town, as of Nov 12. Repairs and breaks cut service sector by sector: search your sector
Power outages in Cayey
Not among the 7 towns with the most interruptions on LUMA’s morning reading of Nov 12, when 0.5% of customers island-wide were without power. Cayey was on that list on none of the last 7 mornings. Outages right now, town by town
News from Cayey
Latest stories
Cayey Honors Basketball Great José 'Piculín' Ortiz with USPS Pictorial Postmark
Police Operation at Three Cayey Public Housing Complexes Nets Three Arrests, Firearms
Cayey to Celebrate San Isidro Labrador Agricultural Festival with Music and Start of Christmas Season
Cayey Fosters Puerto Rican Identity and Culture
UPR-Cayey Receives $621,000 Federal Grant to Study Chronic Headaches After Brain Injuries
Our analysis
- Weekend Watch · EarlierPuerto Rico This Weekend: Ten Events, One Patron-Saint Fiesta and Surf at Aguadilla / Crash Boat
- Weekend Watch · EarlierPuerto Rico This Weekend: Four Events
- Town of the Week · EarlierAibonito, Where Rent Runs 10% Below the Island Median
Things to do in Cayey
Nature spots
Cerro La Santa
Mountain peak
Cerro La Santa rises to 885 meters and is the highest summit in the Sierra de Cayey, inside Carite State Forest. The peak marks the point where the municipalities of Caguas, Cayey, and San Lorenzo meet, so the same summit area touches all three. It is listed as a hiking destination, with the climb leading up into the forested mountains of Puerto Rico's central uplands.
Eat & Drink
The Sand and the Sea
Caribbean cuisine
The Sand and the Sea is a restaurant serving Caribbean cuisine and known for its views. It operates in Cayey. The restaurant is popular.
Lechonera Los Pinos
Lechonera
Lechonera Los Pinos is a popular restaurant, especially on weekends. It is one of the most famous lechoneras in Guavate.
Outdoors and sports
On the water near Cayey
Marinas, surf breaks, dive sites, wind spots and paddling in Cayey or within 12 mi of the town center, as the crow flies.
- Sailing
- Bahía de JobosLanding · 12 mi away
- Paddle
- Bahía de Jobos and Mar NegroMangroves · 11 mi away
Trails in and near Cayey
No trail we list starts in Cayey. The nearest four are within 12 mi of the town center, as the crow flies.
- In Salinas, 6 mi awayÁrbol Solitario (Cerro de los Cielos)Hard 1.4 mi each way, 1 h 40 min to 2 h 30 minThe lone tree on the Hill of the SkiesWalk in, no bookingCommunity-mapped
- In Salinas, 7 mi awayCaminata Albergue OlímpicoModerate 0.7 mi each way, 45 min to 1 h 10 minOlympic training center walkNot confirmed: ask firstCommunity-mapped
- In Barranquitas, 10 mi awayCañón San CristóbalModerate 1.5 mi each way, 1 h 25 min to 2 h 5 minSan Cristóbal CanyonWalk in, no booking (canyon floor: guided tour or permit)Community-mappedWaterfall, seen from above: Cascada El Ancón
- Reserva Natural de Investigación Estuarina Bahía de Jobos, Salinas, 12 mi awayVereda Interpretativa Bosque de JagüeyesEasy 0.8 mi loop, 20 to 25 minJagüeyes forest nature trailWalk in, no bookingCommunity-mapped
Bills and recovery money
Bills about Cayey
- RC 152Investigate Transportation Options for Cayey and CidraPassed a chamber, Nov 9
- RC 840Order South Region House of Representatives Committee to Investigate Water Infrastructure ConditionsIn committee, Oct 13
- RC 750Investigate Carrasquillo Community IssuesIn committee, Aug 17
Recovery money in Cayey
$133 million committed by FEMA to 382 projects filed under Cayey since 2001: $3,260 per resident, 26th of 78 towns.
Every project located in Cayey, the island-wide agencies’ included
11% paid out: Puerto Rico's Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3), which pays out the federal disaster recovery money, has paid $27 million of the $250 million committed.
11%14.9% paid out on the town government’s own rebuilding: $10.9 million of $73.4 million, the projects it runs itself, as of Oct 14, 2026. Our FEMA story charts this figure for every town.
14.9%- AIBONITO & CAGUAS GENERAL HOSPITALS & CIMA Hosp FacilitiesPublic buildings$17 million
- MGH A&E ,AGUAS BUENAS, CAYEY, CIDRA, GUAYAMAPublic buildings$8.9 million
- R2 Municipal Roads - Bo. Guavate - CayeyRoads and bridges$6.7 million
The town government’s largest projects in implementation, and what has been paid
- Road, (intercection with Road #730), Sector: Las Polleras, Matón$0 of $4.3M0%
- Municipal Hospital of Cayey, Public Assistance Alternative Procedures direct administrative costs/ Sector Based$1.1M of $3.2M35%
- Debris removal$2.9M of $2.9M100%
- Pedro Montanez Stadium$9K of $1.7M<1%
Every town and the island-wide agencies
FEMA Public Assistance data, as of Nov 11, 2026. Obligated by FEMA: committed to the project and drawn as the work is done. Paid out: COR3’s transparency portal, as of Nov 4, 2026.
Living in Cayey
Crime in Cayey
45 violent crimes and 4 homicides reported to the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPD) in Cayey, January 1 – September 30, 2026; in 2025, 21 violent crimes per 10,000 people, in the second-highest fifth of towns.
- Homicides
- 4 YTD
- Violent crimes
- 45 YTD
- All serious crimes
- 180 YTD
- Violent crimes per 10,000 people (2025)
- 21
Flood zones in Cayey
FEMA’s flood map sets who must carry flood insurance, street by street. Check an address in Cayey
Phone alerts for Cayey
Our weekly reads: Daily Water Watch · Grid Watch · Safety Watch
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