Lares
Around Lares
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Town and around · Puerto Rico · 27k people
Lares
“La Ciudad del Grito”
Where the mountains echo with history
Lares flag redMountain green
Welcome to Lares, the heart of Puerto Rico's coffee country. Whether you're here for the history, the mountains, or just to slow down, you'll find a warm community and plenty of green hills to wander.
Clubs for Lares
No clubs for Lares yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Lares. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Lares. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Plaza de la Revolución Central plaza where the Grito de Lares was proclaimed in 1868.
- Monumento al Grito de Lares Commemorates the 1868 uprising against Spanish rule.
- Casa Alcaldía Historic municipal building in the town center.
- Museo del Café Small museum dedicated to the region's coffee heritage.
- Outdoors Hiking in the surrounding mountains
- Outdoors Visiting coffee plantations
- With kids Plaza de la Revolución
- With kids Coffee farm tours
- Evenings Evening strolls around the plaza
- Evenings Local bars with live music
- Locals love Coffee farms
- Locals love Plaza evenings
Through the year
Lares sits in the mountains, so it's cooler and rainier than the coast. Best time to be out is from December to April when it's drier. Best: December to April
Talk like a local
- “Lareño”
- A person from Lares.
- “Jibarito”
- A term for mountain folk, used affectionately.
- “Cafetal”
- Coffee plantation.
Getaways
Local flavour
Rooting for Puerto Rico national teams
Eat and drink
- Coffee Lares is a historic coffee-growing region
- Mofongo A staple Puerto Rican dish
- Lechón Roast pork, common in mountain towns
- Queso de hoja Leaf-wrapped cheese, a local specialty
Where people go
- Coffee plantations Fincas and cafetales in the mountains
- Mountain trails Hiking in the Cordillera Central
- Plazas Town square and historic center
- Historic sites of the Grito de Lares Monuments and museums commemorating the 1868 revolt
Heritage and traditions
Lares is proud of its role as the cradle of Puerto Rico's independence movement, the Grito de Lares, and its rich coffee-growing heritage in the central mountains.
This time of year in Lares
- Festival de la Décima October A celebration of traditional Puerto Rican décima poetry and improvisational singing.
Say it like a local: “Bregar” — To handle or deal with something.
Festivals
- Fiestas Patronales de San José March Processions and music honoring the town's patron saint in March.
- Festival de la Décima October A celebration of traditional Puerto Rican décima poetry and improvisational singing.
Landmarks with a story
- Iglesia de San José Historic Catholic church in the town center.
- Hacienda La Lealtad A restored 19th-century coffee plantation.
- Monumento al Grito de Lares Commemorates the 1868 independence revolt.
- Museo del Café Exhibits on coffee history and production.
- Casa Alcaldía The town hall, a historic building on the plaza.
- Plaza de la Revolución Central square, site of the Grito de Lares proclamation.
Food traditions
- Coffee Mountain-grown coffee is a source of pride; locals drink it strong and sweet.
- Mofongo Mashed plantains with garlic and pork, a staple at family meals.
- Lechón Roast pork, often prepared for holidays and celebrations.
- Queso de hoja A soft, layered cheese wrapped in leaves, a local specialty.
- Café con leche A daily coffee-with-milk ritual, often enjoyed with bread.
Music and arts
- Música jíbara Traditional folk music with cuatro, güiro, and bongo.
- Décima poetry Improvisational ten-line verse, a living art form.
A little history
- 1827 Lares founded
- 1868 Grito de Lares revolt
- 19th century Coffee boom in the mountains
- Game day Local basketball leagues
- Game day Baseball games
- Outdoors Hiking in the surrounding mountains
- Outdoors Visiting coffee plantations
- With kids Playing in the town square
- With kids Coffee farm tours
Lares residents speak Puerto Rican Spanish with a jíbaro (mountain) accent, using words like 'bregar' (to handle) and 'ay bendito' (an expression of pity). The dialect reflects the town's rural coffee-growing heritage.
Only here
- The Grito de Lares flag, considered the first Puerto Rican flag.
- The town is known as 'La Ciudad del Grito' (City of the Cry).
- The only place where the independence revolt was declared.
New here? A few tips
- Learn about the Grito de Lares to understand local pride.
- Try the local coffee at a cafetería.
- Drive carefully on winding mountain roads.
- Learn a few Spanish phrases like '¡Ay bendito!'.
- Visit the Plaza de la Revolución and the Museo del Café.
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Part of San Juan area
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Lares, PR. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.