Famous Guavate Pork Road & Charco Azul Food & River Tour

The tour to charco azul was nice. The water was very cold and the walk there was enjoyable. Being with nature was exactly what I needed. The charco was a nice view, not much to do. It’s a small space to maybe hang out less than hour. We stopped at the Lechonera and the food was delicious and did not disappoint. Then we walked Guavate and supported the local shops.

This spot is definitely off the beaten path, so be sure to wear hard‑bottom water shoes — there are a lot of rocks on the way in. But once you get past them, the experience is incredible. The lagoon‑like water is stunningly blue, peaceful, and full of fish. Truly a hidden gem.And then… the pork road — the Heavenly Pig. Hands down the best lechón, rice, and sides I’ve ever tasted. My only regret is not ordering extra to take with me.The people, the culture, and the vibrant energy make this place an absolute must.

Our guide Kenyon was amazing. Such a nice guy, so kind and knowledgeable. He took excellent care of us and made the adventure easy and had a personal touch to everything he did. The Pernil was better than my Abuelas. The water was crystal clear and refreshing. I highly reccomend this experience.

This was a good day overall, but didn't meet my expectations really. I don't want to discourage anyone or take away from the whole experience but "food tour" is not really an accurate description for the activity. Although we went to Guavate which has a tonnn of restaurants and bars, we only got food from 1 place. I thought we were going to stop at multiple locations there and sample eats from different lechoneras. The community was so gorgeous though and a cold Medalla and cool breeze riverside really hit the spot on the warm day. The drive was scenic and serene to get to Charco Azul, however it was not worth planning a day around. We did not know there would be a hike to get there. The hike wasn't hard, we just were not prepared. I felt bad bringing my grandma along. Sean was our guide and he was super kind and knowledgeable. We had good chats all day and he made the experience fun! I'm grateful he was our guide. Thank you Sean!!

Enjoyed swimming. Hike was a little more than expected (I need a cane to walk) but our guide was more than helpful and got me over the rough spots. The roast pig was delicious and I enjoyed the local music. Although it didn’t matter to me, the tour is advertised as providing water, snacks, and either beer, wine, or sangria. We got water but that was all. Again, that didn’t affect our overall enjoyment of the tour but it wasn’t exactly as advertised.

This isnt exactly as advertised. This was essentially a glorified Uber out to Guavate. We were picked up in the tour guide's personal car and driven out to Guavate. The listing made it sound like a lively group excursion with beer/sangria available. This was nothing like that. The guide bought me a beer at some place on our way up and offered me a shot of liquor out of some bottle in his trunk. Saying "alcohol included" on the listing isn't really accurate. We got to the swimming hole first which was fine but nothing remarkable at all. The guide showed us lots of pictures from other much better spots on his phone but we did not go to those. It was basically a little walk through the woods to a non descript clearing with a little swimming hole. We then went for the pork which was basically just getting lunch at a roadside spot. Was hoping for live music since it was Saturday but there was none. The lechon was fine. Didn't really experience the famous "trail", we just got a meal at one spot then left. The tour guide was nice enough and seemed like a good guy but this wasn't really a "tour". We didn't get any history or context about what we were doing. Just drove to the swimming hole then lunch then back. This could probably be made into a good tour but this wasn't quite what we were hoping for.

Fabiola was the best tour guide for this experience. She is very knowledgeable about the area, the food and the ecology. Charco Azul is beautiful and a lovely hike. And Fabiola knows how to get you the best meal in Guavate. Great day with a passionate guide. Thanks, Fabiola!! 😀

Alexis was great! The tour was so much fun and he was very friendly and knowledgeable! Got to eat some great food and swim too! Would definitely do again

This was an excellent adventure that mixes the opportunity to hike to an amazing pond and also have a taste of the most cultural trail in regards to gastronomy. A very good choice if you’re looking to do both activities and have a blast.

I loved the food, but I loved the river even more. The water was crystal clear, even though it was super cold. I also really enjoyed the ride and the mountains. And the pork was delicious. I loved this place.

A must-visit hidden gem in Puerto Rico! 🌴✨ The river here is crystal clear, calm, and surrounded by stunning greenery — the perfect spot to swim, relax, and take in the natural beauty of the island (bring water shoes). It feels peaceful, untouched, and absolutely refreshing. After enjoying the water, we had the chance to try authentic Puerto Rican food right on site — crispy lechón, arroz con gandules, morcilla, and fresh salad. Everything was flavorful and on spot made, making the experience even more special. If you’re looking for a mix of nature, culture, and great food, this is the place. Highly recommend adding it to your Puerto Rico itinerary! 💧🍴🌿

This was one of the best tours I've taken in PR. We visited Charco Azul, a natural pool in the forest. The waters were very cold, perfect for cooling off from the high Caribbean temperatures. Then we visited a spectacular restaurant where we enjoyed authentic Puerto Rican food. Highly recommended.

Great tour to get out of San Juan and experience some nature and good food! The ride was comfortable with engaging conversation. They specialize in smaller groups so even though it was just me they didn’t cancel! As a solo female traveler my guide made sure I felt comfortable and safe while also having a great time. The swimming hole was a short walk through the forest maybe only about a 15-20min walk. Saw lots of lizards and some cool plants and insects! Some parts of the trail were a bit muddier but it was all part of the experience. After my swim in the natural blue pool we went to eat and my guide explained and recommend lots of great foods to try! I recommend this tour for a nice time getting out of the city. Thanks for a great time!

Fun yet relaxing tour ! The drive up there was sureal, and the river itself was a beautiful blue green color, amazing for pictures we actually bumped into a wedding shoot that day..I'd recommend bringing a change of clothes for after the river ! The food and drinks were at a local market place 😋 Alexis our guide told us that we were trying traditional puerto Rican Christmas food, and the restaurant we went to specifically made that food year round, which was lucky for us since we did this trip at the end if summer ☀️

Best Food Tour in the Island. First we Went to Charco Azul in Patillas. Wonderfull cold, blue waters to refresh in after an easy 15 mins Hike. And Later on Our Amazing tour guide Took us to eat to the Most Authentic Puerto Rican Restaurant ever. Tons of good food to choose from and everything was amazing! 10/10 would book again very soon. The food alone makes it worth the trip!

Very scenic and pretty views, Pretty simple walk to the little river and delicious food, very recommended for families and couples looking to go on the nature and try some local food!

I booked the tour for a few people. They showed up in a small compact vehicle that would not comfortably hold 4 adults. We also would not have been able to enjoy the scenery. They also didn't provide the advertised Sangria, beer, water. When I asked if there was a larger vehicle available, the your operator told me that I was difficult and shouldn't argue with a man. He was extremely rude. He then canceled the tour, told me that I wouldn't receive a refund and hung up the phone. He ruined my last day on the island. Do not book with this company! I saw another person that had a similar experience. Ladies please be aware. They are very disrespectful towards women.

This was was a great immersion into Puerto Rican culture. The Pork Road’s food, people and music were amazing! The Charco Azul was a nice secluded treat. Since we had to pay for food and drinks the tour price could be a bit lower though… But I would still recommend!

Our tour guide was great. Very nice and accommodating.. But the experience was not at all as described. Be prepared to walk for about ½ mile to a mile in the mud thru rocky terrain. Bring water shoes for the swimming — there are lots of sharp rocks. There is also no place to change your clothes and it’s a long ride back if you’re wet. The beer and sangria was actually not offered. Lunch was good but not included. Also we only stopped at one place so not really a food tour if your looking to sample different things.

This is an excellent tour with a great tour guide. The guide was very informative and provided so much information about the island and culture.

When my wife and I travel we love to experience the food and culture of the country we are in . So we decided to go on this tour .. let me tell you . Our tour guide met us at the pick up location on time . Greeted us with a big smile . We had great conversation all the way to the first location . Which by the way was remarkable. Fabiola (our guide) brought us to this spring and rain water fed swimming hole at the top of a mountain where the water was soo clear unlike any thing I’ve ever encountered in actual life . Not just a magazine picture . After that she brought us to and amazing Restruant . This place hada hole roasted pig . And too many other foods to describe .. if you are in PR. You need to book this . I hope you hat to meet her. She is amazing.

I want to see the less busy side of Puerto Rico and my mission was to visit the Park highway. I was traveling solo. It was a very beautiful ride. Fabiola was so pleasant and personable. I truly enjoyed the ride in the history. We went to the Charco Azul with a small hike it was beautiful to hear the different birds and nature. I didn’t know I needed this and this was a great experience.

Amazing, from beginning to end! Our tour guide/host Fabiola did a great job at reintegrating us into our ancestral roots at this beautiful natural river bath pool. Would recommend to anyone trying to have a private time at one of the charco azules of Puerto Rico.

You simply must visit and experience this place when you come to Puerto Rico! The cultural significance and amazing food is like no other! In the middle of a beautiful rain forest. We loved it so much!!!

Fabiola out guide was fantastic! She is an intelligent, well-spoken, kind and funny young woman. It was a joy to have her with us during the drive to the mountains, and her skilled driving was greatly appreciated. The short hike to Charco Azul was muddy but the fresh air and peaceful surroundings made it worthwhile. The lechon rice and yucca were excellent and worth it. I’d rate the food ambience and our tour guide a perfect 10/10. We honestly couldn’t have picked a better day for this trip. Thank you Fabiola!

Went on this tour with my dad and it was just us and our tour guide Sarah. She was very informative and easy to talk with. Unfortunately the weather wasn't on our side, so the our journey to the water ended half way, but Sarah was super helpful, she had an umbrella and lend a helping hand on tougher parts of the muddy hike. The pork was so delicious, obviously. The restaurant we went to was huge and had all these cute dogs roaming around. You should book this tour if you're a foodie!

Fabiola, our guide, was fantastic! She is an intelligent, well-spoken, kind, and funny young woman. It was a joy to have her with us during the drive to the mountains, and her skilled driving was greatly appreciated. The short hike to Charco Azul was muddy, but the fresh air and peaceful surroundings made it worthwhile. The lechon, rice, and yucca were excellent and worth it! I’d rate the food, ambiance, and our tour guide a perfect 10/10. We honestly couldn’t have picked a better day for this trip! Thank you, Fabiola!

We had a great time. Did some fun cliff jumps. We couldn't get into one of the caves due to recent rains (water flow was a little too high, not worth the risk, safety first). We would definitely book with Jesus again.

Jesus is the BEST tour guide, had a great time and the experience is worth it all. Jesus was very knowledgeable! Would recommend

As a woman traveling solo what happened to me on November 18, 2024 was very violating. The tour company unilaterally made the decision to change my trip. They did not offer a refund, inform me for whatever reason they were unable to provide the tour I signed up for, or ask me what else I would be interested in. I gathered from context clues they are a family ran outfit. How would you feel if your mother, sister, cousin, or daughter were somewhere and they: 1. Spent time researching options. 2. Read reviews 3. Booked through a reputable platform 4. Told family what they were going to do. 5. Verified the are in fact meeting with the person they were told to meet with at the designated location and time; only to be taken out of cell range to a location different than they booked and offered no explanation, guidance, or options. If it had not been for the fact that the other women actually paid for whatever excursion (can’t provide the name because I don’t know it) we were on that would be the perfect backdrop for human trafficking. To add insult to injury, not one apology was provided by anyone other than the tour guide who said she was only informed about the tour she was giving that morning and did not know I was to be on another tour. The tour guide was great and if you like hiking, rock climbing, swimming, and jumping off cliffs into murky water that is the tour for you (I wanted to walk 15 minutes pose for a pic and go eat pork for hours). I reached out to the person that contacted me to and as of the time I am posting this review on Wednesday November 20, 2024 I have not had a response from the tour company. I have however had immediate responses from the platform.

Great tour, absolutely worth it!! Book with Jesus Rodriguez as your guide, he was an awesome tour guide and very helpful!

On 8/3/24 the host cancelled our activity that was scheduled for 8/4/24. The host reported that he was sick. The host did give us the option to do another activity or issue us a refund. We chose a refund! The host stated he would issue us a refund by end of day, and he did not. The host would not answer the phone. I had to file a claim with our bank, and now everything is under investigation. It was a coincidence the host cancelled our activity as soon as we paid, but more importantly he did not issue a refund as he promised he would! Do not allow them to take your money!

The walk through the rain forest to the river listening to the birds. It was truly an amazing adventure for people who love nature

My husband and I went on this tour with another couple friend of ours. It was such a great way to explore a bit with a guide. The hike was right up my alley as it was more of a casual nature walk (flip flops were ok) and the natural swimming pool was beautiful and relaxing. Our guide, Edgardo, was knowledgeable and fun. He took some photos of us as well, which we really appreciated.

Good relaxing day, pork delicious, tour guide pleasant, relaxed & informative Arrived at natural pool early initially had it to ourselves. Pork highway live music, rustic, lots of atmosphere & food delicious

Very fortunate to have had Alexis as the tour guide. He is very knowledgeable about this special water hole deep within a mountainous jungle. Alexis also knows the best locations to find delicious roast pork. This is definitely a fun time

Brandon was a fantastic, knowledgeable, and kind host and we had an amazing morning with him. Highly recommend!

The tour guide was knowledgeable and accommodating. I did not expect to be picked up in a 4 door car. It was myself, my husband and another couple. It was a very uncomfortable trip.

amazing food experience, knowledgeable tour guide, overall a tour well worth my time in Puerto Rico.

We were able to get a one on one experience with a local who loved PR's nature and food. We loved getting to know the island in a more personal way. Unfortunately, nature wasn't on our side and the water wasn't incredibly clear but that's to be expected when dealing with the outdoors.

Jean Louis was our tour guide for this trip. From start to finish, he was awesome and very informative about all the places and where to go. Had a great time at the water place where we got the place to ourselves and then ate some good lunch at the pig highway. Jean Louis was great all together. He made sure we were well take care off. Great conversation and just fun! Thank you for this awesome trip!

Jean Louis was one of the best tour guides I’ve ever experienced. Mind you, I’ve encountered ample “meh” tour guides. He is very attentive and accommodating. Right from the beginning he was very welcoming of us being a few minutes tardy due to traffic. He then made sure we not only went to Charco Azul, but he assisted my mother on the hike. My mother has arthritis in her knee and he was so patient with her during the hike and assisted her in muddy/rocky areas. Then based on conversation he ascertained that we hadn’t seen a beach we loved yet in PR. He was more than willing to change plans and get us to a sandy beautiful beach with big waves. He is not only amicable, but he’s: patient, kind, respectful, honest and attentive. I would recommend Jean Louis for a tour any day. We had a great day enjoying his company.

This was a fun trip. Our tour guide was Jean. He was flexible and accommodating to us. He gave us some interesting information about the island and the culture. He encouraged us to practice our Spanish. Charco Azul was very nice. The water was cold, but it felt refreshing. There were lots of little fish in the pool nibbling us, which was very interesting. I researched it, and I think they are wild guppies. The food we got was great too.

The river on the mountain is amazing. Our tour guide Jean the pirate is amazing. He explain everything and super nice. My family and I would definitely come back

Our tour guide Louis was so friendly, had manors, was very respectful & had a very positive attitude. Amazing experience! Best part of my trip, We highly recommend if you want to see non-touristy parts on PR.

We had a great time. Our guide was very knowledgeable of the area including flora and fauna. The food at Guavate was amazing.

I would encourage you to try this tour if you are planning a trip to Puerto Rico because it was enjoyed by the whole family. First off, wear clothes and shoes that are old because you will get wet from the rain in the forest and the rocks can get slippery and the trail is muddy. I wore a new pair of sneakers and they're ruined. Also, wear a swimming suit under your clothes. Once we walked through the path to get to Charco Azul we made it to the swimming hole where we found many locals enjoying the area. My two sons were able to walk over the waterfall and jump off rocks with our guide Brian. We stayed in the water for some time but I was panicked when the little fishes started to eat at my feet. My tour guide told us it was ok and they were just eating our dead skin off our feet. He called it a natural pedicure and I admit it tickled but before long I looked down and they're were a couple dozen on each foot so I guess I had a lot of dead skin. Afterwards. we went to Guavate for roasted pork which was great and then went around the kiosks and did some shopping. Overall, it was a great experience and Brian was awesome with the boys. He even showed them how to climb rocks to jump in the water. It was a really great experience!

La cascada, las cavernas y los saltos ! El contacto con la naturaleza , las cavernas en fin fue toda una experiencia y Rosa nuestra Guia muy profesional manejaba todos la información del sitio historia flora fauna y fue muy divertida ! Rosa una super guía!