Enjoy the BEAUTIFUL Cercadillo community
and IT’s spectacular views in Cayey, Puerto Rico
Just one hour away from San Juan. PR-52 Exit #39, Road 715 Cayey, Puerto Rico
ABOUT
Located in the scenic Cercadillo community in Cayey, El Pretexto serves as the first culinary farm lodge in Puerto Rico. Offering a farm stay in a peaceful 3.5 acres of space to unwind, retreat, and relax, El Pretexto is our beautiful home we choose to share with our guests. It’s a women-owned business operated by the owner and community members with love and dedication. Four private villas -two in a 30-year-old wood house and two in a renewed concrete home- combined with an agroecological farming area, an agroforest coffee area, a free-range organic chicken and duck coop, and culinary experiences. It is essential to clarify that we are not a restaurant. El Pretexto has impressive views from the mountains to the south coast of Puerto Rico.
To provide a great experience, we only receive visitors who make a reservation. To allow all guests to enjoy, unwind, and relax, El Pretexto has an adult-only policy. Cigarette smoking is not allowed on the premises to protect our lungs and our farming.
reviews & Press
“An amazing alternative to the beach and city”
“Deep in the lush mountains of Cayey, in the central-southeast of the island, there is a farm lodge called El Pretexto. Its name fittingly translates to “the excuse” — as in, a darned good reason to swap the swimsuit for some hiking boots. The views alone, especially during the pastel-hued sunsets, justify at least one night’s stay.”
“Nestled in the Cayey mountains, a young Puerto Rican entrepreneur has turned her home into a welcoming space for travelers looking to escape the city and locals in search of unique meals. El Pretexto is Puerto Rico’s first culinary farm lodge and the creation of Crystal Diaz, a relentless foodie who found an ideal retreat high in the Cayey sierra.”
"Where should I start? The views are incredible. The home is straight out of a magazine. It has a rustic country feel and has everything you could need. Crystal was so accommodating and warm! From ensuring we were comfortable to breakfast in the morning- you must visit! I’m so impressed by everything that I can’t wait to return! Don’t hesitate- just book!" — Maria, Boston, MA.
"Wonderful retreat in the mountains. If you want to relax and connect with nature, this is the place. Also, breakfast was delicious with all the farm-to-table food. They will make you feel at home. " — Ana, San Juan, PR
"The place is private, surrounded by nature, tranquil and relaxed. I could appreciate and enjoy beautiful views of the south of Puerto Rico. 100% recommended." — Magaly, Trujillo Alto, PR
"Amazing stay and amazing hosts! Our two-day stay was just phenomenal. The ambient was completely authentic, and I loved to hear the coquí outside our window. The breakfast was outstanding as they are amazing chefs. All I have is great things to say about El Pretexto, and its amazing hosts." — Nathalie, Dunedin, FL
Complete articles:
Forbes: Un verdadero paraíso por descubrir en cada bocado
El Nuevo Día: Crystal Diaz muestra a Puerto Rico como destino agroturistico a traves de El Pretexto
Travel+Leisure: I Spent a Week at a Culinary Lodge Learning to Cook Puerto Rican Food — Here’s What it Was Like
Outside: The World’s Top 10 Tropical Adventures
Bloomberg: Puerto Rico’s Restaurant Scene Has Never Been Better. Here’s Why
Boston Globe: New immersive experience reveals and revels in Puerto Rico’s rich foodways
AFAR: The Puerto Rico Farm Stay That’s Changing Hospitality
Full-Time Traveller: Satiating Stays: 5 Hotels With Unique Culinary Concepts
Boston Globe: New immersive experience reveals and revels in Puerto Rico’s rich foodways
Express UK: No limits for these women making the world a better place
Men’s Journal: Visit Puerto Rico's Lesser-Known Gem: Cordillera Central Mountains
AFAR: A guide to Puerto Rico’s farm-to-table dining movement
Condé Nast Traveler: The Best 20 Hotels in Puerto Rico
Forbes: The 14 Best Hotels In Puerto Rico
Skitft: Puerto Rico’s Recovery Offers These Lessons for Global Tourism
Travel+Leisure: This New Mountain Retreat in Puerto Rico Hosts Pop-up Dinners With Some of the Island’s Best Chefs
Condé Nast Traveler: A farm B&B with absolutely amazing food.
Lonely Planet: Puerto Rico’s first Culinary Farm Lodge
New York Times: A Crop of Kitchen Gardens from Chefs Around the Globe
The Weekly Journal: El Pretexto: A Fine Spot to Soak Up the Spirit of the Island
Oriental Bank: Video (in Spanish)
Discover Puerto Rico: Video Women's History
BEHIND THIS PROJECT
Crystal Díaz — Owner and creator. Empowered woman with 18+ years of experience in media and marketing. Passionate about food, its origins, agriculture, cooking, and how food connects us all. A woman in her 30s is in the constant search of a peaceful, balanced way of living.
The Team — Sophia, Claudia, Ana, Samuel, Cheo, and Mozan are the heart of this project that offers job opportunities and fair pay to people in our community. All of us are driven by our love for the countryside and all its potential.
Family and friends — José Díaz, my dad, with his heavenly helps with electricity, plumbing and wood works. Les Rojas, my mom, with her unconditional support with my feathered and furry kids and sometimes when a hand is needed in the kitchen. Rafi Ruiz, for his beautiful photography and a lot of patience for many years. Alberto Rigau for the creation of the logo and his design ideas. Nicole Bottman for believing in this project even in the distance and Daniel Galí, for trusting us in expanding the project and for a LOT of patience as well.
Farmers and critical people — There is no way that this idea came up without the inspiration of local farmers and producers of every corner of Puerto Rico, but it is essential to name the few that I genuinely admire and keep close: Ian Pagán of Proyecto Agroecológico Josco Bravo in Toa Alta, Dinora y Javi of Proyecto Agroecológico Pueblo Nuevo in Ciales, Francisco Kiko of KYV Farm in Adjuntas, Camille Collazo de Visit Rico and her fabulous job creating agritourism experiences (check it out too: visitrico.org). Above all, I’m forever grateful to the founders and the team of PRoduce, puertoricoproduce.com, who had made our life easier in finding the best locally sourced products.
HISTORY
Originally a stay-away weekend country house, El Pretexto was acquired by the end of 2016 and was utterly transformed in 2017 to be our home and the place where our personal kitchen garden would be developed. But soon, we realized that El Pretexto was a special place that should be shared, so the idea of a lodge came up. Hurricane María hit us and our community really hard. In one day, we went from "ready to open" to no deck left, 25 trees less, the hen-house gone, neighbors without roofs, and no electric power for nine months. Despite all that, we continued to work hard in the recovery. We rebuilt the deck along with Samuel and a generator. We cleaned up the fallen trees for three long months with the help of Cheo, Pedrito, Mozan, many friends and volunteers, and a donation from the Foundation for Puerto Rico. We rebuilt the farming raised beds with the collaboration of Guagua Solidaria and their Resiliency Fund and also received help from Recuperación Agrícola, a program of the Puerto Rico Science Trust. We could acquire the new two villas and the solar power system with the help of Colmena 66, SBTDC, Oriental Bank, and SBA. Most recently, we acquired an abandoned concrete house next to us and renewed everything to complete our project. Where we are now is still a long way to go, but we will always share our little piece of paradise with a smile and always ready to keep working for Puerto Rico.
