A visit to Hacienda Buena Vista, Puerto Rico, a 19th-century coffee plantation, is like taking a trip back in time.
Located between Ponce and Adjuntas, about a two-hour drive from San Juan, the estate has operated for more than 120 years, changing its cash crop from coffee to corn flour and cotton to oranges as world markets shifted. The manor house, coffee and corn mills, and slave quarters have all been remarkably restored.
The 90-minute tours (services for the handicapped also available) are offered Wednesday-Sunday by reservation only. Phone 787-722-5882 (weekdays) or 787-284-7020 (weekends). http://www.paralanaturaleza.org.
Note: Puerto Rico sustained severe damage during Hurricane Maria in September 2017. Recovery efforts may take years. Travelers should investigate current conditions prior to planning a visit. Watch out for deep potholes and downed utility lines on steep and winding roads near the Hacienda.
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