Site of the Festival del Acabe de Café, held since 1977. Its once-large coffee economy has faded to a niche gourmet market.
During the 19th-century coffee boom Maricao surged economically, but when coffee production declined early in the 20th century conditions deteriorated. Wikipedia notes that Puerto Rico still has a niche in the gourmet coffee market, while the large-scale coffee growing that built Maricao is no longer economically feasible. Former plantations were converted into attractions: Hacienda Delicias operates as a museum or guesthouse, and Hacienda Juanita has closed. The Festival del Acabe de Café, held since 1977 on President's Day weekend in February, celebrates the historical harvest-end feast tradition.
Field notes
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The Festival del Acabe de Café, held since 1977 on President's Day weekend, celebrates the historical harvest-end feast tradition.
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Hacienda Caracolillo, in the Indiera Baja mountains of Maricao, earned fame late in the 20th century as the principal producer of Yauco Selecto, so that brand's name does not point to a single municipality.
Sources · 2 Every sentence here was checked against a source we read. Taste notes are what guides describe, not promises about your bag. Last revised 2026-11-11. Some details here are less settled than others.
- Maricao, Puerto Rico · Wikimedia Foundation
- Hacienda Caracolillo coffee farm spotlight · Puerto Rico Coffee Roasters