Monumento al Jíbaro Puertorriqueño, Monument to rural workers in Barrio Lapa, Salinas, Puerto Rico.
The Monumento al Jíbaro Puertorriqueño depicts a Puerto Rican farmer standing atop a stucco pedestal along Highway PR-52. The statue overlooks the landscape where the mountainous central terrain meets the drier southern regions.
Sculptor Tomás Batista created this government tribute to agricultural workers, completing the project between 1973 and December 1976. The work recognized the importance of farming laborers to Puerto Rico's development.
The statue honors the Jíbaro people whose farming traditions, musical heritage, and food culture shaped what Puerto Rico is today. You can see this rural way of life reflected in how people across the island still connect with the land and local customs.
The monument can only be accessed from the southbound lanes of Highway PR-52 near kilometer post 49 and includes a rest area. Plan to visit during daylight hours to fully appreciate the surrounding landscape and the views from the site.
This is the only highway rest stop in Puerto Rico, giving visitors a chance to step out and observe the geographical shift between central mountains and dry southern areas. The location sits at a natural crossroads where these two distinct landscapes meet.
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