INCREDIBLE OCEANFRONT 3 BD 2BA CONDO NEAR CASINOS - EL YUNQUE RAINFOREST

We really enjoyed our stay in this condo. It was clean and spacious. It also had everything we needed for the beach: cooler, beach chairs, towels, and boogie boards for the kids. The first day we were a little worried. The neighborhood looked very sketchy and the condo premises was locked up like a fortress. But by the end of the day, we realized that while the town was a poor town, it wasn't a dangerous town.

This condo's location is ideal! We were very close to El Yunque National Forest. We loved the hike, especially Mima Falls. We were also close enough to old San Juan. Incidentally, the best Mofongo (local dish) we had was in Old San Juan in a restaurant called Barrachina (104 Fortaleza). It was really good here. We tried twice before locally and it was not. The highlights of our visit were two tours we did with Kayaking Puerto Rico. The first tour was the Bio Bay in Fajardo. The second was the snorkeling we did on Culebra Island. Kayaking Puerto Rico is a very well run tour group. The meeting place for both were not far from the condo.

The beach right outside the condo is a little too rough to go in past your waist on most days and there is some washed up debris on the beach. But a short walk to the left of this beach is a really nice beach. Palm trees offer some shade, the sand is cleaned up daily for debris and the water is clean.

We tried a few of the restaurants in the area. We had some good sandwiches from the Brass Cactus (not local food). The very best food we ate was at a little shack called Pasta Y Pueblo. They do not take reservations and only have about five tables. The wait was 45 minutes but well wort it. The Curry Shrimp over coconut rice was delicious.

If you want authentic food you can go to the Kioskos in Luquillo. 60 kiosks selling take out food and some souvenirs and t-Shirts right on the beach.

Amigos is the local grocery store (it is part of the Wal-mart family). There is also a movie theater and Walmart nearby. The hardest thing about driving in Puerto Rico are the lack of street name signage on the local roads.

Ana, a neighbor, was very welcoming. The view from the beach side of the condo is lovely, especially at sunrise and sunset and the breeze was very refreshing all day.

This is our first time with Homeaway. At first I was a bit skeptical but after reading the review I felt much more at ease. The owner, Henry was very helpful, easy to contact by email or phone. We stayed for 2 weeks. The place was exactly as described, clean and the kitchen well equipped. Also, Ana (neighbor) was very helpful and nice. We liked to have her on the same floor.
Luquillo has a great miles long beach, it was exciting to set the first steps on the sand, however after the heavy rains the river scatter debris and more in the sea. The town has little to offer, lots of feral cats,... But it's a great starting point for lots of adventures, we loved El Yunque, the tropical forest, bathing at the Mina falls is unforgettable fun, and walking the Big Tree trails exciting. We also enjoyed the Mini Boat Adventures tour - island hop and snorkel tour to nearby small islands with turqoise waters. Juan and Angel were excellent guides, very professional, 3 hrs of pure fun, the kids loved it, money well spent.
Overall we recommend it, there were many things to do near by, and relaxing if one chooses to stay and walk along the beautiful beach.

Great condo. It has all that is advertised. Washer and dryer in the unit were a huge plus. Neighbor down the hall was awesome. We had a issue that she assisted with and was extremely helpful. Location is perfect. Downtown Luquillo may scare you a bit if you have never traveled to a Caribbean loaction, but I assure you that we interacted with tons of the locals and never felt in harms way. Great nearby drive to the Kiosks. Ay Bonita and El Jefe Burger were our favorites. Also frequented BoardRiders rum shack. Great place for a cold one after the beach. If Pasta Y Pueblo is open when you get there, GO!!!! It is not open often and looks a litte sketchy, but the owner Freddie and his wife are awesome and the food is fantastic. All in all a great trrip. I highly recommend this condo. It is cheaper to eat out at the local restaurants vs. buying at the local grocery. Do your homework before you go and you can find everything from Fried Plantains to succulant swordfish