Our final two nights were spent back on the north part of the island, east of San Juan. Rio Grande, specifically because of it’s proximity to El Yunque National Forest, is another “can’t miss” spot in Puerto Rico. Although El Yunque can be seen as a day trip from San Juan, staying closer to the rainforest allows you to get an earlier start to beat the crowds and to have a chance to experience a different side of the island. There are many gorgeous lodgings in the rainforest, but we elected to stay at a beach resort, ending our vacation on a relaxing note.

Where We Stayed

I love all kinds of accommodations and on this trip we got to experience a variety - from the boutique hotel in San Juan to the luxurious home rental in Cabo Rojo. Our final two nights (sort of) were spent in yet another type of accommodation - the fancy beach resort with all of the amenities. The Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico was that and more. Located at the very end of a peninsula, this is an exclusive property with expansive, open air common areas and especially large guest rooms designed with comfort in mind. There is an extensive pool (the largest on the island) next to a lovely beach. The resort is also known for its world class golf course. In fact, during our stay the resort was preparing to host a PGA tournament that was scheduled to begin a day or two after we left. Although the distance from the lobby, restaurants and pool to the guest rooms could be quite a walk, we were always able to flag a golf cart if we needed a break (i.e., my sprained ankle was still pretty painful). We had an early, early flight on our final day (as in, we headed to the airport around 1 am), but had booked two nights so that we could continue to use the room until we left.

What We Ate

Honestly, I did not put as much research as I usually do into restaurants for this trip. And I think it showed. I am sure we missed some spots we should have visited and, although we really loved the food tour we did in San Juan, we didn’t leave completely blown away by the food overall. During our stay at the Hyatt, we had a fine dinner at the onsite steakhouse, which we just barely got into after the Japanese restaurant was completely booked (note: definitely make reservations if you want to eat dinner at the resort), but for the price it wasn’t especially impressive. The Loquillo beach kiosks looked like they would be fantastic… if they were open. Which they mostly weren’t midday on a Thursday. We tried one other restaurant near the resort, which I won’t even mention by name - the pizza was passable, but the rest of the food was questionable. The highlight was probably realizing that we could buy mixers from the bar very inexpensively (pretty sure we weren’t even charged for some of them) and take them back to our room for patio cocktails with our own liquor. That’s my best tip - buy a bottle of something and make a bunch of drinks for the cost of one drink at the expensive hotel bar.

What We Did

We obviously spent some time by the pool. A pool, a good book, and someone to bring me drinks is just about all I need to have a great afternoon, although if someone wants to throw in a spa appointment, I wouldn’t complain. Other than spending time enjoying the benefits of staying at a fancy resort, the real highlight was the opportunity to see El Yunque National Forest - the only tropical rainforest in the US national forest system. It is truly lovely and there is enough to see to make a day of it, especially if you plan to hike. I wasn’t quite up for true hiking just yet, but if I had been, my recommendation would be to do the earliest possible timed entry in order to be there first thing in the morning (which is much easier staying in Rio Grande than in San Juan), drive straight to the trailhead, then make your way back, stopping at the various viewpoints. La Mina Falls is one of the most popular hikes, but was closed for trail repairs when we were there. If we had been up for a hike, our second choice would have been the hike to Mt. Britton Tower. Thankfully, there was still plenty to see. In addition to all of the natural wonders, there is also a visitor’s center, although there is an extra cost for that. There is currently a timed entry system. It was simple to buy tickets online in advance and I appreciate that it helps cut down on the crowds. There is much more to do in the rainforest if you have more time - ziplining is on the top of my list for next time. If you’re hungry after a busy morning of hiking and exploring, the Loquillo beach kiosks make the ideal spot for a late lunch and a cold drink if they’re open. We followed an adventurous morning with more pool time and enjoyed one last evening in Puerto Rico before heading to the airport.