Kioskos de Luquillo | Puerto Rico

One thing I really wanted to do in Puerto Rico was visit the Luquillo food stalls. After driving through El Yunque - the islands majestic rainforest, we headed into Luquillo to an absolutely packed and bumping scene. Where the loudest subwoofers hollered we looked to find parking amongst scattered trash and the uneven, dusty lots between Luquillo Beach (is everyone on the island here?) and the kiosks. This beach is everything to locals and watersports enthusiasts alike. Family party tents and jet skis abound! 

We strolled up and down the stalls with a bit of indecision before winding up at A Fuego. [family photographs with the fire hats might make a little more sense now!] The fire truck kept the boys extra entertained while we had quite an amazing lunch. I kicked things off with a Luquillo Sunset [Club Caribe Rum, Passionfruit, Orange Juice, Pineapple + Grenadine] before tucking into a fresh Caribbean Lobster. Selected from the tank, the spiny crustacean was steamed until tender and drenched in a garlic and herb butter, served with traditional rice + beans. This was so so delicious and satisfying!

The open air Kioskos de Luquillo are casual, fun and authentically Puerto Rican, I am so happy we paid them a visit. 

After lunch I found the Mojito Lab Kiosko! 

Guanabana fruit is my go to mojito flavor. It is tropical, creamy, refreshing and pairs perfectly with rum and mint. 

We meandered to the playa here for a stroll and then drove over to a different local beachside neighborhood, Vilomar, to check out The Brass Cactus for a beer or two. Behold a super cool bar with all kinds of vintage signage. Worth it!

Fajardo Dinnertime Eats

 
May I recommend the red snapper at Sal + Pimienta By The Sea. We ate here on our first night in Fajardo and were replete with delicious seafood meals after a fun but long road trip from the west coast. 

Since we were staying at the well known El Conquistador Resort via airbnb we were not allowed to access their restaurants. It felt like a bummer but in the end it made us get out and explore! 

Fajardo truly is a sleepy town at night. We felt a little off at times; there just isn't a ton going on! Everything closes pretty early and there is not a main section of town. Sal + Pimienta and La Estacion are on the main road but there's no foot traffic, no sidewalks, no street lights, nothing is a destination except the restaurants themselves I suppose.

La Estacion is apparently sort of famous! Housed in an abandoned Esso gas station serving Nuyorican BBQ; Fodor's and Conde Nast have it on best-of-lists for not only Puerto Rico but the Caribbean as a whole. Bob found it on a whim, it sits just down the road from La Conquistadors pearly, exclusive gates. I sipped a juicy Guanabana mojito, we shared tangy Caribbean chicken wings and a terrific BBQ tray. 

They are open Friday through Sunday only. 

Mon/Fri @ 4 pm and Sat/Sun @ 2 pm.

On our last night in town we decided to give Las Croabas neighborhood another go. This is what you might consider the "main area" in and around Seven Seas Beach. 

We explored Las Croabas on a couple different occasions for lunch and it was very quiet; the only restaurant open was Costa Mia right at Seven Seas. (We ate lunch here - it was fine - I did not take photos!) A lot of restaurants have odd hours (La Estacion as noted above), close for 2 days in a row, or simply did not exist! We could not trust google for anything factual. 

Is this Fajardo still emerging from a pandemic?

 A quiet time of year? 

Business as usual?

On our last night we discovered El Pescador, a charming seafood enclave on the small circular strip surrounding Parque Pasvio. Camden slept in the stroller. Ryder was well rested and could hang. They serve martinis in frosted sea blue glasses and bright, fresh fish dishes with rice + salads.

We were delighted.

Our 6 month old! Kind as could be with long brown curls, shiny blue eyes, taking everything in and enjoying the world around him!

Pineapple Flan was a sweet ending to an enlightened stay in a unique part of Puerto Rico!

If you visit:

Sal + Pimienta by the Sea

 Road 987 Km 2.7, 

Fajardo, 00738

La Estacion

Carr. 987 Km 4.20 

Las Croabas, Fajardo, 00738

El Pescadore

Carr. 987 Km 7.2 

Parque Pasivo, Fajardo, 00738

Las Casitas | El Conquistador Resort

Our Airbnb in Fajardo was at Las Casitas Village in El Conquistador Resort. Las Casitas are situated at the highest point of a scenic 300 foot hill on gorgeous grounds with bubbling fountains, flowering trees and perfectly manicured hedges. 

El Conquistador is right next door but super exclusive, to the point that they will not allow Airbnb guests on hotel property. Thankfully, we were allowed to use the gorgeous pools at Las Casitas Village right outside our condo door! We spent some time at the breathtaking infinity pool until its usage came into question on our last planned pool day and we were asked to leave.

 This is a pool on actual Las Casitas property.  The resort apparently has a "rule" that Airbnb guests can not use it. (A manager came around checking for wristbands.) I guess lucky that we had been using it prior with no issue? It was an incredibly quiet and not at all crowded pool area. Next thing you know we had committed the biggest offense!! With our two little kids and no one else using the pool, we were ushered out. 

The regular pool + hot tubs we were allowed to use were still fantastic, sparkling clean and beautifully appointed.  

It is such a strange thing the resort has against Airbnb guests, creating purposeful rules to use against them when you are renting legally from an owner. They don't even allow your business at the restaurants. It is a little sour if you ask me! We had a really nice time but I would not give my ringing endorsement to stay here based on how the hotel staff is forced to treat you: an unfortunate side effect of a really nice Airbnb. 

Fajardo Beaches | Puerto Rico

In Fajardo we beached it with the crowds and embraced the party scene at Seven Seas one day and then Playa Escondida was a separate full day. 

Seven Seas is excellent, but, Playa Escondida is what makes a stay in Fajardo so worth it!

Fajardo is for the locals. We hung with them and we got to know them and their stories when we immersed ourselves in the scene at Playa Seven Seas. Speaking of stories, I had posted this picture on my insta-stories with the update: drinking.rum.punch.pouches. As one does.

Seven Seas is a terrific beach for the little ones offering a sandy inlet with calm shallow waters and the opportunity for a casual beach walk. On the weekends everyone is here to party so prepare for crowds!

On the contrary, the hidden Playa Escondida is reached by a mile or so hike through a heavily wooded area. It is the same general parking area as Seven Seas but on the hike you've gone around enough outcroppings to wind up at a completely different beach. 

And it is s t u n n i n g.

Along the same hiking path there is a right that takes you to Playa Colorá. (We did not go to this beach.) 

Behold the serenity! I give the boys a lot of credit for loving an adventure and making our journey-of-a-day on a deserted beach simply incredible.