Romance in Luquillo: Kayaks, Horses, Sunset
Luquillo offers casual, outdoorsy romance: a kayak under a dark sky, a horse on the sand, a table by the sea at sunset and a day on a catamaran. It has no spa district or formal dining row, so build a trip around a few good moments and leave the rest of the time loose.
Three ways to spend an evening
A kayak on the glowing lagoon. Laguna Grande, at Las Croabas in Fajardo, is about 20 minutes from Luquillo. Guided kayak tours of 1.5 to 2 hours are the only way to see it, and prices run roughly $58 to $115 per person. Swimming is prohibited. Darker nights show the glow better than moonlit ones, and the glow cannot be promised.
Sunset at Los Kioskos. Along PR-3 beside Balneario La Monserrate, about 60 open-air kiosks serve until 9 or 10 p.m. Most open about 11 a.m. or noon, and some are closed on Monday and Tuesday. Order frituras, mofongo or a piña colada in a pineapple, and carry small bills.
Sunset on the sand at La Pared. Boardriders is a beachfront bar and grill at Playa La Pared. Check whether it is open before you head there. Swimmers should be cautious, as rip currents occur regularly at this surf beach.
Daytime options
Horseback by the sea. Carabali Rainforest Park, in the foothills, offers a beach ride that resellers list at about $165. A one-hour trail ride starts from about $75. Ask the park about availability, since reseller prices differ.
Catamaran to Cayo Icacos. Snorkel charters leave from Fajardo marinas and cost about $125 to $185 per adult on reseller sites. Paddling out to the cay from Luquillo is not an option.
A calm beach morning. Balneario La Monserrate has reef-sheltered water and a palm-lined shore. Parking is $4 per car by card or ATH Movil. It opens at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday from about September to December, and runs daily to 5:30 p.m. from about January to August.
A note on planning
Luquillo is a short trip from San Juan, about 45 to 60 minutes by road. Old San Juan is not in Luquillo. Hurricane season runs June to November.
Timing the day
A workable couples day starts late at the balneario, moves to the corridor in the afternoon if the weather holds, and ends with the lagoon tour, which runs after dark. Allow for the 20 minute drive to Las Croabas, and check the tour time with your operator. The El Yunque corridor is free, needs no reservation and closes at 5:00 p.m., and it can shut early when parking fills or flash-flood risk is high.
Where to stay
Compare rooms on Booking.com . For lagoon rules, see the DRNA website.
Read more: Couple activities and Day trips .