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Coqui's Hideaway Rain Forest Villa
El Yunque Lodging in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

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Coqui's Hideaway is the Top-Rated Vacation Rental in Puerto Rico!

But you don't have to take our word for it. You can visit TripAdvisor to read reviews written by Guests who have stayed with us in the past.

40 Comments from Prior Guests in 2009

These comments and reviews were written in our in-house Guestbook by Guests who stayed at Coqui's Hideaway in 2009.

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Our stay at Coqui's Hideaway could not have been better! We were delighted with the accommodations and truly appreciated your warm welcome. Your suggestions for food and activities were very helpful. We had a lovely day on Luquillo Beach and snorkeling in Culebra. We will enthusiastically recommend your guesthouse to our friends. We think you should publish a guidebook on Puerto Rico! And thanks for going above and beyond when Avis ran out of cars.

Rachel, Michael, Sara & Adam
Swarthmore, PA
28 December 2009

Your Puerto Rico "dream" was shared with us during our first stay on the island! Thank you so much! We appreciated your many many "efforts to please". Everything was organized making the stay comfortable, things like the binder and labels to help us through the stay. Meals from El Verde were so delicious, even for the picky eaters. No need to do cooking. The pool and its surrounding are perfetly planned for "fun". The waterfall trip was awesome. Let's not forget the "goodie basket" on arrival, and the pleasant surprise of fresh-baked (warm!) brownies and cookies on Christmas Eve (sorry, we didn't leave any for Santa). We leave with very fond memories.

Jerrie, Robert, Jan, Tori & Jess
St. Clair, MI
25 December 2009

Great job, Gwenn. All was wonderful. The unusual fruit surprises were a treat. We will recommend a stay at Coqui's Hideaway to all. Thanks for getting the strawberries. I was going through withdrawal. We love your house and the grounds.

Ken & Kathhy
Dallas, GA
18 December 2009

Our stay at Coqui's Hideaway has been a real pleasure. You have gone extra mile to assure that everything was as promised and that we could relax and enjoy this part of our visit to Puerto Rico. Thank you! We will thake wonderful memories back to Texas with us. This trip to Puerto Rico has been long-anticipated. Your hospitality and friendliness have done a great deal to make a dream come true.

Don, Barbara, Weldon & Lois
Huntsville, TX
10 December 2009

Your home is a paradise! Your attention to detail is incredible and we could not have found a more beautiful place to stay while in Puerto Rico. On our trip, we visited Luquillo, Rio Grande, San Juan, El Yunque and Yabucoa, but we hope to return soon to see more of the island. Thanks for all your hospitality!

Johanna, Gaston, Barbara, Angel,
Perth Amboy, NJ
01 December 2009

Thank you so much for the wonderful accommodations. They have made our stay that much more memorable. The house is simply perfect for a nice getaway and the pool was a real special added touch ... we loved it, especially the kids. A special thanks to you for taking some moments to take Nicholas around the yard to show him the fruit trees and such. These memories will stay with him for a very long time, as will with us too. Cristian will not remember this trip, but we took plenty of pictures & video to show him his first vacation when he grows up. Thanks again.

The Falco & Ramirez Families
Wood Dale, IL
25 November 2009

As we prepare to leave, we look back on our arrival and it seems like it went so fast. But even in our short time, we did a lot. Our calves are still reminding us how we hiked down to La Mina Falls in El Yunque for 40+ minutes one way. That said, it was worth it — every step. We enjoyed swimming in your pool and walking the grounds. Your landscaping is superb. I took many photos of your tropical foliage to remember the view. The view from the balcony was phenomenal, especially at night. Today, we visited the Reberto Clemente Coliseum and watched Los Gigantes del Carolina practice for their game. Too bad it was rained out. Oh, and our son Joey got a ball from one of the players. He's a baseball player and we're all big baseball fans. Then, we spent the afternoon at Luquillo Beach and we ate at the kioskos ... yum! As we fly back, we'll remember your beautiful home with all the amenities.

John, Madeline, Joey & Graceline
Vineland, NJ
05 November 2009

Thanks so much for the beautiful house & grounds/gardens you've created that have made our little family vacation a very exciting one. The gardens are absolutely beautiful, and we enjoyed very much being out in the pool. Also, thanks for the information about getting to the beaches and El Yunque forest. We enjoyed our time here very much!

Karen, Rodrigo & kids
Grand Rapids, MI
30 October 2009

You have a wonderful home - we want to thank you for sharing it with us. The hospitality you both provide is so heart-warming. Everything, from "how to" and "where at", the welcome basket, the impeccable attention to details you provide, and the wealth of information you provide is out of this world. The views are spectacular, the fruit trees & landscape, and your suggestions and your own experiences captured in your info books is so very appreciated. El Yunque, the observatory at Arecibo, the beaches, the forts and even small towns like Carolina and Canovanas were great to visit. El Verde Restaurant is wonderful - as is kiosk El Favorita @ Luquillo Beach. On our last night, we ate @ Richie's - another wonderful choice - the food was very good! We enjoyed sitting by the pool with pina coladas and watching the rain move across the city. The view from the pool is so relaxing. We thoroughly enjoyed or vacation - and can't wait to come back and explore the island further. Once again, "Thank You" for everything you did for us to make our stay so enjoyable - so much, that we hate to leave, but we will be back ... soon.

Ann & Jose
San Antonio, TX
14 October 2009

We've been to many little places & we always say "I wish it had ... " or found ways to improve it. Not this time. Ray & Gwenn have created a wonderful get-away location. They were gracious, knowledgeable hosts. The place was spotless and had everything you could possibly want. The view & grounds were awesome. Thanks to the wonderful website they created, our adventures on the island were great, too! * Don't miss the biobay! * If you visit Old San Juan, our favorite restaurant was Toro Salao. The gazpacho & flat bread are yummy! We will share your amazing place with our friends! OK ... I thought I was done with my comments, but we just got back from La Parrilla (kiosk #2) in Luquillo as recommended by Ray. You have to try the stuffed pineapple & save room for the cuatro leche ... so good!

Colleen & Bruce
Fremont, CA
13 September 2009

Thank you for your beautiful home and breathtaking views! We had an absolutely wonderful time! We're only sorry we couldn't spend more time enjoying the pool, veranda and views. Your home offered us everything we needed and more. So clean and comfortable, and your attention to every little detail didn't go unnoticed. We really hope to return and will definitely spread the word about the hideaway!

Lissette, Robert, Clara, Zoe, Le
NC, PA, NY, FL
07 September 2009

Wow! So much more than we expected. We LOVE Coqui's Hideaway and are already planning our next trip here. Ray and Gwenn were a wealth of information, great to hang out with & get tours of the garden, sent us to some great restaurants. The location could not have been better. Centrally located, we were able to explore easily — Guavate, Culebra, Vieques, Camuy Caves, Arecibo, Yabacoa and Old San Juan. Thanks for a fabulous vacation. Looking forward to seeing you again soon.

Helen, Brian, Olya & Andrey
Bethany, CT
27 August 2009

What a beautiful spot! Your property is perfect — such attention to detail. We love the grounds — thank you, Ray, for the tour and explanations of so many of the plants. I would love to return in a few years and see how much everything has grown. We enjoyed a walk to the waterfalls and Sunday lunch at the lechoneras at Guavate — a fun, lively experience. You made us all feel so welcome. Thank you for sharing the dogs with Florence!

The Sharkey's
Baltimore, MD
17 August 2009

We had such a great time. Thank you for your hospitality We will be back. Muchas Gracias! Todo estuvo manifico.

Brianna, Aida & Axel
Grandville, MI
07 August 2009

Who needs the Ritz Carlton? We sure didn't! Our family enjoyed our very much needed vacation so much we are already going through withdrawal. Everything from the decor to the washer and dryer were enjoyed. El Yunque, Crashboat Beach in Aguadilla, Luquillo Beach, snorkeling & catamaran sail, El Morro and (God willing) Guavate & their lechon tomorrow! Thanks for everything, Ray and Gwenn. We hope to be back next year! You've got a great thing going here - A Master Plan.

Cathy, Mariano, Cassidy, Devin &
Bronx, NY
31 July 2009

What a wonderful place you have! We felt as if we were at home. Thank you so much for your hospitality & friendliness! The fruits you gave us were yummy! We enjoyed the pool, the great view and, best of all, the voices of the coquis! All your information books & web site made our trip much easier than expected!

Wendy, Angelo, Adela, Kleba, Aly
Howard Beach, NY
24 July 2009

We so enjoyed our stay here in Puerto Rico at your retreat. You guys thought of everything and you both were so friendly & welcoming and answered all our questions to allow our whole PR experience to be so wonderful (first time in PR). We saw both biobays (liked the kayak trip the best), snorkeled off Monkey Island with Capt. Paco (what a character!) and Playa Escondida (Playa Colora was too rough that day). We did El Yunque 2 different days - went to Big Tree & La Mina Falls - fairly easy hike. Also to Mount Britton to the tower top. Also did Old San Juan on Sunday - pretty crowded, but we were able to park at a garage and walk to both forts. Ate at Cafe Berlin (lots of vegetarian options!) and Lolita's - great food with enough for leftovers the next day. The fruit you provided was wonderful and we so enjoyed our naps floating in the pool. It's amazing how much work you've done to clear this area to make it such a "piece of heaven".

Marianne & Bill
Bucks County, PA
17 July 2009

What a great time we had in your Coqui's Hideaway! Everything was very well organized and we lacked nothing. The kids enjoyed playing in the pool after a day of hiking in the rain forest, visiting Old San Juan or shopping in the outlet mall. Unfortunately, we could not visit the bioluminescent bay because of the full moon. The hiking we did in El Yunque (La Mina, Juan Diego and Angelito trails) were very nice and do-able for all of us, even for our 2-year old little boy. At Juan Diego, we climbed up to the higher (second) waterfall and there we were all alone - very special. The Angelito trail ended up at a lovely place (swimming pool, rope to swing, rocks to climb on and jump off) where you easily can stay the whole day. After such a day, it was very pleasant to stay at the "pool deck" BBQ-ing and seeing the sun go down. Your garden is a little paradise, with all those fruits growing, ready to pick and eat. It's a pity to leave this nice spot. Now, with a suitcase full of new clothes for the kids (thanks to the factory outlet mall), we are heading for Maunabo and Jayaya, and after that we hope to stay for a week at the west coast (Rincon). Thanks for your hospitality, friendliness and fresh fruit!

Pieter Frans, Helen, David, Judi
Curaçao, Neth. Antilles
06 July 2009

Thanks so much for your friendliness and hospitality during our stay here. Your property is gorgeous and full of relaxation and fun. The well-stocked kitchen, incredible movie collection, fresh fruit, poolside grill and pretty walks made our stay relaxing and just what we had hoped for. Your orchids are beautiful! We will definitely recommend this place to our friends and family. Thanks for giving us everything we could have asked for! PS - It was wonderful to stay in a home which matched it's on-line description. Thank you!

Siri, Stacy, Howe, Erica & Em
MA & OR
29 June 2009

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Hideaway. What a wonderful atmosphere, especially following our stay at a "regular" hotel in San Juan. The flowers are amazing. We thought those on the table were fake as the colors were so vivid and bright! We loved El Verde Restaurant (ate there twice!), swimming in La Mina Falls and (although she is not in any tour guide/book about PR) your dog Coco. The kids loved playing Frisbee with her. You have built a beautiful retreat and we feel very lucky to have been a part of it for just a few days.

Lisa, Chris, Nicole & Conner
Louisville, KY
25 June 2009

Thank you for sharing your home with us. Some thing we will never forget: Symphony at night. Revelry in the morning. Watching the fireflies from the veranda. Funniest moment? When a coqui jumped onto Julianne's head when she was in the pool. I thoroughly enjoyed my walks and learned much about tropical plants. All that beauty, but no fragrance. You have a lovely place. Thank you for all you do.

The Perron Family
Beverly, MA
23 June 2009

Thank you very much for all the hospitality you have shown. The guided tours and the info you provided was very memorable. I know Conner and Cole loved it. The jackfruit was terrible! We all took numerous pics of the property and surroundings. It is lovely. Cincinnati may have the heat you have (some months), but it does not have the beauty. Thanks so much for everything.

Mark, Jennifer, Conner & Cole
Cincinnati, OH
19 June 2009

Thank you for everything! This has been a great end to our stay in PR. The biobay was amazing and the rainforest was awesome. Your grounds are breathtaking and we are so glad we found you! Our only wish was that we could have stayed here longer — I guess we will have to look at your schedule first next time. We can't wait to come back. Thanks! :-)

Stacey & Justin
Atlanta, GA
15 June 2009

We have had a fabulous stay here @ Coqui's! The house is very comfortable and well-stocked - very easy to live in. The gardens, of course, are beautiful. But the pool was the favorite part of our whole trip! Thank you for the sight-seeing advice and the friendly hospitality. We hope to make it back to Coqui's soon!

Darin, Karen, Jack, Brennan & Ju
Highland, IL
13 June 2009

Thank you for the lovely accommodations! We really enjoyed ourselves. You were right – El Yunque Panadeira is a great place to get fresh Puerto Rican bread, pastries & breakfast! Your guidebooks really helped us in putting together a custom itinerary that suited us perfectly. We sighted a red bird – most likely a Red Avadat here (or the Scarlet Tanager). While ziplining with Roqui & Jaime, we also spotted a Bananaquit. The drive through El Yunque is recommended by us! You can stop by numerous waterfalls, take a break at a local mom & pop bakery or cafe, and see so much lovely landscape. If anyone is up for a truly Puerto Rican night out, try the New Yorican Cafe (in Old San Juan) – live salsa urban fusion near Calle Forteleza. Just follow the music!

Kristin & Ross
Philadelphia, PA
24 May 2009

After reading many of the other comments, I can sincerely say that I couldn't agree more. As someone who likes to cook, the well-stocked kitchen was wonderful. Having a washer & dryer was unexpected by extremely helpful. The wireless internet access allowed everyone in our traveling party to stay "connected" with their emails. We spent a lot of time doing research but didn't expect to find this jewel in Puerto Rico. Thank you for your hospitality and the great tour of your property. And, for others who are reading this, the bioluminescent bay trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience — go swim with the dinoflagellates — you won't be sorry. Thanks Ray & Gwenn — We are already planning a return trip!

Bill & Rafael
Lincoln, NE
16 May 2009

Your home here is beautiful, inside and out. I so enjoyed everything you did to make us feel welcome.
-Nora
I love your house and the property. There is a very relaxing atmosphere and it is very welcoming. Thanks so much.
-Sophie
So sorry we couldn't have stayed longer and taken on El Yunque Peak or Juan Diego Falls, but the two walks we did do were great. The Angelito Trail swimming hole was perfect and Baño de Oro was just the ticket — complete with torrential rain forest downpour. Made us glad we packed our ponchos — and glad we had such a comfortable place to return to. I do want to try grapefruit bocce (cf. Entry 12/28/2008) next time, too. Thanks for everything.
-Ted
Thanks for everything, from the welcome basket & fresh fruit to the DVDs & books. There was something special for each of us here. We especially enjoyed Gwenn's trail write-ups. I loved the beautiful flowers and crazy night noises.
-Diane
Thanks so much for making us feel at home. The house is clean, dry, and comfortable. The pool was awesome and the estate really is cool. This is unlike any lodging I've ever had on vacation. Thanks so much for everything you did for us.
-Tom

The Randolph Family
Richmond, MA
22 April 2009

Thank you for making us feel like we were at home while on a magical vacation. You went above and beyond the call of duty. Your home is amazing. Your tour recommendations could not have been better. Thank you!

Shannon & Kate
South Jersey
17 April 2009

We arrived tired & stressed from too much work, school & "everyday" life, and leave rested, happy & relaxed - Thank You! Your beautiful spot is a perfect getaway and your thoughtful provision of every essential (and several luxuries, like the welcome basket!) make Coqui's a home-away-from-home. The great advice from your web site and bookshelf offered lots to do. Our teenage girls were just as happy to "beach it" at Luquillo and Seven Seas, but we hope to return some day and explore further afield. Your hospitality is awesome!

Henry, Melinda, Ellen & Katrine
Charlottesville, VA & Denmark
09 April 2009

Your home and property are matched only by your hospitality. Thank you for a relaxing ending to our vacation. We wish we could have stayed here at Coqui's Hideaway for most of our visit, but it was booked. So next time, we will start planning sooner!

Kasha & Clint
Dickinson, TX
22 March 2009

We'd like to thank you for your enormous hospitality. You let is pick fruit from your trees, have fun in the pool late at night, walk around your yard, and use your own maps. You gave us a little taste of Puerto Rico, and you created a superb website about daytrips in PR. Thank you, Ray & Gwenn!

The Voomets Family
Estonia
21 March 2009

I loved the yard. I want to be a photographer and this yard is every nature photographer's dream. Thank you!

Allie Hamilton
KS
14 March 2009

We left snow behind in Kansas to come enjoy your beautiful paradise. Your hospitality has been above & beyond! After traveling 13 hours the banana bread & fruit hit the spot. Waking up to such remarkable views & strolling the property has been so relaxing. Your guest home has everything anyone needs. We will be back & will stay longer next time.

The Curls
Pittsburg, KS
14 March 2009

We so enjoyed our stay in Puerto Rico. Your guest house was perfect in every way. If we come by this way again we will stay here, and I will certainly recommend your place to my friends. It's a great, central location to do so many things.

The Beck Family
DE & PA
28 February 2009

You really have a lovely spot here. We very much enjoyed the beauty of the island and your southern hospitality. Thanks for the special attention to details. If we get back this way, we will definitely look you up. Cheers!

Sylvie & Jonathan
Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
21 February 2009

Hate to leave, once again, for the land of the snow. We had a fabulous week. Thanks, Ray & Gwenn, for all the special touches in the guest house and your willing help in everything from sunburn to driving directions. A highlight this time was the Juan Diego trail (in El Yunque) to the 2 waterfalls. We made it up the footholds to the second falls - spectacular! We went the back roads to Guavate on Sunday for the pig roasts, music & dance - had a wonderful time - ate too much - love the lechon asado. Hope to be back again! A first class operation all the way!

Kathi & Jim
St. Martins, New Brunswick, Canada
14 February 2009

You have created a very special hideaway here and we are so fortunate that you share it with your guests. We had a wonderful visit, especially hiking with you today. So many laughs slogging through the mud and the spectacular views on top of El Toro! We really enjoyed hearing about how you ended up here and your adventures fixing up this place and turning it into such a lovely retreat. Thank you for all the extra care and mostly your good company.

Denis & Sue
Melville, NY
06 February 2009

Thank you for opening up such a relaxing place for us! We all loved the atmosphere, sounds of the neighborhood, fresh fruit and making our own Pina Coladas! The pool & grill are phenomenal and we will definitely recommend you to our friends & family. And we hope to be back!

Kevin, Melanie, Alicia, Dean, Jo
Syracuse, NYC, & Connecticut
03 February 2009

Our stay @ Coqui's Hideaway was absolutely terrific! If we had known in advance about the beautiful site & great location, we would have planned to stay here longer. Our vacation plan included lots of sitting back & relaxing, so both the pool area & balcony off the back room were just what we were looking for. After 2 days at a sparse guest house in Old San Juan, this place was like a slice of paradise! We were delighted by the fresh, delicious fruit and other goodies that Ray & Gwenn provided. They made us feel so welcome and we were really grateful for it. It was terrific to feel at home while we were so far away from our own! (Side note: It is below zero in our dear city of Chicago as I write this - another reason that this tropical getaway feels so amazing!) We'll be recommending Coqui's Hideaway to anyone who's interested in hearing about it. Thanks Ray & Gwenn for the hospitality!

Laura & Ben
Chicago, IL
13 January 2009

Your hideaway was a great way to welcome in the New Year. Thanks for sharing your bit of paradise with us. Your "Things To Do In Puerto Rico" book was very helpful in helping us explore. Loved grilling by the pool, enjoying your DVD collection & eating lots of fresh fruit. We wish you the best in 2009!

Peter, Janie, Claire, Andrew, Be
Savannah, GA & Seattle, WA
03 January 2009

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