Yunque Brisas Villa - Yunque Brisas Villa

This villa was perfect for a getaway. It's secluded from other people yet is just minutes from town and the rainforest. The hosts were wonderful and very welcoming. They even cook you breakfast!! Brad went above and beyond telling us local spots to go as well as multiple things to do. The house is very openly laid out so you feel close to nature and get to sleep listening to the sounds of the frogs and birds and there's always a nice breeze coming through. It was very relaxing and I'm glad we stayed here!!

I'll just run you through a typical day at Yunque Brisas Villa. You wake up in the morning to the sound of tree frogs and exotic birds chirping in the distance, stepping out onto the patio you overlook the Caribbean, with Luquillo Beach in the distance, to your right, you see El Yunque National park. Brad greets you with fresh squeezed fruit juice, and a variety of tropical fruits to eat, after that appetizer he brings you a more traditional meal of your choosing. I suggest the eggs benedict, his lemon hollandaise is delightful! While you are eating breakfast, he helps you to plan your day, telling you things to avoid, and things you MUST do. Starting the morning off like this puts you into ease, as you have great advice that keeps you in the know, without worry.

After the morning, we explored the various parts of the island surrounding us, from the Rainforest, to La Selva and Luquillo beach, to San Juan and Arecibo. After which we would come back, rinse off in the outdoor shower, and listen to the sounds of the jungle before falling asleep.

A few things to know: You will need a rental car, an adventurous spirit, and a willingness to unwind if you stay here. Brad is an amazing person and when we go back to PR we would not hesitate to stay with him again.

Much love,

R.O & M.P

P.S. Good luck with the future of the property, we can't wait to hear how things are coming along!

My husband and I were very excited to return to Puerto Rico after our last trip there two years ago. We wanted to visit a new part of the island so we chose to be close to the rainforest and ferry to go to culebra. I found what seemed to be the perfect place, based on high reviews and photos. Brad was cleaning the house when we arrived. So we went and had dinner and came back. Brad was very pleasant and hospitable. He had great suggestions for our excursions everyday. We text him several times with prompt responses to our questions. However, my husband and I were very disappointed in the villa. It was not clean, lizards, roaches, frogs and bugs camped out with us day and night. The original screens were on the Windows. The screens had large holes for any bugs to come in. The bedroom had a huge hole in the bottom of the screen, allowing things to come inside. The bathroom that was suppose to be screened in, to give one an outdoor experience while taking a shower, was not screened in. The back and side screens had fallen off because the wood had rotted. We had to keep the bathroom door shut when we came and went. I never unpacked my bags. We kept everything zipped up. We asked Brad if he could give us some spray for the roaches but he said he put borax down and that was all he could do. He got his surf board and left. We managed to stay two nights, hoping to get used to it but once we saw the roaches we knew we needed to leave. We packed up and said our goodbyes. Also, there is no garden anymore, it is weeds. The mangos supposedly were stolen by someone. The breakfasts were not what was described in the reviews. Internet signal was there but poor. We loved our day excursions. I highly recommend zip lining in the rainforest and costing the waterfalls. We never made it to Culebra since we left early and went to Isabella on the other side of the island, best decision we made.

My husband & I celebrated our 25th anniversary here & just got home last night. RUN, don't walk, to book your stay here if you want a personalized, tasty, scenic, marvelous stay in lovely northeast Puerto Rico. Brad's home is the ideal base for any adventure you desire. 1st, all about Brad - having him as our personal host ramped up our fantastic experience in PR. From the moment we arrived, he was un-intrusively on hand ( via in person, by text, phone, email) to give us insider tips, exacting directions, gift shop recommendations of locally made goods, stories about the island and his family and his journey to his present position as host extraordinaire of Yunque Brisas. On top of all that, the included breakfast fare ( and reasonably priced add ons for breakfast & dinner) were beyond delicious - they were exquisite, all freshly prepared with on site fruits and delivered at your choice of time. We enjoyed our morning planning chats with Brad so much that we invited him to join us for dinner the night he prepared a local fish for me ( cola rubia baked in banana peels with ginger & lime) and green chicken curry for Henry. He even gifted us with a bottle of champagne to celebrate our anniversary! Gals, if you are looking for an amiable, charming, kind, good looking guy who can cook, Brad's your man! Yunque Brisas location was perfect for us as we enjoyed snorkeling, viewing the luminescent biobay, lazing on the gorgeous beaches, playing blackjack at the casino ( 5 mins away) , taking an overnight trip to Culebra ( DON'T miss it - GO!), visiting Arecibo, the Rio Cumay caves and Old San Juan. The guesthouse is rustic but very comfortable. Views straight out to the ocean. The bed was very comfy and the indoor/outdoor bathroom ( built around a HUGE boulder) is a treat. The coqui frogs will chirp you to sleep, in fact, one took up residence ( we were told a prior guest dubbed him "Stewey" ) & enjoyed spending his days perched atop a piece of artwork in the bathroom! There are birds all around, tiny lizards scurrying to & fro & virtually no mosquitos. ( although netting is provided, very romantic) The skies are very clear at night & to see the full moon rise over the ocean, then shine through the slatted windows onto the bed was just heavenly. YB is about 35 minutes from the airport & close to everything. The farthest west we travelled was to Arecibo & that was about 2 hours. All in all, it was the best choice for our anniversary. Brad, you're the BOMB!

Words can not adequately describe how much my husband and I loved staying at Yunque Brisas while honeymooning in Puerto Rico. We were looking for a relaxing, low-key, authentic Puerto Rican experience and found that and more here! Brad was incredibly helpful and definitely enhanced our stay on the island. From letting us in on the best hiking, hidden waterfalls, where to go and not to go all around the island to the AMAZING breakfasts he prepared every morning and information on local foods to try - everything was perfect!! Thank You for the wonderful experience and the kindness you showed us as guests. I doubt we will ever be able to find another retreat to compare to our time in Yunque Brisas! Thank You!!