Things to do in Luquillo & Around
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Playa Luquillo
Set on a calm bay facing northwest and protected from the easterly trade winds, the public part of this beach makes a mile-long arc to a point of sand shaded by evocative coconut palms. The beach itself is a plane of broad, gently sloping yellow powder that continues its gradual slope below the water. Although crowds converge here at weekends and during holidays, Luquillo has always been more about atmosphere than solitude. With its famous strip of 50-plus food kiosks congregated at its western end, it’s also a great place to sample the local culinary culture, including scrumptious surullitos (fried cornmeal and cheese sticks). There is a bathhouse, a refreshment stand,…
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Brass Cactus
Not at all prickly, the Brass Cactus serves big plates of American pub fare with the odd traditional dish thrown in (dishes $8 to $22). Children will find lots to eat (burgers, fries, chicken fingers) and the down-home decor (think license plates hanging from the walls) will give them plenty to look at. Around 11pm on weekends the Cactus gets more of a club vibe, with patrons coming in to drink rather than eat. Usually there’s live rock music, at least during the high season.
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Sandy’s Seafood
Obscured on a quiet street, Sandy’s is the most popular restaurant in town and, by word-of-mouth, manages to attract the odd tourist-resort escapee. Perhaps best described as a fish-and-chip joint for lobster eaters, it’s certainly not posh – sauce bottles adorn the tables – though you can get the full gamut of seafood here, from a traditional red snapper to jalapeño peppers stuffed with shrimp or lobster.
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Hacienda Carabaldi
Hacienda Carabaldi is a 600-acre eco-adventure ranch southwest of town, does trail rides on Paso Fino horses along the Río Mameyes and into the foothills of the rainforest, with time out for swimming and a picnic. Beach rides and simple jaunts around the ranch are also offered, as well as two-hour mountain-biking tours along rainforest trails. Aluminum bikes, with helmet and gloves, are provided for $40 per person.
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Shimas
If you have a sushi craving that must be met while in Luquillo, head to Shimas at the Westin Río Mar resort. It serves authentic Japanese food, as well as some Thai and Chinese dishes. There are 12 restaurants and lounges in the Río Mar. Other good eating choices are Ajili Mójili, serving traditional Puerto Rican food, and Cactus Jack’s, which has won awards for its innovative Tex-Mex cuisine.
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El Flamboyán Café
Rub some chalk onto your pool cue and twist the top off your Medalla beer (preferably by hand); yes, the Flamboyán is one of those rustic open-sided seaside bars with heavy stone tables and perennially popular pool tables that serves simple food and $2 bottles of beer. The local gang shows up on weekend evenings to witness the sporadic African drumming, live salsa and reggaeton.
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La Selva Surf Shop
La Selva Surf Shop has been around for more than 25 years. Well-stocked and friendly, it rents out surfboards and body boards and offers the latest on surf conditions at La Pared (literally two blocks away), La Selva (further east) and around the Humacao area to the south.
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Lolita’s
Lolita’s is 3 miles east of town on the south side of Hwy 3. The Mexican meals are so popular that the owners have moved into a building twice the original size. A soft taco costs $2.50, and many dinners run under $10. Imported Mexican mariachis provide the music.
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Bamboo Lounge
Aside from offering first-rate horse rides and mountain biking, Carabaldi also has a great restaurant, with panoramic views of the ocean and the rainforest. There’s great Puerto Rican fare, a kid’s menu, and a bar and patio area that stays open until 2am.
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La Exquisita Bakery
Well perhaps not ‘Champs Élysées’ exquisite, but, as far as Luquillo goes, this place could satisfy a few sweet tooths. Slap-bang in the town’s sleepy main square, this is where locals gather for cakes, pastry, coffee and sandwiches.
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Erik’s Gyros & Deli
It doesn’t look much and opening times can be sporadic, but locals swear by this place a few blocks south of the main plaza in downtown Luquillo. If you’re missing gyro sandwiches or have an incurable penchant for feta cheese, this is the place.
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Sea Without Barriers
Luquillo has a section known as Sea Without Barriers, the island’s only disabled-accessible beach. Sea Without Barriers has a ramp and other facilities to help anyone with limited mobility get into the water safely.
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Eco-Excursion Aquatica
For a guided kayak tour along the coast, check out a host of different day and night options from mobile operations, including Eco-Excursion Aquatica. Prices start at about $50.
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Berwind Country Club
The Berwind Country Club is open to the public Monday to Friday. The greens fee includes a golf cart.
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