Condo in Luquillo,

Sanctuary in Paradise

Sanctuary in Paradise

Photo gallery for Sanctuary in Paradise

Sunrise on the balcony
Playa Azul I - Home, Away from Home
Aaah,  breakfast al fresco
It's always 5 o'clock in Luquillo
Breakfast, lunch, an dinner on the balcony

Overview of Sanctuary in Paradise

4.9 out of 5 Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 693 sq m

Popular amenities

  • PoolPoolPool
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • DryerDryerDryer
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Air conditioningAir conditioningAir conditioning
  • Mountain viewMountain viewMountain view

Explore the area

Luquillo
  • Popular LocationAzul Beach1 min walk
  • Popular LocationLuquillo Beach3 min drive
  • Popular LocationWyndham Rio Mar Golf Course8 min drive
  • AirportSan Juan (SJU-Luis Munoz Marin Intl.)39 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Guest

Master

2 bathrooms

Guest bath

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Master bath

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Balcony
Dining Area

About this property

Sanctuary in Paradise

This little corner of paradise is located on the 18th floor of Playa Azul 1, a beachfront building in the seaside town of Luquillo. From its spacious 27 ft balcony one looks out on an unobstructed, glorious sweep of tropical ocean and palm-treed beaches. Overwhelming eye candy that photos simply cannot capture (try as I may). The balcony is where a breakfast of mango, papaya and pineapple is lazily taken in the morning; where, ensconced in a hammock, piña colada in hand, we watch the day slowly fade to dusk; where dinner is served al fresco. It is the dolce farniente, sweet spot of our vacation.

The living space consists of two air conditioned bedrooms, each complete with in-suite bath, walk-in closet, and attractive furniture with ample storage space. Bedroom 1 has one queen sized bed and opens to the balcony. Bedroom 2 , a bit larger, has one queen sized bed, a new sleeper/sofa with full sized bed, and a wall of windows overlooking the ocean. A ceiling fan whoops up a gentle breeze if you prefer to shut out the breaking waves outside the window. Bed linen for all beds is high end cotton. So are the towels.

There is a fully equipped kitchen suitable for any culinary challenge. There is tableware for 8, enough that you don't need to run the dishwasher after every meal. There is also a washer and a dryer, so you can pack lightly when travelling.

The sitting room is situated between the two bedrooms, insuring privacy at both ends. It is comfortable without being stuffy. There is a TV with cable. There is a wifi connection and a landline phone (although your mobile will do just fine on the island). There is a mini library of take-one/leave-one beach reads, board games, and several complete (one hopes:-)) decks of cards . There is a wall of windows to let the outside in and a wonderful gentle breeze to keep things cool.

Playa Azul 1 is part of a gated complex of three buildings that share a swimming pool and basketball courts. The complex has its own security detail at the front gate, and the lobby of the building is manned 24 hours a day. The lobby key will also let you out the back door onto the local beach. It is a convenient elevator ride away, sparsely used and very pleasant. Beware however, it is not monitored by lifeguards, and undertow currents can at times be strong and challenging. There are in the apartment; coolers, folding chairs, and towels for your use on the beach. Alternatively, Balneario La Monserrate, AKA Luquillo Beach, the most renowned palmed beach on the island, is a picturesque stroll away along a secluded narrow stretch of beach, (or a 2 minute drive with plentiful parking). It has the benefit of lifeguards, very calm water and amenities such as food stands (yes, they serve piña coladas) and rentals of chaises-longues and umbrellas. The grounds are clean and well maintained: La Monserrate is a 'Blue Flag' rated beach by the FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education).

Stores are close enough to be convenient for all necessities. Area supermarkets offer familiar goods in familiar settings, Walgreen is nearby for all your drugstore needs, there is a bank with an ATM right outside the gate and there is even a Wal-Mart and a small shopping center a short drive away. Although not everyone speaks English, generally, language is seldom a problem.

There is in the area a multitude of small friendly local restaurants for easy dining (for example, try the colorful 'kioscos' right down the street for surprisingly good eating or walk up to the Brass Cactus, an 'American' style sports bar right outside the gate). Our favorite is Lolita's, about 3 miles east on Rt 3. If you prefer upscale there are fine restaurants at the Conquistador hotel 15 min to the east or the Wyndham Rio Mar, 10 min to the west. If haute cuisine is what you want, San Juan, 45 min away, has a copious selection of fine world class eateries.

There is also plenty to do: casino, golf, scuba, hiking, swimming and sunbathing at any of several beaches, snorkeling, kayaking, horseback riding, deep sea fishing, zip-lining across the rain forest, touring the island's many wonders, day trips to Ponce, the Arecibo radiotelescope and other fabled destinations, sightseeing in Old San Juan (did you know that San Juan is the oldest city in American territory, founded in 1521 by Ponce de León, less than 30 years after Columbus made his voyage?), ferry rides to Vieques and other islands... In the apartment you'll find a binder where we compiled all our favorite things to do/places to go/where to eat. Google will proffer numerous suggestions on the subject of what to do in Puerto Rico... La Isla del Encanto.
Mi casa es su casa; Come stay with us, you'll be glad you did.

NB: A QUICK NOTE TO THE PARENTS OF VERY YOUNG CHILDREN: The balcony of our 18th floor apartment is an ideal place for vegetative contemplation of the immensity of the universe. Beware however that there is a potential for problems if very young children are left unattended. This IS the 18th floor, and there are tables, chairs, outdoor furnishings and such that might serve as launching pads for a young hyperactive budding aviator curious to experience flight. It is not a totally insurmountable problem (most things can be moved away from the precipice) but I think you should be aware of the issue. Call me for more information.

Keywords: Puerto Rico apartment rental, oceanfront, beachfront, 2bdrm 2bth, condo, condominium, vacation rental, beachfront, Caribbean, flat, let, vacation rental,

Property manager

Rachel Rosenheck and Gary Puglia (son-in-law)
Premier Host
Premier Host

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Mountain view
Air conditioning

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Contact us if extenuating circumstances arise regarding check-in and check-out times.

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a smoke detector and a deadbolt lock
Property Registration Number 193578

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

About the area

Luquillo

Located on the beach, this condo is in Mata de Plátano, a neighborhood in Luquillo. Wyndham Rio Mar Golf Course and El Conquistador Golf Course are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Luquillo Beach and El Yunque National Forest. Traveling with kids? Consider Carabali Rainforest Park and Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with ecotours and hiking.

What's nearby

  • Azul Beach - 1 min walk
  • Luquillo Beach - 3 min drive
  • Carabali Rainforest Park - 7 min drive
  • Wyndham Rio Mar Golf Course - 8 min drive
  • Wyndham Rio Mar Casino - 10 min drive

Getting around

  • Luis Munoz Marin Intl. Airport (SJU) - 34 min drive

Restaurants

  • Kioskos De Luquillo - 3 min drive
  • A Fuego Bar & Restaurant - 3 min drive
  • Latin Gyros - 20 min walk
  • Castillo del Mar - 3 min drive
  • Wendy’s - 9 min walk

Reviews

4.9

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 5 - Excellent. 136 out of 156 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Good. 19 out of 156 reviews" "
Rating 3 - Okay. 1 out of 156 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Poor. 0 out of 156 reviews" "
Rating 1 - Terrible. 0 out of 156 reviews" "

4.8/5

Cleanliness

5/5

Check-in

5/5

Communication

4.9/5

Location

5/5

Listing accuracy

Reviews

5/5 Excellent

Lisa F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family’s 1st trip to Puerto Rico
Great location, convenient to rain forest, amenities, and family beach.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024

4/5 Good

Kerrie H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect Location
We absolutely loved the location, view and beach here. The balcony is huge, the condo is fairly spacious, the kitchen is well stocked and having a washer and dryer was wonderful. The owner was very responsive when we had an issue with a window and dishwasher. The only reason it wasn’t a 5 star is there are no blinds/shades which makes the condo super hot (the dated ac units really couldn’t keep up), too bright at times and hard to sleep. They have suction cup drapes that don’t work very well and are hard to deal with. I would recommend the condo but there really needs to be some roll up shades installed to not block the view but help with items listed above.
Stayed 9 nights in Jun 2023

5/5 Excellent

Jim K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place!
Easy access to the beach and Luquillo. It has everything you need.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

4/5 Good

Michelle T.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful Location and View but Needs Cleaning
I had an amazing stay; who wouldn’t listening to the waves for eight days? The view from the balcony is absolutely stunning, and we arrived to rainbows popping up out of the water! However, once we checked out the bedrooms and bathrooms, we were disappointed by the lack of cleaning that had taken place between guests. My sink had clumps of black hair filling the drain; the very first thing you notice if you even glance in the sink - that was really disgusting. It’s also one of those places that get swept but never in the corners; behind the doors was filthy. A deep cleaning is needed. When I go on vacation, I expect the place to be just as clean or cleaner than my own home. Despite reading and following instructions carefully, we could not get the cooktop to work, so we were disappointed by that. The power button is touch, and two of us just didn’t have the touch, apparently. We loved that the owners supplied beach chairs, tons of towels, and a wagon to take everything to the beach. The beach is so easy to get to and didn’t get crowded the entire time we were there. My only other problem was out of the owner’s control, but I don’t know if it is a frequent issue, so I mention it if anyone else is planning to work/take meetings. The Wi-Fi connection went out completely for periods of 15 minutes or more multiple times one of the days I was working and supposed to be in meetings. But that view was really perfect!
Stayed 8 nights in Nov 2023

5/5 Excellent

mike p.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything you need for home like beach vacation
Clean well care for condo with lots of amenities. Wonderful views. Lots of fun things to do and restaurants close by. Clear directions and the owners were helpful.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

About the host

Hosted by Rachel Rosenheck and Gary Puglia (son-in-law)

Host profile image
We first vacationed at Playa Azul when our older daughter was 9 months old - over three decades ago! Each year we thought of different winter vacation destinations, and each year we all agreed nothing could be better than this place in the sun. It has become our family hub - for us and our two grown daughters, and their friends, and our friends. It is the perfect place for a day of exploring, or a day to do nothing much at all. The apartment has room for our extended family to hang out, play games, listen to music, serve dinner for two or twelve on the balcony, swing in the hammocks and laze away the evenings watching the incredible sunsets. From the time that they were little, it has been our 'dolce farniente' place. We hope it will be yours, too.

Why they chose this property

When we first came to Luquillo, we rented. We rented for many years and finally realized we wanted to have a place that we could make our own, and make special. So many rental units didn't have the quality we wanted or the many amenities that make such a difference. So we bought the two bedroom/two bath configuration that we liked the best, and renovated it to be the dream vacation place we always wanted..

What makes this property unique

We never thought we would be able to enjoy such long, rich, lazy satisfying days in such a spectacular setting. And we could do it over and over again. It is truly home away from home for us and the (now grown) kids.

Premier Host

Premier Host
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