Discover Puerto Rico at a safe, beachfront, gated community in a nature preserve in the town of Humacao. Experience local life of fresh food in small family-run eateries and quiet beaches in our large five-bedroom beach villa with two outdoor spa showers, grill and a NEW POOL. In a private beach just at the end of our street, and private entrance to the nature preserve for great hiking and nature viewing for birds, fish, crabs, and other island animals. Prolific Turtle nesting zone. Book Now! Completely sanitized, inside a gated community that allows hiking and beach going! -five bedrooms -two full bathrooms, a half bath, and two outdoor Spa showers -fully stocked chef cooking-ready kitchen -washer and dryer -300 mgb. Internet for full streaming/working -private grill in our patio with charcoal and lighter fluid -beach toys (SUP, Kayak, boogie boards, etc.) -sun block and bug spray -outdoor beverage ice cooler -Pool table and ping pong table -close to the beach and nature preserve -close to great local restaurants -must rent a car for this location. Slow down your pace and relax on the rural side of Puerto Rico. Experience local life in a small town on the South East side of Puerto Rico. Drive 1 minute to the fishing village next door for daily catch of fish, conch and lobster. The kitchen is fully stocked with plates, cups, pots, pans, silverware, blender, etc. and everything that you'd need for cooking. The living room has two sofas to accommodate large family groups. The large tv has cable and there the 300 mgb. wifi router is located here and three wifi extenders throughout. The master bedroom has a king bed, a walk-in closet, and a large bathroom with a large walk-in shower. The second Master bedroom has a California king bed. The third and fourth bedrooms each has one queen size bed and a closet. The fifth bedroom is the kids room and has two twin beds and two full beds in twin/full bunk beds. So this room, in total, has two twin beds and two full beds. This room has it's own siting area, it's own TV, a climbing wall, mini-basketball, huge chalk board and lots and lots of games for kids. The outdoor patio area has a private pool, outdoor Spa showers, a Puerto-Rican style grill (charcoal) a huge dining table, two sitting areas as well the pool table/ping pong table The beach is a one minute walk down at the end of the same street. It's located inside of the nature preserve so it's very quiet since it's almost exclusively used by the small gated community. Sometimes you will see kayakers from the nature preserve, or local fisherman close to shore. You might be so fortunate to witness the huge leatherback turtles laying their eggs in the sand, or the hatchlings being born and scrambling into the ocean waters. There are lots of great local places to eat close by, some are walkable but all are accessible by car. A car is required for any stay in Puerto Rico. Hiking, beach access, Nature Reserve, fishing, tons of beach toys... We are available as much or as little as our guests would like, but are of course always available to help with anything needed. We've been here 60 years so we can help you with lots of ideas! We are happy to welcome you to beautiful Puerto Rico and very grateful for the opportunity to host your vacation in our little piece of heaven….We will strive to be on-call to answer questions, give directions, or any other general information you might require. Feel free to call from 9 am to 9 pm. We really are anxious to help you. We welcome you personally to the villa for the grand tour and load you up with a ton of info on the local areas. The principal guest MUST be at the Initial check in. Below we have listed general information on the area and fun things to do. They list lots of tour operators. Almost all businesses in PR have GPS locators, so look them up on social media or any other method and push the MAP button… Please remember to support our local businesses! For questions, concerns or suggestions, please call us between 9 am to 9 pm PLEASE RELY ON US or on our manual. In our manual you will find the places nearby to enjoy great coffee, fresh fish, local Island dishes, as well as awesome places to connect with nature. A copy can be found in the Villa. THINGS TO DO: BEACH: The Villa is equipped with everything you need to have a good time at the beach. Please make sure to bring back all beach toys, towels, chairs, umbrellas, floaters, boogies, etc. when finished for the day. Nothing should be left at the beach. While using any item you take full responsibility for your own safety and release us from any liability. Please note that there are various periods in which the seaweed concentration is higher than usual. This coincides with the Leatherback turtle egg hatching season. You might be lucky enough to catch the mother turtles crawling their way up to the shoreline in order to lay their eggs, or even luckier to witness the new-born hatchlings crawl their way out of the sand nests and swim towards the ocean! Ignore the excess seaweed and jump in the water anyway! KAYAKING, HIKING AND BIKING: Humacao Natural Reserve: Right down the beach from you! A very beautiful location with ponds, trails, and hikes, all in and around three lagoons. Parking is free or you can access directly by walking from our beach. You can hike, bike or fish. Check the schedules for free orientations and seminars offered by the Park Rangers. The Reserve is open 7 days/week, but the concessions are only open Wednesday thru Sunday 9am– 4pm (and usually Mondays that are holidays). Hacienda Carabalí: Located between the foothills of El Yunque National Rainforest and the crystal waters of the Atlantic Ocean, we find an action packed ranch appropriately referred to as “Carabalí Rainforest Park” a paradise farmland full of lush flora & indigenous fauna, nestled among amazing tropical landscapes and packaged as one of the favored adventure destinations in the island. This multi-adventure ranch lets you experience the rainforest thru a variety of exciting tours and excursions (ATV’s, Horseback riding, Mountain biking, Go-Karts). “Carabalí Rainforest Park” features over 600 acres of farmland that run thru the foothills of El Yunque National Tropical Rainforest, a landmark that today is considered one of the world’s 20 best natural wonders. Try the horse trail that leads you thru mountains, rivers and directly into the ocean! Location: Road #3 Km. 31.6, Exit 992, Street A, Luquillo, Puerto Rico 00773. Cabezas de San Juan: A bioluminescent lagoon, mangroves, coral reefs, dry forests, sandy and rocky beaches set between headlands, all these ecosystems in one place, the Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve, in Fajardo. You’ll find one of our most frequented visitor centers here. You can take traditional, night and thematic tours from here on bike, kayak or trolley, always in the company of a history and nature specialist who will show you everything about the ecosystems, landscapes and wildlife of the reserve, including the breathtaking view of the northeast tip of Puerto Rico form the top of the Fajardo Lighthouse. Tours last more than two hours, including a short tram ride through the dry forest section. Tours depart through the day; however most are in Spanish; the English tour is usually at 2pm. Other tours include a bike tour ($20) and a birding tour ($12). Night tours (adult/child $22/12) explore the grounds, lighthouse and bioluminescent bay. Reservations are required for all tours. Please call and verify as prices might be different at reservation time. You can get a glimpse of some of the reserve by simply walking east down the narrow beach from Seven Seas beach. Better yet, take a kayak tour with a tour operator at sunset, and explore Laguna Grande after dark for the green-glowing, underwater ‘fireworks’ of bioluminescent micro-organisms. There are many ways to participate for nature in Cabezas de San Juan. They also offer workshops and special events, as well as volunteer and Citizen Science opportunities year round. Check out their event calendar online to make your reservation. Location: Hwy 987 at Las Croabas CHARTER TRIPS, HANG GLIDING, PARAGLIDING, BIO BAY TOURS & ZIPLINING: • Charters to Monkey Island, snorkeling, diving, paragliding or hang gliding, call “Team Spirit Hang Gliding”: Bob & Keishya. They live right in our neighborhood. You can get an up-close view of the monkeys from the water. Since the water around the island is so shallow, the best viewing is from a kayak. There is also spectacular snorkeling. If they are not available when you want to go or you have little kids that can’t kayak, other options are a motorboat that departs from Palmas del Mar. Contact Maragata Charters. Or you can try Captain Frank (Paco) López, out of Punta Santiago • Ziplining (longest in the world) try Toro Verde Adventure Park. (Orocovis). • Bio Bay tours: “Island Adventures Bio Bay Boat Tours • Ziplining, bioluminescent bay tours, El Yunque Rainforest tour: “PR Tours” FISHING: 1. Humacao’s Nature Reserve is right next door. Rent fishing pole ($5) for 3 hours to try your luck in various lagoons. The Reserve is open 7 days/week, but the concessions are only open Wednesday – Sunday 9 – 4pm. (and usually Mondays that are holidays) 2. Humacao’s Fishing Village in Punta Santiago – Just 3 mins away going East. You’ll need your own fishing pole to fish off the pier. 3. Fajardo, which is a 20-minute drive North on Hwy 3. • Bill Wraps Fishing Charters Puerto Rico is only one of them. • 787 Fishing - Private Charters. FUN CATAMARAN - Daily trips to outlying Islands which typically include snorkeling, lunch and drinks. It’s a great day trip for the entire family. RESORT GOLF/TENNIS: Palmas Del Mar resort is just an 8 minute drive and also has beaches, casinos and restaurants. SHOPPING: Just down the street you have two shopping centers with Walmart, Marshalls, Walgreens, among others. Econo or Ralph’s is the best option however for groceries since they buy locally grown fruits and veggies. All major fast food restaurants are down the road, not walking distance, but within 5 minutes by car. ON RAINY DAYS: (Hey, it happens in the tropics!!) We have left you some games and card sets to play with in case you just feel like chilling. TV’s are available for movies via Netflix or Hulu, Cinema (15 mins away) and shopping at the two shopping centers nearby is also a rainy day option. But if you feel you want to enjoy nature, drive to world famous El Yunque Rain Forest, (finalist to the new 7 wonders of the world), and oldest natural reserve in the all of Americas. El Yunque is the only tropical rain forest in the United States National Forest System. Located in Rio Grande, the rainforest is one of those few things in life that people can enjoy for free. However, for a small fee, visitors can stop by El Portal Rain Forest Center where a permanent exhibition and a recurring movie can be found. RESTAURANTS: (Look them up on their social media pages. These are places that we have been to and recommend 100%. We hope you have an awesome dining experience here too. Great breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner options). Please support our local chefs - this is a burgeoning attractive, as mentioned by worldwide foodies and critics. Here’s a list of some of our favorite restaurants around. If you go into our social media page (Bougain-Villa), you will find some links to them, and hints as to what to expect on food and approximate time to the place from your beach Villa in Humacao. 1. La Pescaderia, Humacao 2. Bocata, Humacao 3. Daniel’s Seafood, Humacao 4. C. Bar Kitchen in Style, Humacao 5. Rest. Chez Daniel Tapas, Humacao 6. Lluvia, Rio Grande 7. La Pasión por el Fogón, Fajardo (Best mofongo around) 8. La Estación, Fajardo (award winning BBQ) 9. Pork Highway, Cayey (Try this for an authentic Puertorrican experience) 10. Calle Loiza in Isla Verde - Café Tresbe, La Cueva del Mar, Bottega, Sabrina, Azucena 11. Ocean Park, Condado, Santurce, Isla Verde - Pirilo Pizza, Kasalta Bakery, Ceviche House, Nagoya, Ropa Vieja Grill, Gallo Negro, Melanzana, Kabanas, El Hamburger (very informal and simple burgers, but delicious), Via Appia, Cocina Abierta, Buns, Rare 125, Abracadabra, Jose Enrique, Santaella, LOTE 23 12. Old San Juan – Caficultura, Mesa Verde, Pirilo Pizza, St. Germain, La Cueva del Mar, La Burguett, Melao, Triana, La Bombonera, Cortes Choco Bar, Verde Mesa, Wafflera, Marmelade, Café Manolín (cafeteria), Dragonfly, Cinema Bar, Aguaviva, La Mallorquina. FRESH FISH & SEAFOOD TURNOVERS READY TO FRY OR COOK ON THE BBQ BACK AT THE VILLA: Mary Elsie or Angel Luis (right in the village, 3 mins away from Villa). Call or go by to see what the boats have brought ashore in the fishing dock . SERVICES & GENERAL INFO: MAID SERVICE: Please remember that an additional basic cleaning fee of $150 is required at mid-stay (Day 5) when you book 10 or more nights. Call us to coordinate. If guests wish for additional maid services, this needs to be arranged with us prior to service. Cost will vary depending on what is needed. Contact us for quotes. LAUNDRY SERVICES: If you prefer not to do your own laundry or need something pressed, 5aSec Laundry is just down the road at Palma Real Shopping Center @ PR #3 Km 77.6. HOSPITAL: Ryder Hospital on Road #3, at exit PR-198. Ryder Memorial Hospital. Calle Font Martelo, Humacao, PR, 00791. POLICE: 117 Calle Font Martelo W, Humacao, PR 00791. OTHER PLACES TO VISIT: Try visiting our sister Islands Vieques or Culebra. You can get there by air at the Ceiba airport ($60) or via the ferry at the docks ($2.50). Parachuting and Ultralight aircraft rides are available at the Humacao local airport just 5 minutes away. Other providers are also on our social media page (Bougain-Villa). Old San Juan is 45 minutes away, but it will be worth the visit too!!! You’ll get to know part of our history and enjoy our historic forts. As you walk the small brick roads, you’ll find small gems that will definitely make you smile. We can recommend the best sites on the Old City. KEYS, GATE & BEEPER: If you lose the keys to the house, we can obtain new ones at a cost of $50. Lost beepers will have a cost of $70 each. If you left without the beeper, just dial the number sign (#) and enter the code into the intercom at the gate to get back in. The system will call us and we’ll let you in. The code will be given upon check in. WIFI, TV: During heavy rains or storms, it’s common for wifi service to be interrupted. If that happens, please let us know immediately. We’ll call the cable provider and they will let us know approximately how long it will take to resolve the problem. It usually takes from a few hours to a day. Please be patient. WIFI: Password – Guestpalmirag1 (note cap letter G) GARAGE DOOR: Code will be provided to you at check-in. OUR POLICIES: POWER: IMPORTANT NOTE: You probably pay an average of 5-10 cents per kilowatt of electricity, where you come from. In Puerto Rico we pay a whopping 45 cents. Yes, you heard right… power here is really, reeeaally expensive! PLEASE turn off the A/C units when not in the house. The rooms cool down VERY quickly once you return from your day.) Keep in mind that the owner has the right to enter the property at any time for inspection and/or maintenance purposes and will do so every now and then. Please verify that every light switch and AC is off before you leave the property. Because of the high energy costs, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. If AC’s or any lights (except for the entrance light outside, only at night), are found to be on at the time of inspection, and nobody’s at the house, the person under contract will be notified, and an additional $100 fee will be charged immediately. FYI- The electricity in Puerto Rico is fairly reliable, but occasionally it does go out. If this happens, chances are that a neighbor has already filed a complaint to the Electric Authority, but just to make sure that has already happened, please let us know, and we will immediately issue an advisory. Depending on the issue, it might take from a few hours to a day, before the service is addressed and restored. In the meantime, that might be a good time to hit the road, and go on a new adventure, try a new restaurant, or visit a new town. We will definitely give you suggestions as to where to go or what to do. LAUNDRY - IMPORTANT… PLEASE: • DO NOT overload the washer. • Shake out (well) all towels outside to REMOVE SAND PRIOR to washing. Otherwise clogging will occur, and service will be interrupted. • Clean the lint from dryer screen after each use. • If you’re washing our towels, bed sheets or covers, ALWAYS wash whites with whites and colors with colors (do not mix). • Please do NOT use white towels to rinse or clean your sunblock or remove make-up, as towels will stain permanently. (Important: Please note that charges will be issued when washer and dryer are used incorrectly. Charges will also apply to you for every white towel and/or piece of laundry if dyed another color or used for make-up removal or dirt removal) PETS: While we are animal lovers, to maintain our properties in top shape and allergy/dander free, we do NOT allow pets in our Villas (inside or outside) at any time. Please respect our policy. Failure to do so, will sadly result in immediate expulsion from the property. VISITORS: Only pre-registered paying guests are allowed in the house. We require to be informed of any visitors that might be coming by (stop-overs or overnight guests). We understand you might invite local family members to spend the day but require PRIOR NOTIFICATION. Our local community Board requires we show them Govt' ID's for all guests. UNATTENDED ITEMS: Bougain-Villa and/or property owner/manager will not be responsible for items left unguarded. SUNBLOCK & REPELLENT: We usually have plenty of sunblock and mosquito repellant, but it might be a good idea to stop and get the one that better suits you and your family. When wearing sunscreen, be sure to apply sunscreen first, then repellent once sunscreen has dried. Cover exposed skin with long sleeves and long pants when traveling through rainforests and around standing water. Please find these items in a white basket next to the hanging beach towels, turning left as soon as you enter the house. Feel free to leave your unused containers of sunscreen & repellant. A/C’s: A/C units consume the most power, so PLEASE DO NOT run any of the units with exterior doors and windows open. This will cause the unit to freeze and become inoperable. A technician will have to be called in and they are not always available immediately. To conserve energy, please turn off the A/C units as you go out. BEACH ITEMS: The Villa is equipped with everything you need to have a good time at the beach. Please make sure to bring back all beach toys, towels, chairs, umbrellas, floaters, boogies, etc. when finished for the day. Nothing should be left at the beach. SAND: We know you’ll enjoy our beautiful beach. Returning from the beach, you’ll have a lot of sand on your feet, towels, beach toys and chairs. We kindly ask for you to shake your towels well BEFORE getting in the house (and doing laundry), and to USE the hose or OUR OUTDOOR SHOWERS to rinse off the sand on your feet and chairs, before settling in. You can also leave your shoes at the entrance, as you go inside the house. BBQ GRILL: A grill lighter will be found in the kitchen drawer, under the cooktop. Please be sure the charcoal is completely extinguished after use, and make sure the area is clean before going to bed. DO NOT leave food residue on the grill. Failing to remove food residue, will attract ants, bugs, and other animals. For your convenience, you will find a hose, in the patio. MOSQUITOES, IGUANAS, ANTS, LIZARDS AND OTHER BUGS: You are vacationing in the tropics! The house is constantly being fumigated, yet there will always be bugs that find their way in, especially if doors are left open and food is left out. We always recommend keeping doors and windows closed. Since the houses are on the beach or near the beach, tiny insects (no see’ums) come out at dusk and those might result in uncomfortable itching. To prevent that, please use repellant. (SEE SUNBLOCK & REPELLENT SECTION ABOVE). Iguanas are large lizards who love to hang out near the palm trees. If you see them, please don’t feed them or try to catch them. They are harmless but if you try to touch them, they will defend themselves with their tail. LOCKING UP: While the Villa is located in a gated community, and we have alarm and camera systems all around, it is always smart to play it safe. After all, better safe than sorry. Please lock your cars always, as well all doors in the house. Use the latches on the doors when necessary. Keep your personal belongings inside the Villa, activate the alarm at night and when leaving the Villa. Do not leave electronics or other important belongings outside unattended, or visible when leaving. Please keep garage door closed at all times. TO ACTIVATE THE ALARM: • Find the alarm panel in the entrance (left wall). • Make sure all doors are closed and locked (except for the one you will go out through), before imputing the code. • The code will be given upon check in. GARBAGE: To avoid ants and bugs inside the house, please take the trash out every day. Trash will be picked every Monday morning, so please be sure to take it out and put the garbage in the trash bin area outside, on Sunday evenings. We want to maintain our surroundings as clean as possible for you and other guests, so we do not allow trash to be thrown in the trash bins without using bags. We do have cameras around the Villa, and $50 fines will be issued to the person signing the contract, if this were to occur. Please be considerate. SUPPLIES: We provide basic household supplies for our guests, but please be sure to buy extra shampoo, soap, paper towels, toilet paper, and your favorite washing detergent for long stays. Some additional trash bags are also left on the kitchen counter. CHECK-OUT: Check-out is at 10am. If they are no other guests arriving on your departure day, we can arrange for a later check-out if needed. Please let us know. Upon check-out, we would greatly appreciate your help in the following areas: • Please turn off ALL lights, fans, and A/C units. • If we can’t personally check you out for some reason, please call for instructions on where to leave the key and the beeper. • Have a safe flight back! A car is required for any stay in Puerto Rico outside of Old San Juan. This location is about 45 minutes from SJU. Our house is located inside a nature preserve. There are lots of small wild animals around. These include: iguanas, birds, crabs, coquis, and other Caribbean island animals but nothing dangerous : )