Short-term rentals in Rio Grande and Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Rio Grande and Fajardo make up Puerto Rico's northeast corner, where the rainforest comes down to the sea. El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the US national forest system, rises above Rio Grande, whose coast holds resort communities, golf courses and long beaches. Fajardo is the launch point for ferries and boat trips to Culebra, Vieques and the offshore cays, and home to the bioluminescent lagoon at Las Croabas. Luquillo and its beachfront food kiosks sit between the two. Most guests are families and groups from the mainland who land in San Juan and drive east.

Our advice

• Invest in hurricane shutters, a generator and a water cistern, which keep a rental bookable after a storm.
• Offer boat trips and rainforest visits through reliable local partners.

We study every request and tell you honestly whether and how we can help.

Lighthouse reserve, cays and rainforest rivers

Fajardo's northern headland holds Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve, with its restored lighthouse overlooking mangroves, lagoons and the Atlantic. Just below it, Seven Seas beach offers calm water for families, and the town's large marinas serve sailors, fishing charters and catamaran trips to Icacos and the other cays. The public ferries to Vieques and Culebra now leave from nearby Ceiba, so guests heading to the islands often spend a night on this side of the coast first.

Setting up for this corner of the island

• Rain gear and drying space: showers are frequent near the forest, even in the dry season.
• Beach and snorkel kits for guests booking boat days to the cays.
• Early check-out options for travelers catching morning ferries or flights from San Juan.
• A realistic drive time to the airport: traffic on PR-3 can be slow at peak hours.

We also recommend strong insect protection and screened patios. Evening mosquitoes near mangroves and rivers are the most common complaint in reviews here, and they are easy to anticipate.