We loved staying here and will come back with our 4 kids. This is a hidden gem in the rainforest, a former sugar cane plantation located on a rushing mountain river (there is also a small stream with a footbridge) with large pavillions with skirted tables suitable for entertaining large groups. We saw two old carriages that must have been used for tours or something of the many acres of the plantation. The humidity creates a perfect environment for moss, beautiful ferns as tall as our second floor room, flowering trees and vines. I don't know how the owners keep it up. As we walked by the pretty, large and clean pool (there is a smaller unused one by the office/owners home-do not judge by this first impression) a very slight breeze came and a shower of nuts and leaves fell into the pool and onto the walk. The pool was clean, so they must have to sweep constantly. The resort was like stepping back in time, the environment is jungley, as expected in the rainforest. We loved hearing the tiny coqui frogs in the evening, and it surprised us that most of them went to sleep for the night later. We have stayed at many 4 and 5 start resorts and this was no problem for us; state of the art many years ago and a very refreshing experience -a charming phone booth with lights still glowing down by the pool does not work. Where do you even see phone booths anymore? The tv in the room didn't either, but the one in the lobby had comfortable couches, and did work. We did not come to Puerto Rico to watch tv anyway, and had our books. We knew in advance that the outdoor restaurant had suffered from the down economy and the beautiful covered silver serving dishes sit unused on the buffet. We met the chef as we were checking in, he had to find another job but were told by the owner that he is like family and still lives onsite. We bought our hot dinner from the deli at Ralph's Food Warehouse (or named something like that) a nearby grocery store on highway 3 and brought that and some fruit for breakfast to the hotel with us. They have bottled water and pop and beer for a small fee in the lobby, but be sure to get it before the owners turn in for the night as the cooler is locked. There is a refrigerator and microwave, as well as a coffee maker with a pouch of Puerto Rican coffee in the room. The shower was hot, the beds comfortable and the sound of the rushing river was a delight. It is safe, there is an automatic gate at the entrance to the grounds and we were given a remote so we could come and go at our leisure. Cell reception is very spotty in the mountains, so we left once in the early evening to call our kids. Please tell your friends about this place so that this widow and son can afford to make some repairs to the grounds and buildings, this is a large jewel created by a man with vision that deserves to be preserved. We ate breakfast at Don Pepe's on hwy 3 and highly recommend it. El Yunque (the national rainforest) is very close and we drove up there the following day to see the beautiful waterfalls.

Simply horrible. We were the only people there, literally! There were no other guests, and there was no staff in the evening. There was no food service, at all. Our room was small and dirty with mildew. The grounds were dilapidated. The hotel was in a terrible location, remote and far from El Yunque.

The Rio Grande Eco Plantation Resort is absolutely horrible – do not stay here! The website makes this place look like an amazing family-friendly resort, so my husband, 2-year old daughter and I booked it without checking the TripAdvisor reviews. Big Mistake!! The website is not to be trusted. We were the only people staying there the entire three nights (during spring break), and the pool and outdoor facilities were so dirty and decrepit that we did not want to use them. The room was similarly dirty, infested with bugs (which may be hard to control given its location within the rain forest), and without a working bathtub. The grounds were spacious, and were likely beautiful 25 years ago, but everything has fallen into disrepair. Its very creepy, and would make it an ideal location for a horror or futuristic “where have the people gone?” film. There was no restaurant as reported in our guidebook and in some of the reviews here, and when we asked for some local restaurant recommendations from the woman manning the front desk she told us there was nothing around. She was similarly “helpful” when we asked for directions to a grocery store. Our first night we ended up eating at the Pizza Hut by the highway and driving all the way to Carolina before finding a grocery store to buy food for breakfast! In every way, this place does not deliver what it promises – for $200+ a night, you deserve a lot more!

My husband and I checked into Rio Grande for two nights so we could take in some hiking in El Yunque. Advertised as at the foot of the El Yunque rainforest, Rio Grande is situated on the opposite side of El Yunque from the park entrance, so requires about a 20 minute drive to the park's trails. The stay is bare-bones, but pleasant. We found the room to be very dark - with very little lighting provided - but the service was decent and our stay was quiet. The sounds of the coqui and other night wildlife easily drown out cars passing on the nearby road, but can keep you awake at night if you are a sensitive sleeper. We probably would not stay here again, but thought it was an interesting experience in a beautiful natural setting. The low cost and setting would make this a nice stay for families, but not as much for a romantic getaway.