A little off the beaten path on Puerto Rico's sunset coast, we have created a stress-free oasis beside a beach that the locals have pretty much kept to themselves. Discover the pleasures of a relaxing place that you can call your home. Spend your evenings in your balcony sitting in a wicker chair and watching breath taking sunsets on another perfect day.
Villa Ensenada is a private, beachfront property owned by Hi and Flor, whose family has owned (and still owns) a major portion of this particular stretch of Rincon beach between Steps and Maria's beaches, two of the premier and uncrowded beaches in the Puntas area of Rincon, The property consists of Hi and Flor's house, the guest house which has four large apartments each with its own balcony, a beautifully landscaped and maintained pool, patio, barbecue area for the guest house. The guest house itself faces the beach. There are two lower units that each have a ground-level terrace; and two upper units each with a private balcony. All terraces face the beach which is literally ten steps away.
We stayed in one of the upper units which had two full bedrooms, one with a queen bed and the other with two single beds. The queen unit has its own bathroom. There is a large, open living/dining/kithen that goes directly out onto the balcony which is itself furnished with comfortable wicker chairs and coffee table. The apartment is a bit 1970s; not fresh and up-to-date but comfortable, clean, and well-appointed. The beds are comfy, the bathrooms AOK. We went for a week in March and spent all our time out on the balcony for breakfast, lunch, sunsets and a late-night glass of wine.
The beauty of Villa Esenada is its location and property, Ten steps from the house is the gate to the beach. A 500m walk to the left takes you to snorkleling at Steps beach. A 500m walk to the right takes you to the "swimming spot" (marked by the dead palm tree) where there is a break in the rocks and one can have heavenly swims. Another 50m and you are at Maria's beach, one of the most popular surfing beaches in the area, where you can grab a bite or drink and check out the surf/dive shop.
Because Villa Ensenada is on a stretch of property that has been in Flor and Hi's family for a long time, there are very few houses around you. This particular strtech of beach has a private house about every 50 - 100m -- no hotels, no high rises. Therefore, the beach is always uncrowded, usually only people going for a walk or local folks fishing. If you are a surfer, you can take your board out the gate and surf.
Villa Ensenada is great for families and couples or a few friends who want a great beach getaway. When we were there, our fellow tenants were: a Puerto rican family coming on a surf vacation; a US family on a surf vacation; a 30 something couple with teenage niece and nephew on vacation.
We are already planning our trip for March 07.
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Date of stay: March 2006
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our family of 23 arrived in Rincon and was thrilled with the Villa Ensenada. The week of weather was the most beautiful. We all enjoyed watching the children in the pool and on the beach. The adults also enjoyed every minute of the days and nights.
Snorkeling was fun and new to us, girls went horseback riding as the men went deep sea fishing (which was a great supper for everyone) I cannot say enough about this resort, the grounds are very beautiful . We very much plan to go back! Also we adopted two other couples as family that was staying there as well.
The Haas Family
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Date of stay: January 2012
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How to make reservation: Call the villa directly. It is owned by a couple in their late 50's early 60's. Their spanish is a bit rough, but I know the wife speaks english with an accent though you can understand her completely. They took a half-down deposit (we were only staying their two nights) so I am not sure if they require more deposit for more nights. They put your name in a book and you should be all set. (But being the careful person I am, I would call back a few weeks or days before to make sure the reservation is still there....doesn't hurt to double check!)
Villa: The photos will show you the villa because sometimes words cannot describe it. It is a super-clean villa, with a newly finished bathroom with beautiful tile. The airconditoning is super cold and it comes complete with a microwave (if I remember correctly) a toaster, and a coffee maker. I am not too sure on the toaster, but I am sure about the microwave and coffee maker. They provide towels and cups for coffee. Bring your own soap, toothpaste, and shampoo, as there are none provided...found out the hard way! :-) We stayed in the one bedroom hotel-style room since it was only me and my husband. They do have about 3-4 other apartment style rooms that go for about $150/night or $900/week. They have 2 bedrooms, full kitchen, one bathroom, living room, and balcony over looking the beach. We paid $100/night +tax= total = $207/for two nights.
Property: What can I say, but BEAUTIFUL. I am a frequent traveler and this place is the best place I have stayed on this side of town. The room is literally 20-40 steps from the room! The lawn has a Asian inspired theme and they are very well manicured. They have a pool which is really well kept amist the lawn and a little water fall feature...sorry forgot to take pictures of this!
Overall: If you are looking at other properties, don't. This is the place you want to rent. I was looking at the Lazy Parrot in, but I noticed when we passed it on the way to Villa Ensenada, that it looks extremely touristy....in other words-fake. It is about a 3-5minute drive to the town of Rincon, so it's good if you want to go to the supermarket or grab a bite to eat.
Other attractions: This villa is also near a pretty fun club/hotel/villa called Villa Cofresi. They have a nice bar and great music right on the beach! I don't suggest staying here since the rooms surround the club area. Although the area is covered by a ceiling, there are no walls surrounding,which means no air conditioning and you will hear the music blasting until about 1am, if you are staying here!
Hope this helps in you travels!
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Date of stay: June 2007
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Me and my family just came back from a weekend at Villa Ensenada Inn and we really had a great time. We are a big family and we rented the entire place for us. The place are in great conditions. It is a little paradise in Rincón. It was very special for us, we were celebrating our parents 50th Aniversary and a family reunion (8 childrens with family).
Villa Ensenada has 4 apartments and one studio. Their is a area where you can place all you beverages and prepare dinner in the BBQ. A swiming pool for the guest of the property and just steps away from the beach. Beautiful sunsets. The rate for the apartments per day is very resonable.
The place is secluded and at the same time close to the town to get local food. ( pastellilos de chapin, lobster ect.)
I really suggest Villa Ensenada Inn to anyone that is looking for a place that is quite and secluded.
If you are interested you should call as soon as possible because they have a lot of demand. We had to reserve one year in advance for the place.
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Date of stay: July 2004
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I don't get all the glowing reviews of these units. The decor is very dated, which in and of itself I can tolerate, however it wasn't clean or well appointed. One redeeming feature was the outside space.
The master bedroom was very small, my wife and I found us climbing over each other to get to the closet or the bathroom. The beds were comfortable, but the pillows were stiff, uncomfortable foam. The bathroom was tight as well, and they didn't even supply us with 2 of every towel size.
We preferred to sleep with the windows open, however there was a very bright lamppost right outside the windows -- when asked, the owner refused to turn it off -- even late at night.
The internet service was spotty at best.
The kitchen was a disaster. The microwave was... well... scummy. No dishwasher, despite there was plenty of room for one. The cabinets were filthy inside, and the countertops were tile with brown, crusty grout. One electrical outlet had no cover and several lightbulbs were missing or burnt out. Fortunately we had planned to be out for most meals elsewhere, as there was no way I'd prepare food on those counters. Even the coffee pot was a cheesy, stained little thing that only made 3–4 cups.
To be fair, the outdoor space was very nice. Attractive landscaping and a nice pool. And direct access to the beach. The beach is not a swimming beach. Don't wade onto the rocks as sea urchins hang out in the nooks and crannies -- and that will ruin a few days of your vacation. If you really must go in the water, follow the surfers, they know the safest entry point -- and this is a favorite place for them to "put in".
In summary, I know it's Rincon, and things are a bit bohemian, but the inside of these units is a dump. I understand it's for sale, and the new owners will likely gut and renovate the units -- and raise the rates appropriately. I say, bring it on.
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Date of stay: January 2017
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Lower units have easy access to outdoors, upper units don't really have a better view as...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I almost hate to post this because I don't want the secret that is Villa Ensenada to get out! We booked our trip to Rincon at the last minute as a spontaneous getaway for President's weekend. Given the popularity of winter travel to PR during that week, our first, second, third, and fourth choices were all booked up. We found Villa Ensenada in the B&B section on Trip Advisor and booked it based on the 4 glowing reviews, despite a mediocre website which was a bit vague and with few pictures.
We were absolutely not disappointed. The owners Hiram and Florie maintain their gorgeous guesthouse right on the ocean at Maria's beach, one of the prime surfing spots in Rincon. The sunsets each night were out of this world, and we enjoyed each one sipping wine and sitting in adirondack chairs on ther expansive deck. There are only 5 guestrooms (4 apartment style, and 1 hotel style unit which we were in) so it felt like a private paradise. The pool and grounds were meticulously maintained. There was a great grill and eating area as well as laundry services for guests' use, but we did not use either of these since our trip was so short. We cannot wait to go back for a full week next year and rent one of the apartments and bring some other friends with us.
There are two things which are helpful to know: 1) the villa is difficult to find as there is no sign from Route 413 and the mile markers are hard to read. But it is beachside at marker 2.2. 2) They only take checks and cash.
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Date of stay: February 2009
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I just returned from a 4-week trip to Puerto Rico. We were privileged to stay at Villa Ensenada in Rincon for 6 fabulous nights of that 4 weeks. As we are avid snorkelers, we looked a long time for places to stay close to Steps Beach. It is always hard to know exactly what you are getting from the Internet. We could not find many reviews on this place, but the few we did find were very positive. We decided to take a a chance and WOW!
Our 2-bedroom apartment was roomy, clean and had a front porch on the ocean that was absolutely HUGH. The living room furnishings were dated but very clean and comfortable. The bedrooms were small, but very comfortable. The kitchen was well stocked and roomy. The bathrooms were well kept, decent size and had great shower heads.. Both bedrooms had air conditioners that worked very well. If you close all the windows, the two units actually keep the entire apartment fairly cool.
The grounds of this place are absolutely stellar. Owners Hiram and Flori have a full-time gardener, Thomas. He is such a delightful guy! You will feel like you are at a 4- star resort the grounds are so well kept and beautiful. The best part of Villa Ensenada is that there are only 4 apartments and a couple of single rooms for rent in the entire place and the grounds are hugh. When we were there, it was quiet as a mouse. The pool is hugh and lovely. There is also a beautiful furnished pavilion with a grill close by for all to use.
Steps Beach is just a short walk from the property. The reef there is absolutely beautiful. We snorkeled every day and saw enormous numbers of all kinds of fish and other creatures. We followed a sea turtle around one day.
Flori and Hiram live on the property in a beautiful house behind the apartments. They were always available and willing to answer questions. Hiram even demonstrated how to open a coconut for us and explained how to know when a coconut is ripe for opening. They have a lovely green Parrot as a pet. Flori says he can sing "LaKuKaracha" (spelling is bad) in Spanish. We weren't fortunate enough hear that, but the parrot is clearly a member of the family and a delight for all who visit this lovely resort.
If you are not willing to pay the ridiculous rates at the Horned Dorset, you simply truly can't do better that to stay at Villa Ensenada. It was absolutely delightful.
The pictures of the apartment that I have attached aren't the best, but at least you can get a sense of what the apartment is like. It really was very comfortable.
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Date of stay: June 2008
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I've been so many times and its wonderfull the place the serenity. It's a paradise were our family had a beautiful and great time. This my favorite place to stay when in Rincon. It is nice and quiet. Each room is fully equipped, comfortable. The rooms, the kitchen, the living room. There's space for everyone. Even there's a washing machine if you need it. It's great!!
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Date of stay: September 2015
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The grounds are absolutely beautiful and the location is fantastic. We spent a week here in February and fell in love with Rincon. The villas are well maintained but not updated. We really enjoyed all of the room. It was so nice to have 2 bathrooms, a kitchen and living room. We enjoyed the outdoor patio very much! My only criticism is that it is outdated and the beds are very uncomfortable. It's not dirty, but not exactly clean. We loved the space and location so much that we would go back. (We will just bring some cleaning products and sheets).
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Date of stay: February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We just got back from 10 glorious days in Rincon, and the best part of our trip was the Villa Ensenada Inn. Such a beautiful place to stay, so very clean and well maintained, no complaints at all. The owners of the property live right on the premises and are so helpful with ideas and anything that we may have needed. The property is truly magnificent filled with lovely flowers and so many places to sit and relax. The beach is right outside the garden gate, be sure to bring your snorkel gear! Also bring your water or kayak shoes as the shores of Puerto Rico are not all sandy. We enjoyed our evening meals watching the sun set when we didn't want to go out to eat; as well as waking up to the many amazing natural sounds of the Island. Very private spot away from the crowds, I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a get away. The veranda was awesome and there was a large table to eat your meals outside if you wish. Our veranda also had a couch and 2 relaxing chairs to enjoy. Snorkeling at Steps Beach which is to the left of the villa walking on the sand is a must. To the right was about a 3/4 mile walk to the lighthouse and a bit further was Domes Beach. You can hop in the car and be at the Shipwrecked restaurant in less than 5 minutes. Florie and Hiram were really fun and their parrot was a riot. We have many photos to send them. Great spot to explore the west coast and you will love coming back to the villa each night as it is the best spot in Rincon. Rental car is a necessity.
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Date of stay: July 2013
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â We chose the upstairs room that overlooks the gardens and pool. Bring quarters for the washer...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Rincon area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
villa ensenada hotel rincon
LOCATION
CaribbeanPuerto RicoRincon
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
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