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| Luquillo Beach and Kiosks |
Even on a cold, cloudy, seemingly murky day, a trip to the Luquillo Beach area can be a very
rewarding experience. That’s because the beautiful Balneario de Luquillo and its vicinity offer
beachgoers a lot more than just sand, water and palm trees.
The car-ride alone titillates the traveler’s senses, starting with the majestic views of the El
Yunque Rainforest that can be appreciated almost throughout the entire eastbound trip on
Route 3 from San Juan to Luquillo, first in the distant background when crossing through the
city of Carolina, and later in full-blown, life-sized proportions when passing through Río Grande,
home of El Yunque.
Located just off Rt. 3, the Balneario de Luquillo, also known as La Monserrate, offers the best
of both worlds: Visitors can enjoy the relaxing coastal scenery while gazing at the nearby
mountains.
And virtually anyone can delight in the warm sand and calm waters of this tropical paradise,
because the Balneario de Luquillo accommodates visitors with special needs, such as those
in wheelchairs. Located on the east side of the Luquillo Beach, the Mar Sin Barreras (Sea
Without Barriers) complex includes custom-designed facilities and equipment, and employs
trained staff to assist anyone who might need to use them.
People visiting the Luquillo Beach can also make good use of their camping gear, since this
Balneario includes a camping area where visitors can stay for a rate of $17 or $13 per tent per
night, with or without electricity, respectively. Those who like physical outdoor activities can rent
kayaks per hour for $5 per person.
Other amenities—such as restroom facilities, showers, gazebos, souvenir stands, as well as
police and medical emergency stations—are readily available.
As for food and beverages, there are plenty of kiosks around to guarantee no camper or
beachgoer will go hungry or thirsty during their visit. In fact, one of the more permanent stands
at the Balneario—Deliris Quick Lunch—even boasts having the “best piña colada in Puerto
Rico.”
“We’ve been moving around this Balneario for 25 years,” says Alexander Resto, an employee
at Deliris, although he says that for the past year they have been permanently located on the
small cement structure they share with another food stand.
Deliris Quick Lunch not only offers sweet piña coladas, but customers can also enjoy tangy
margaritas, as well as other alcoholic beverages and snacks, such as pinchos (kabobs) and,
of course, the delicious seafood fritters that characterize any trip to Luquillo Beach.
But the best fritters and seafood delights are served just outside the Balneario on a long strip
running parallel to Route 3 near the Luquillo Beach exit, where over 60 different shacks, stands
and small restaurants stand side-by-side, frying up typical Puerto Rican tidbits and serving up
ice-cold beers and drinks.
Their menus include bacalaítos (cod fritters), alcapurrias, empanadillas (beef, crab, chicken or
fish turnovers), piononos or canoas (made with sweet plantains and beef), refreshing seafood
salads (such as octopus or squid salads), as well as hearty dishes like arroz con gandules
(rice with pigeon peas) and lechón asado (roasted pork).
The kiosks open Sundays through Thursdays until midnight, and stay open until 2 a.m. on
Fridays and Saturdays.
The Balneario de Luquillo opens daily from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Admittance to the parking lot
costs $2/motorcycle, $3/car, $4/mini-van, and $5/bus. Tel. (787)889-5871. For Mar Sin
Barreras, call (787)889-4329. For Kayak Rentals, call (787)889-3161.
rewarding experience. That’s because the beautiful Balneario de Luquillo and its vicinity offer
beachgoers a lot more than just sand, water and palm trees.
The car-ride alone titillates the traveler’s senses, starting with the majestic views of the El
Yunque Rainforest that can be appreciated almost throughout the entire eastbound trip on
Route 3 from San Juan to Luquillo, first in the distant background when crossing through the
city of Carolina, and later in full-blown, life-sized proportions when passing through Río Grande,
home of El Yunque.
Located just off Rt. 3, the Balneario de Luquillo, also known as La Monserrate, offers the best
of both worlds: Visitors can enjoy the relaxing coastal scenery while gazing at the nearby
mountains.
And virtually anyone can delight in the warm sand and calm waters of this tropical paradise,
because the Balneario de Luquillo accommodates visitors with special needs, such as those
in wheelchairs. Located on the east side of the Luquillo Beach, the Mar Sin Barreras (Sea
Without Barriers) complex includes custom-designed facilities and equipment, and employs
trained staff to assist anyone who might need to use them.
People visiting the Luquillo Beach can also make good use of their camping gear, since this
Balneario includes a camping area where visitors can stay for a rate of $17 or $13 per tent per
night, with or without electricity, respectively. Those who like physical outdoor activities can rent
kayaks per hour for $5 per person.
Other amenities—such as restroom facilities, showers, gazebos, souvenir stands, as well as
police and medical emergency stations—are readily available.
As for food and beverages, there are plenty of kiosks around to guarantee no camper or
beachgoer will go hungry or thirsty during their visit. In fact, one of the more permanent stands
at the Balneario—Deliris Quick Lunch—even boasts having the “best piña colada in Puerto
Rico.”
“We’ve been moving around this Balneario for 25 years,” says Alexander Resto, an employee
at Deliris, although he says that for the past year they have been permanently located on the
small cement structure they share with another food stand.
Deliris Quick Lunch not only offers sweet piña coladas, but customers can also enjoy tangy
margaritas, as well as other alcoholic beverages and snacks, such as pinchos (kabobs) and,
of course, the delicious seafood fritters that characterize any trip to Luquillo Beach.
But the best fritters and seafood delights are served just outside the Balneario on a long strip
running parallel to Route 3 near the Luquillo Beach exit, where over 60 different shacks, stands
and small restaurants stand side-by-side, frying up typical Puerto Rican tidbits and serving up
ice-cold beers and drinks.
Their menus include bacalaítos (cod fritters), alcapurrias, empanadillas (beef, crab, chicken or
fish turnovers), piononos or canoas (made with sweet plantains and beef), refreshing seafood
salads (such as octopus or squid salads), as well as hearty dishes like arroz con gandules
(rice with pigeon peas) and lechón asado (roasted pork).
The kiosks open Sundays through Thursdays until midnight, and stay open until 2 a.m. on
Fridays and Saturdays.
The Balneario de Luquillo opens daily from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Admittance to the parking lot
costs $2/motorcycle, $3/car, $4/mini-van, and $5/bus. Tel. (787)889-5871. For Mar Sin
Barreras, call (787)889-4329. For Kayak Rentals, call (787)889-3161.
by Gabriela Gonzalez
DownIsland Staff
DownIsland Staff
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