J9859BRjosephs
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When my husband discovered El Hotelito, he knew he had to bring us all to Puerto Rico for the amazing experience of sleeping in a rainforest! My kids and in-laws took 4 large rooms full of fresh air with private balconies and the most amazing views of forest, ocean and islands; a vista that wraps around the horizon seen from El Hotelito. It is the perfect marriage of camping and comfort; not a generic hotel industry venue that separates you from the very place you came to see. The coqui sing you to sleep and beautiful green anoles sun themselves from your windowsill. Intermittent showers cool the air and leave rainbows arching from mountain to mountain. Days are warm and humid... jump in the pool! Evenings are cool and breezy, freely flowing through this open home, perfect for it's climate.||We spent a delicious and thankful Thanksgiving, loving it so much, we extended for an extra day and still wished we didn't have to leave. Rafi and Jennifer made us feel like welcomed friends, giving us as much attention or space as we would like. We really felt like it was a taste of what it could feel like to live in Puerto Rico. What a unique opportunity to disconnect from the buzz and connect with nature and eachother. Our rooms had glorious bouquets of flowers and even in November, the paths are lush with an array of dazzling tropicals. Rafi was like a safari guide, machete in hand, blazing a trail from the verdant forest that constantly reclaims what it can. His gentle dogs went ahead, and actually made us feel safer, having them on patrol in this rather wild place. The dogs are not overwhelming, but will visit you if you show and interest in them. Rafi treats you with the same courtesy and respect that you show him. He is genuine and has had fascinating experiences building and expanding his home and raising his family here. He is sharing his life and land with you. Come prepared to slow down and feel the natural pace. Feel good about being an ecotourist, leaving a smaller footprint in this wonderful land. No, there aren't a lot of paved roads and they follow the topography. This is the correct trend slowly being adopted by some cities. It allows the bountiful rainfall to seep in through catchments and helps prevent landslides, which are a common problem in Puerto Rico when steep land is cleared aggressively. That said, we did have a 4WD vehicle and arrived in clear daytime skies.|| We feel very fortunate to have discovered El Hotelito. It is a unique adventure for people who cherish new experiences and appreciate what nature has to offer rather than fear a touch of the wild. Honestly, how many opportunities are there to stay in a rainforest???