4 Best Hotels in El Yunque and the Northeast, Puerto Rico

El Yunque's southern edge is the setting for this eco-friendly hotel where guest rooms are simple (no phones or TVs) but comfortable, with tile floors, rattan furniture, and windows that show off one of the island's best views. If you're up for a hike, set off on your own for a short one or hire a local guide for a day-long adventure that takes you through thick rainforest to hidden waterfalls. If you'd rather relax, hammocks await on the tiled veranda. You must climb many stairs to reach the upper rooms; if this is a problem, request one on the lower level. The proprietor, who believes that healthy eating translates into healthy living, serves tasty and wholesome breakfasts. Light picnic lunches can also be ordered in the morning to take with you on hikes, and dinner is available for groups of four or more at the property's restaurant, a 10-minute walk down the road.

The buildings that make up this hilltop hotel offer lovely views of islands poking out of the Atlantic Ocean. A bit closer is the pool lined with shimmering aquamarine tiles, surrounded by gardens filled with wild ginger and other colorful plants. All rooms have simple furnishings and white-tile floors; some have balconies that let you enjoy the sunrise. Two restaurants, Starfish and Blue Iguana, can be found on-site, as well as a basketball court, a beauty salon, and minigolf for the kids. The closest beach—a five-minute drive—is the public Balneario Seven Seas, a favorite of locals and tourists alike.

This is an adults-only property with balconies overlooking the ocean and eco-friendly amenities. They have coffee and snacks in the lobby every morning and pool on-site. Rooms are basic but clean. Playa Fortuna is within walking distance and the Luquillo kiosks are also nearby. 

This cute little hotel is just west of the popular Luquillo Beach, but the hotel's own strand is nearly as nice and almost always deserted. The pastel exterior and balconies dotted with flowers add charm, although the sign off the kitschy boat-shape bar reading "Welcome to paradise" might be a bit on the nose. Spanish colonial–style barrel-tile roofs and white stucco walls surround modest guest rooms spread between two floors; upstairs ocean-view rooms, some with balconies, cost more but are worth the nominal upcharge. At high tide, the water meets the building off the backyard beachfront, and the adjacent patio offers killer views.