Villalba: A Unique Honeymoon in the Mountains
Our honeymoon in Villalba, Puerto Rico was a peaceful getaway that we remember with fondness. After our destination wedding, which you can read about here, we were ready for some alone time. Villalba is a mountainous region in the Central part of Puerto Rico. Due to its rugged landscape and winding roads, Villalba is not as popular with tourists (who tend to cling to the conveniences of larger cities). Villalba, with its quiet, pristine landscape, was just what we were looking for in a honeymoon destination. Villalba provided an exotic tropical escape that the two of us could share together without distractions.
After our wedding, we spent a few days with family at a beach house in Rincon. We used that time to snorkel, laugh, cook, eat, and drink together as a family. It was a special end to a magical wedding week. Afterwards, we were ready for some alone time as newlyweds- just the two of us. We booked a cliffside stay in the mountains of Villalba.
Coquis (Puerto Rico’s national frog) sang in unison as we drove up the very windy road to our Airbnb- “Rancho Esto Es Vida”. This stunning Airbnb is cleverly built into the side of a mountain, with a 360 degree view of the tropical vegetation and the valley below. We arrived in the evening and the whole ranch was twinkling with hanging lights. On our beds were carefully folded towels and robes. It was completely open-air; only our bedroom had walls (and air conditioning), for which we were grateful. Even in the evenings, the Puerto Rican humidity can be intense. We closed our eyes with dreams of the views we would see when we woke.
In the morning, the sun shone through our bedroom window and gently warmed us awake. The bedroom led out onto a wooden deck surrounded by lush greenery. On the deck, views opened up to a valley below with a bright blue river that snaked through the entire landscape. I spent an hour or so on this deck, soaking in the sun and relaxing. Also on this level was a hot tub- we agreed to give that a go later in the day. First, we wanted to check out the rest of this unique property.
"Rancho Esto Es Vida” is 3 stories. The first level is the bedroom and open-air kitchen. That morning, Luis woke early; he was playing music and cooking eggs in the kitchen. I groggily followed suit and made us some strong Puerto Rican coffee. We sipped it in the kitchen and stared at the view before us- green jagged mountains and a clear sunny sky. I felt like we were the only ones on earth- so high up in the clouds we might have reached heaven.
After our lazy breakfast, we descended the stairs to the lower level. Here, there was a full bar and deck area, equipped with glassware and a flatscreen TV. The rest of the day was spent drinking around the wooden bar, playing Marc Anthony concerts on YouTube and dancing on the deck as the sun sank down into the valley. We munched on crunchy Chuleta Can Can, a traditional Puerto Rican dish made of deep-fried pork. It was crispy, chewy, and comforting. We dipped the pork in another notoriously Puerto Rican fair- “mayo ketchup”. Chuleta Can Can is an interesting dish- the bits of fat on the top jut out in rows, resembling the frilly “Can Can” dresses worn by dancers. With our bellies full and our hearts happy, we headed to bed, all the while being serenaded by coquis hiding in the trees, too tiny for us to see.
The next morning, we headed to the third and lowest level of our mountain escape. It had a set of his and hers bathtubs. They were outdoors with a view of the mountains and lush greenery. The rain showerheads sprinkled down into the bathtubs, seamlessly blending us into our natural surroundings. We drank our coffee and sat in the tubs, relaxing and taking in the beauty all around us. Roosters crowed nearby, signaling the start of another peaceful day in the countryside.
While our Airbnb had everything we needed, the two of us can never sit still for long. So the next day, we ventured out for a day trip to the nearby town of Ponce. Ponce is often called the “Pearl of the South” and is the second largest city in Puerto Rico (San Juan being number one). We popped in and out of the many interesting museums- Ponce is known for having an abundance of them. One of my favorite places we visited was called “Centro Cultural de Ponce Carmen Sola”. This building alone was enough to take our breath away with its colorful walls and Spanish-style courtyard. Paintings displaying daily life and cultural events hung on the walls in the gallery. They told stories of Puerto Rican heritage and history. Luis and I learned a lot here and afterwards we both agreed we were glad we stopped in. After a refreshing dish of gelato and a stop for pictures at the famous “Parque de Bombas” fire station, we headed back to our Airbnb.
Once again nestled into our cliffside abode, we spent our last evening hunting for Coqui frogs. Chasing their high pitched chirps, we looked under plants and chairs and laughed when they nimbly evaded our grip. We sat in the hot tub and stared at the stars, listening to music and reminiscing on our whole trip around the island.
Villalba was the perfect end to a perfect trip. We felt isolated in the best way, just us surrounded by nature, and relaxed together after a very busy wedding week. It was a tranquil honeymoon on the Puerto Rican mountainside that will not be soon forgotten. We came back to the states refreshed and ready for our lives together as husband and wife!
Want to stay in this unforgettable Airbnb? Book it here!
