Review of Caribe Playa Beach Resort Hotel in Patillas

If you want to get away from it all, enjoy a relatively secluded beach and a comfortable, affordable small hotel, this place is for you. Located in Puerto Rico's rustic southeast coast, Caribe Playa's main draws are its fabulous location, casual ambience and pleasant restaurant.

If you're looking for a chic boutique property with 100-count bedsheets and flat screen TVs, drive right on by the Playa Caribe Beach Resort. This hotel isn't your cup of tea. However, those of you who are looking for a quaint little retreat on the edge of Puerto Rico's Caribbean coast should check it out. What the Caribe Playa lacks in refinement, it makes up in plenty of beachside hammocks, budget prices, and an affable staff that will help you discover the surrounding area's secret treasures. The hotel is located in the small town Patillas, which is billed as the "Emerald of the South," or Esmeralda del Sur, and is a short drive from the town. (The name, in my opinion, is a bit over the top.) It's also near some of the lovely beaches that line Puerto Rico's southeast coast, a region known as "Porta Caribe." This part of the island is certainly more rustic than San Juan, and its main attractions are all for nature- and water-lovers. In addition to the beach, verdant mountains are nearby, with places to go to hike, relax, and even swim in natural pools.

The Caribe Playa also has a house restaurant that serves up quality fare, including mofongos filled with shrimp or fish, daily fish specials, and other seafood-heavy entrees typical of this region. Their breakfasts are pretty good too. But it's the near-private beach (technically, no beach in Puerto Rico is "private," but the crescent-shaped stretch of sand that lies at the foot of the hotel is pretty exclusive), with its irregular cluster of palm trees and native hammocks, that make this place a relaxing stop for the traveler who wants a quiet Caribbean escape.