Beach mornings. Rainforest afternoons. Old San Juan dinners.
Rio Grande sits at the eastern edge of Puerto Rico, where the rainforest meets the Atlantic. Hillside is a few minutes from the sand and a 15-minute drive to El Yunque.
Las Picuas Beach
A hidden jewel in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico — about 5 minutes from Hillside by car. The beach is completely public with multiple access points along Camino Las Picúas, and usually deserted on weekdays. Facing the water, walk left (west, toward San Juan) for the calmest swimming water and a reef worth snorkeling. Walk right (east, past the Wyndham hotel) to reach the pretty mouth of the river — wander into the hotel grounds for a drink at the bar. In between, a shallow sandbar makes a safe play area for kids. Mornings are quietest, and sunrise from the sand is one of those simple Hillside moments — and from February through September, Las Picuas is also an active leatherback sea turtle nesting beach, so dawn walkers occasionally find fresh tracks in the sand.
El Yunque Rainforest
El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System — and it’s only 15 minutes from Hillside in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. Hike to waterfalls (La Mina, Juan Diego), climb to the El Yunque peak for 360° views over the Atlantic, swim in natural rock pools, and listen for coquí frogs at dusk. El Yunque hikes with kids are easy to find — La Coca Falls and Yokahú Observation Tower for any age, Mt. Britton Tower Trail as a two-hour reward hike for older kids. Free to enter and no reservation required as of 2026, though parking caps around 200 cars — arrive before 9 AM on weekends. See our local’s trail guide for which hikes are worth the effort and how to skip the Saturday line, and the details page for current fees and the FAQ.
Wyndham Rio Mar Resort
The Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spa sits right across the road from Hillside in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico — about 2 minutes by car. Their two championship golf courses (River Course + Ocean Course) wind between the rainforest and the Atlantic and are open to non-resort guests by tee time. Day passes to the spa, beachfront access, and restaurants (including Iguanas, the casual Puerto Rican cuisine spot) are also available to outside guests at normal resort rates. You can also watch the Wyndham fairways and the Las Picuas surf on the live cams before you go. Having a full resort next door means you can drop in for an afternoon round of golf, a spa treatment, or dinner — and still come home to Hillside.
Luquillo Kioskos
The Luquillo Kioskos are a long strip of about 60 open-air Puerto Rican food kiosks along the Luquillo waterfront — about 10–15 minutes east of Hillside in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. La Parrilla is the standout — more restaurant than kiosko, known for lobster cream and paella; Mojito Lab is the spot for flavored mojitos and a full menu of Puerto Rican plates. Order alcapurrias, pinchos, and fresh seafood from a few different stalls, grab a cold beer, and find a plastic-table spot facing the ocean. The beach is right behind — jet ski rentals from the sand and La Monserrate (Luquillo Balneario) a short walk away. Family-friendly during daylight hours, shifts to a more adult crowd after dark — a very Puerto Rican (and very touristy) rite of passage worth doing at least once per stay. For the rest of the area’s sit-down spots, see our short list of restaurants near El Yunque.
Old San Juan & Condado
Old San Juan is 45–50 minutes by car from Hillside in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico — easy enough for a sunset dinner or a half-day exploration. Cobblestone streets, El Morro fortress (Castillo San Felipe del Morro), Castillo San Cristóbal, and the colorful colonial blocks are the iconic Puerto Rico postcards. After dark, Calle San Sebastián’s bars (including La Factoría, six hidden bars in one) come alive — salsa nights run late Sunday and Monday. Condado is 35–40 minutes from Hillside — the beach-hotels strip with oceanfront restaurants, casinos, and the closest "big city" nightlife to Rio Grande, and you can peek at the Condado beachfront cam any time. Hillside is your home base, not your only stop — pack a change of shoes and stay until you’ve earned the drive home.
Everything within reach.
| Destination | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan (SJU) Airport | 22 mi | 30–35 min |
| Condado | 26 mi | 35–40 min |
| Old San Juan | 30 mi | 45–50 min |
| El Yunque entrance | 6 mi | 15 min |
| Las Picuas Beach | 0.5 mi | 5 min drive |
| Fajardo / bio bay | 13 mi | 25–30 min |
| Culebra / Vieques ferry | 17 mi | 30 min |