Guanabara Park

The beach was wonderful, with clear water, though the sand got very hot. The apartments are on top of a hill, and walking down is fine. A taxi from the bottom costs just 2.50 euro. To reach Puerto Rico’s main area, ask for the shopping center, where the clubs, bars and restaurants are; a taxi costs 3.70 euro and is well worth it for families and couples. There are lots of Spanish families and children around, as 45 per cent of the apartments are owned by Spanish people. We might come back to the area, but not to Guanabara Park. The place was only partly clean. We went all inclusive, but it felt like a waste of money: there was no entertainment while we were there, and food and drinks stopped at 10 o’clock. There wasn’t much food choice. It wasn’t suitable for vegetarians, since veggie burgers were put with the meat. Breakfast was the same for both weeks, bacon, half-cooked eggs, beans, sausage, bread or toast, and stale cornflakes. Food left from tea one night was served again at dinner the next day. Tea started at 7, but if you arrived after 7:30 the food was cold and had flies on it, and no fresh food was made. Some bar staff and men at reception were unwelcoming and unhelpful, and the pool wasn’t the cleanest. Cleaners came every other day, but the towels had big holes. Sheets were changed only twice in two weeks, and otherwise they just made the beds. There’s no air conditioning to cool the room at night, so we couldn’t sleep with the windows open because they rattled.

The welcome was lovely, even though the woman who greeted us didn’t speak any English. She was warm and friendly, and they’d left sparkling and red wine, peanuts, olives, chocolate and more on the kitchen table. It isn’t a fancy place, but they know how to make people feel at home. Our apartment was modest, clean and cosy. Some rooms have been renovated, but ours was older, with worn furniture and cracked wardrobe doors. We weren’t expecting luxury. The area itself is lovely and really does feel like a park, with greenery everywhere and even succulents in the smallest spots. From our terrace we had a direct view of the sunset. Just be aware that it gets quite windy up there, and the steep slopes and stairs make it a poor choice if you don’t want to climb or walk uphill.

The last time I was there was when they built the natural park. Before that, I think my family and I visited around Christmas in 2004. It’s stayed in my heart ever since. I have a new family now and would love to share Guanabara with them. I often look around outside on Google Earth, and I promise I’ll come back as soon as I can. Sending my best to everyone there. Kristian from Tromsø, Norway.

Being up on the mountainside means it’s cooler than down in the valley, and the atmosphere is quiet and peaceful. The views are fantastic.