Destination Spotlight on Rincon Ocean Villa - Rincon, Puerto Rico
For couples considering a destination wedding that will exceed all your wildest expectations, we’ve found a perfect plot of paradise for you. Tucked away in the corner of Puerto Rico’s northwest coast lies the town of Rincón, an exclusive oasis unmarred by the plague of overdevelopment that has effaced the beauty of other Caribbean locales. Due to forward-thinking politicians, strict zoning regulations have been enacted to ban buildings over four stories high on the waterfront, and gestures like these speak volumes of the allure of Rincón. Here, in place of an odious strip of mammoth hotels, you’ll find intimate villas and resorts dotting the township. With tropical temperatures averaging 82 degrees, breathtaking views of jewel-toned sunsets, and secluded beaches laden with cobalt and cornflower-blue sea glass (rare hues that are highly prized among collectors), Rincón is a true treasure.
The city takes its name from a prominent 16th-century sugar-plantation owner, Don Gonzalo Rincón. Coincidently, the Spanish word “rincón” means “corner” or “niche,” and given its geography (the town is comfortably nestled in the spot where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea), the town is aptly named. When
Puerto Rico became a United States territory after four centuries of Spanish rule, very little changed for this Eden that time forgot until the late 1960's, when a handful of world-class surfers found their way to her shores and tourism began to flourish.
There are many lovely resorts to choose from in Rincón, so we turned to our resident expert on destination weddings, Lisa Light of DestinationBride.com, for her advice. Since nothing but the best will do on your special day, she suggested the Rincón Ocean Villa for an unparalleled retreat that boasts both seclusion and luxury. This 14,000-square-foot stunner, situated on 3.5 acres, was remodeled in 2008, and from the guest rooms to the opulent new bathrooms, not a single detail has been overlooked. The Rincón Ocean Villa offers 10 high-ceiling bedrooms that each open to a private balcony, which can comfortably accommodate up to 28 guests. Overlooking an impressive stretch of beach, the Spanish-style Villa is a cozy retreat complete with a breathtaking courtyard and an expansive 65-foot pool with Jacuzzi. The staff is friendly and attentive, and with the ability to cook in your room, you can make luxury affordable at the Villa.
Lisa, who recently stayed at the Rincón Ocean Villa, gave the newly remodeled amenities, and the city itself, rave reviews. “Rincón is a very laid-back surfing town, but it is also a celebrity magnet,” she says. “The nicest surprise you will find is that although the restaurants are ultra-casual, the food is fresh, fine, and over-the-top delicious. I am no stranger to gourmet food, but the food in Rincón seriously made an impression on me.”
Whether the local historians’ tales of pirate Roberto Cofresi’s treasure buried in Rincón’s hills and shorelines are true, we can’t say. But we do know that with the waves crashing in the distance and the sun setting behind the hills of Rincón Ocean Villa, we’ve found paradise on earth — that’s reward enough.
Leave your passports behind and indulge in a wedding to remember. Contact the Rincón Ocean Villa at www.rinconoceanvilla.com.
Photography: Click Photography
