Fajardo, Puerto Rico

[Tanked]

Ok so I've booked the flight, now I need to find a hotel. The wife and I are looking at El Conquistador.
Anyone familiar with this place, or any other recomendations?

 

[irmo]

Beautiful hotel, cool pools and bars, they have a ferry ride out to their private island with a nice beach (Palomino). It's a high end resort so you will pay high end resort prices.....for everything. If that's OK for you, then you'll probably love it. I haven't stayed there in a number of years, but stopped by to check out the casino over Christmas. Not sure what else is in Fajardo. The Fajardo Inn is a small parador. You could check Luquillo too, right next to Fajardo, really nice public beach.

Are you diving out of Fajardo? If you don't have a place to stay yet you could check out Culebra or Vieques, two small islands a ferry ride from Fajardo. They have guest houses and small hotels.

These guys have a guest house associated with their dive operation.
Culebra Divers in Culebra, Puerto Rico

 

[ScubaSteve]

I dove out of Fajardo (dive sites were - The Slide, Lobos, Gypsies Reef, The Wall, Spurs & Grooves) but never made it to Culebra. 7 years ago it was described as "just as good as the GBR" (I cannot confirm that but that is what a family member said).

 

[jlevine]

I stayed at the Fajardo Inn. It was clean and decent. I would stay there again. You can find specials on their web site. I believe they have packages with one of the local dive shops. I did not dive while I was in Fajardo. You will be fairly close to Luquillo beach (and the food kiosks!) as well as the El Yunque rain forest. You will also be about an hour from Humacao which I have heard has better diving.

 

[irmo]

I've heard the same thing Jlevine said regarding Humacao dive sites. Sea Ventures is a dive shop that runs dives from both Fajardo and Humacao (Palmas del Mar). They start dive trips from Humacao 30-45 minutes later so you don't have to get up much earlier due to the extra drive time. Sea Ventures:

Scuba Diving Puerto Rico's Caribbean with Sea Ventures Dive Centers- Fajardo, & Humacao, Puerto Rico

 

[Tanked]

Thanks for the input. Looks like we'll be going to the Gran Melia. They have a nice dive boat, and they pick you up at the hotel.
And there is penty to do for my non diving wife

 

[irmo]

Sounds really nice, but pretty expensive at $145 for a two tank dive. That's even higher than Conquistador. The Gran Melia is one of the newer resorts in the Rio Grande area and is supposed to be beautiful. Please post how the diving experience is when you return. I stay in Ro Grande when I go to PR, but I haven't heard much about the diving off the north coast. Usually East, West, or South is favored for diving. I'm a beginner though so I'm pretty happy just to get in the water.