Destination | Rincon - at the Horned Dorset

The assumption I previously had about Rincon was that it was an exclusive hide-away on the west coast. I was well aware of the world famous Horned Dorset Hotel and was looking forward to not only seeing it, but staying there, so that was my first call.

I took a direct flight out of JFK, which was quite convenient I might add. The Horned Dorset had a car waiting for me making my transfer seamless and easy. When I arrived I found myself in the middle of a BIG wedding celebration for the sister of the-one-and-only Ugly Betty! Everyone was having a marvelous time dancing under the stars in the courtyard outside the seaside restaurant. I was asked to plan a 40th birthday party in Rincon, Puerto Rico. Although it was not my usual type of gig, I gladly accepted as I had always been intrigued with Rincon.

The assumption I previously had about Rincon was that it was an exclusive hide-away on the west coast. I was well aware of the world famous Horned Dorset Hotel and was looking forward to not only seeing it, but staying there, so that was my first call.

I took a direct flight out of JFK, which was quite convenient I might add. The Horned Dorset had a car waiting for me making my transfer seamless and easy. When I arrived I found myself in the middle of a BIG wedding celebration for the sister of the-one-and-only Ugly Betty! Everyone was having a marvelous time dancing under the stars in the courtyard outside the seaside restaurant. The Horned Dorset lived up to its dreamy reputation. The architecture is wonderfully Spanish, the décor is exotic and the food is Relais & Chateaux mouth watering.

The couple celebrating the birthday enjoyed a day of beach and surfing before the big event as Rincon is most famous for its waves. Due to the convergence of the Atlantic and the Caribbean, it is a surfing Mecca. The beaches aren’t too shabby either, as a matter of fact, according to The Travel Channel, the beaches in Rincon are among the Top Ten in the Caribbean, as are the beaches on the Island of Culebra on the East coast of Puerto Rico. That may be reason enough to choose Puerto Rico as your wedding destination!

Although there are several nice hotels and resorts in the Rincon area, the couple chose one of many private villas for their celebration. The party began with tropical rum drinks by the pool that was decorated with floating candles and flowers. While the guests sipped their drinks poolside, the chef was preparing a traditional suckling pig on a spit in the yard. They dined on traditional Puerto Rican fare at a table that was designed like a seascape complete with an aquarium of tropical fish down the center. Then they danced to the rhythms of salsa and merengue until the wee hours of the night.

Once my duties were completed I set to work discovering more of Rincon. I found beach-side restaurants, several beautiful villas and eclectic hotels. There is something for everyone in Rincon. It is an exclusive hide-away for some and a fun and down-to-basics destination for those who want to surf and get to know the local people and culture.

When my time was up, I decided to take a short flight in a small plane, over the lush mountains to San Juan. It took a handful of minutes to arrive, which made me realize that a wedding group could easily incorporate both sides of the island into the itinerary. I caught another direct flight from San Juan back to New York, and was home in no time. Best of all…I did not have to go through immigration when I got back to the Mainland!