Casa Flamboyant

My husband brought me to Casa Flamboyant for my birthday. The place is magical! Never has one of my reviews deserved 5 stars as much as this place does! I wish I could give them more stars. Ricky (or as we referred to him, Rickipedia because he was full of knowledge about not only Puerto Rico but also the Caribbean as a whole) & Florin were tremendous hosts. But the end of our stay we felt as though we were staying with friends. I cannot wait to return! The house and its grounds are pristine, the rooms comfortable & the breakfasts were always local food & delicious. I cannot recommend Casa Flamboyant enough. Go, you’ll be glad you did.

From the moment you walk through its whimsical wooden gate the magic of Casa Flamboyant washes over you. The exquisitely maintained property features breathtaking flora at every turn. Orchids, bromeliads, lilies, and papaya, banana and citrus trees will captivate your gaze. Each room and common area are kept immaculate. Nothing is out of place.
Each room offers an astounding view of the rain forest. The beds are beyond comfortable, and the cool, perfect temperature of the rain forest comforts you in the night (humidity was no issue). The coqui frogs sing a sonnet each night that comforts you into a deep sleep. Be sure to let the shower run for a few minutes before you get in – the water is solar powered. Your patience for hot water saves the environment, so pat yourself on the back for being so kind and conscious.
If you’re a foodie, you will love, love, love the breakfast each morning. Fit for a king, Florin crafts a delicious breakfast that you’ll find yourself thinking about long after you leave. Florin belongs on the Food Channel. He’d be wise to start a food blog to share his talent with the world. The ingredients are top-​notch, from locally sourced fruits, juices and Puerto Rican traditional meals, to finishing touches like Himalayan pink salt and fruit-​infused syrups. I simply cannot say enough about the quality and taste of the breakfast. You certainly won’t be hungry for lunch, the serving size is filling. And you won’t find a kinder or more professional (or more handsome!) server than Ricky. His big heart and big smile will leave you smiling from within. Ricky takes time to explain every juice, fruit and detail of the main breakfast. The fantastic fruit plate that is served before the main breakfast inspired my husband and I to eat more fruit in our daily lives. The breakfast is truly inspirational.
The property’s trails are so much fun to traverse. We brought waterproof hiking sandals, which were perfect for the rain forest trails, but sneakers will do just fine (be prepared to hose them off, this is the rain forest, mud is unavoidable, but not so prevalent that you have to be concerned with slipping). The left trail is less challenging, yet isn’t a walk in the park — hikers of all ages and abilities will enjoy this trail. The reward at the end is a view of the beautiful, rocky river and waterfall. A waterproof jacket will keep you warm and dry. You would think the rain forest would be warm and muggy, but its actually quite cool and refreshing. Ricky and Florin’s dog, Obi, is the best tour guide one could ask for. He’s the sweetest dog and just loves to join you on the hike.
Each room features a DVD player and Casa Flamboyant’s DVD collection will not disappoint. From action to comedy to romance to indie movies, your only concern will be figuring out which movie to watch first. I’d recommend enjoying the property during the day and reserving the DVDs for after the sun goes down — you don’t want to waste a moment enjoying the property with the light of day.
We brought food from a local grocery store and found the small in-​room refrigerator big enough to hold our food, ginger ale, beer and rum for three nights.
The pool water is sourced from the mountain and feels refreshing. The temperature is cool and good for your circulation. The deck features comfortable lounge chairs, traditional chairs, a grill and tables to eat your lunch or dinner on.
Driving to the B&B is easy and straightforward (and quite a fun incline, yet not steep or sketchy feeling like some roads in Costa Rica). Grocery stores are nearby, so make sure to stock up before you arrive to avoid having to leave the property. This place is heaven on earth.
Casa Flamboyant is far beyond the most enchanting place I’ve ever stayed. I still daydream about the views, the flowers, the food, the great conversations with Ricky and Florin, and snuggles from Obi. Ricky and Florin are the kindest and coolest hosts imaginable. Their attention to detail and warm hearts made our stay among the most memorable of our lives. You won’t find kinder hosts or a more beautiful location in all of Puerto Rico (or a better breakfast!).

I can’t even express how wonderful our stay was here. If there were more starts, I would give them. Ricky, Florin, and Obi were the most amazing hosts. Everything in our room was incredibly thoughtful from the yoga mats to a lamp if we went walking at night, and the view was unbeatable from any room!
Breakfast was a delight every morning, fruits from the rainforest property and a delicious main course, enough for us to get past lunch most days! Our days were a mix of hiking to the myriad waterfall watering holes down the property and lounging around reading amongst the sounds of the rainforest. Pure relaxation and happiness, we will definitely be back again.

My wife and I travel a great deal. Our experience at Casa Flamboyant under the new owners surpasses any Ritz-​Carleton or comparable 5 star property. Ricky and Florin are great hosts with incredible attention to detail. While the setting at the edge of one of the America’s oldest national preserves is incredible, Casa Flamboyant offers a hospitality and friendship which goes beyond 5 stars.
The drive to Casa Flamboyant is full of switchbacks and hair pin turns, Ricky goes out of his way to anticipate all problems and questions in advance. Once you arrive, as my wife said upon meeting the hosts, they ‘had us at Hello.‘
The trails on property are steep, but well maintained. The vistas beyond belief.
Obi the owner’s rescue lab deserves a review of his own. He will accompany you on your on property hikes as well as greet you upon your return. If you don’t like Obi, well it’s just an impossibility.
Breakfast is wonderful. Locally sourced in challenging circumstances. Florin’s efforts to provide something unique and memorable are clearly evident.
The rooms are immaculate. Bedding luxurious.
A welcome winter trip. Well worth the effort.

Casa Flamboyant is a must go to… probably the most beautiful B&B in El Yunque rainforest… peaceful, glorious views, colorful flowers, a true getaway to disconnect from reality. Ricky and Florin are wonderful hosts who take great care of the beautiful B&B and property. The morning coffee and breakfasts are scrumptious, fresh fruit and creative dishes. Little special touches (L’Occitane soaps, shampoo and conditioner) that give you just that little something extra to make your stay even more special. The infinity pool is just enough for a cool dip after lying in the sun on the patio which looks out at the valley of the rainforest, with a perfect view of the ocean and the island of Vieques. There are a couple of walking trails if you feel like taking a hike through the forest to a beautiful natural pond with waterfall. Take a plunge in the refreshing pond! On the road to the Casa, you can stop at a little bar, Noella’s, and have delicious sangria. We did not have a chance to eat there, but we heard that they serve authentic Puerto Rican food that is very good. Couples… Casa Flamboyant is the place for you… a true romantic getaway!

Casa Flamboyant is incredible. Rickey and Florin and have seamlessly transitioned into the ownership of the B&B and are doing a beautiful job of it. Their doggy Obi is charming! The property is incredible and features two trails to water falls and swimming holes. The view is breathtaking. Breakfast was delicious, local, and creative. Dietary restrictions are honored!

Shirley and her Casa Flamboyant are a «must stay» place in Puerto Rico. Located on the edge of El Yunque National Forest, it’s as close as you can get to spending the night in the rainforest. The night sounds are fabulously beautiful and you awake in the morning to the sounds of flocks of birds.
Stay in the Rainbow Room if you can. The view is amazing! Shirley is a talented cook and gracious hostess. Sit on her front porch and eat breakfast while watching a waterfall: magical!

Casa Flamboyant is as amazing as it sounds. It’s basically a B&B in the middle of a rainforest. It has three rooms (not counting Shirley’s room) and doesn’t allow kids so it’s pretty easy to just sit and enjoy the tranquility. There are a couple hikes you can take — one is a shorter hike down to a cascade/​mini waterfall where you can swim, the other is more of a hike along the side of the mountain. I stayed two nights with my girlfriend and we both felt amazingly relaxed by the end of it. The views are amazing and you feel completely separated from the comings and goings of everyday life. Shirley made a nice breakfast for us on both days and there is a nearby local food place for dinner, we brought our own food for lunch. Our room was nice and the bathrooms are modern, so absolutely no issues with the accomodations themselves (expect typical neat B&B rooms, not the Hilton, obviously).
Other things:
— Getting there requires a bit of a drive away from San Juan and up the mountain. There aren’t many roads so it’s pretty easy to find your way but you definitely would want a rental car and not a taxi. The roads are narrow and full of twists.
— The coqui frogs do, in fact, chirp all night. I thought this was part of the serenity but I could see someone being annoyed by it if they are a very light sleeper.
— There are two friendly dogs on the property.

Shirley is amazing. Her dogs Soma and Blackie are equally amazing. Her property is situated on the side of the mountain in the El Yunque Rainforest. Her house is beautiful as are the rooms. We stayed in the Ginger room, which has an amazing view of a waterfall and the lush flora of the rainforest. The sounds of the coqui will lull you to slumber.
On her property is a short hike to two swimming pools. The water rushes in from the natural spring and is cool and refreshing.
Shirley will make you breakfast in the morning and also serves coffee and tea. The food was amazing… some of the best I’ve ever had. She made us french toast the first morning with bacon and fresh fruit. DELICIOUS. Perfectly cooked and the flavor was amazing. The second morning she made a fabulous quiche. My boyfriend doesn’t usually care for quiche, but thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Overall, this was a spectacular stay. Shirley was a breath of fresh air to talk to and she opened her house with welcoming arms.