For a list of frequently asked questions, please visit the General FAQs page.

Pre-Arrival Message sent to guests

We welcome you to what we believe will be one of the most unique opportunities of your Airbnb life experiences! Refugio Mountain Retreat is located at 2,600 feet above sea level on a historic coffee farm, touting mild temperatures year-around and what other locals visitors have described as, "the best views on the island." True to its name, Refugio is a peaceful haven from the cares and stresses of everyday life. There is a very special, healing spirit here that we are eager for you to experience.

Our expansive property offers plenty of opportunities for solitude, relaxation, and outdoor recreation. You can enjoy a hike on one of our many miles of maintained trails, enjoy fresh bananas or other in-season fruit, or just relax on the large covered patio, drinking fresh spring water and taking in the panoramic views of the valley below.

Getting to our property will feel like its own adventure, truly giving you an exciting start to your stay. Typical of many Puerto Rican mountain roads, ours is narrow with a few rough sections (2WD cars normally do fine), and can be a challenging surprise for some visitors, but it is also what makes arriving at our mountaintop feel like a special accomplishment (and a true retreat)!

A couple days before your arrival, we'll send you a pin to our road intersection on the main highway, which is about 15 minutes from the house, along with further detailed instructions. If your car does not have AWD or 4WD, we have a safe location near the entrance to our property where you can park and ride the rest of the way up in our 4WD vehicle.

Jungle magic: The jungle comes alive at night with a symphony of music from the coqui frogs, Puerto Rican owls, and hundreds of other night critters that sing you to sleep in our screened, open-air environment.

What you will need: We are 30 minutes (6 miles) from Utuado and the closest grocery stores, which means that staying at the farm will require some planning ahead. Please bring plenty of food, as you will have plenty of space for food storage. We do not have TVs; bring anything you need to entertain yourself (books, computers, etc.). We also offer an assortment of books and games for guest enjoyment.

Other items: sunscreen, a swimsuit if you plan to utilize our river swim excursions, shoes suitable for hiking, a rain jacket (if desired), and make sure that you have enough gas in your car to get back to town.

What you can expect:

* Check-in is any time after 3:00 p.m. It's important that you try to arrive before dark for the best experience.

* Shared outdoor space. This is a permaculture farm that thrives with help from a small number of volunteers (one or two at a time). The general outdoor space (40 acres) is shared with the owners, potentially other Airbnb guests, and volunteers who live in separate spaces nearby on the property. Note: an additional Airbnb rental (a casita that sleeps 2) is located about 30 feet from the house you will be renting, but has an outdoor rooftop patio with a privacy wall. You have your own dedicated patio for eating and relaxing. Every effort is made to make sure you have privacy and a relaxed environment. There is plenty of outdoor space for everyone.

*There is sometimes a project underway so you may encounter occasional noise during the day.

*We have 3 outdoor-only friendly cats to help us keep jungle critters at bay.

*Weather. We generally enjoy sunny mornings with the possibility of short afternoon showers rolling through. Summer daytime typical temps low 80's day/ low 70s night. Winter daytime temps 70s/ low 60s night. You will want a long sleeve shirt or sweatshirt for the evenings if visiting from November - May.

*A slow pace suited for creative pursuits, reading, contemplating, and communing with nature. We have Starlink WIFI to support your personal screen devices.

* A spacious patio with expansive views, a hammock, and a swinging chair for eating /lounging outside and yoga; there is a second patio under a giant flamboyant tree for yoga or relaxation.

*As you would expect in any jungle experience, we have some seasonal biting insects, so we recommend bringing a long sleeve shirt and long pants for outdoor excursions.

Specialty services (refer to e-brochure link for full menu): A specialty spa with multiple affordable offerings such massages; sound healing therapy, and luxurious outdoor baths.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FayhhHuj4i2ObRwoWljc5j92p0pT9-6X/view?usp=drivesdk

We also offer miles of private hiking trails and customized day excursions to some of our favorite epic "locals-only" rivers and waterfalls (price dependent on length of excursion). E-brochure with color photos and info:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LeI9zkpyywXKLjNtsWRXZgw-h1jq0w6g/view?usp=drive_link

Rules and guidelines:

*Please respect people and property: do not destroy property, respect the plant life as we are working hard to plant a balance of food and beauty

*Quiet hours after 11pm

*Clean up after yourself, e.g. dishes and trash

*No pets

*No smoking indoors

*No fires without permission

*No additional day guests without approval

*Stay on designated trails

*No children under 8 without prior approval