I wasn't expecting a Las Vegas-caliber cabaret performance -- or Southern cooking that rivaled anything I'd eaten in the States, for that matter -- just 15 minutes from Puerto Rico's El Yunque National Rainforest.
But I found both at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Rainforest Beach and Golf Resort, which recently completed a full renovation. I was an invited guest for the property's recent ribbon-cutting.
The resort sits on 600 acres and straddles nearly two miles of sandy beach; its 400 renovated guestrooms and 40 suites face either the ocean or the rainforest.
My Ocean View King Bed room on the sixth floor was bright and modern, with tan and blue hues that complemented the natural beach colors beyond the courtyard outside. Rooms start at 475 square feet, while suites like the top-end Governor Suite are up to 2,662 square feet.
First opening as a Westin property 30 years ago, the resort joined Wyndham's Grand Collection tier in 2007. In 2022, Miami-based investment firm LionGrove acquired it.
"We thought we could really reposition this resort to be something much grander than what it had been in the last 10 years," LionGrove COO Chris Sariego told me. "We saw so many opportunities on an already-existing building with great bones."
The Wyndham's $70 million renovation included the total makeover of all rooms and suites (adding 50 of each in the process); common areas, including the main lobby and entrance; pool areas; and all four restaurants as well as seven casual dining options and two lounges.
The new Vault Speakeasy Cabaret features performances that harken back to the Prohibition era. Photo Credit: Wyndham Grand Rio Mar
A bit of Vegas in The Vault
The casino also received a refresh, from new gambling machines to carpeting, and introduced sports betting. Even for nongamblers, it's worth setting foot into the casino because it's the gateway to The Vault Speakeasy Cabaret.
Entering through a bank vault door into a dim room, I felt transported to both Las Vegas and the Prohibition era in The Vault. Dancers and musicians present burlesque performances entwined with Latin sounds and dance numbers that rival any show on the Vegas Strip, complete with feather wings, acrobatics, scant outfits and a rendition of the "Pink Panther" theme song on one particular night. The show is performed twice per night, and admission to the hourlong show is $55 per person.
The addition of The Vault and the renovation of Caicu, the hotel's tapas bar, are vibrant nightlife spots at the resort. The latter is where guests can head to order specialty cocktails and listen to a jazz band in an elegant atmosphere. On my visit to Caicu, I caught a Caribbean Series baseball game that was being shown on numerous big screens.
The adults-only Aura Swim Lounge features luxury cabanas and daybeds and an elevated menu. I ordered the Caribbean lobster-and-tiger-shrimp quesadillas, an item I didn't expect to find at a poolside eatery, while a DJ spun a mix of Latin and trance tunes. Cabana rentals at Aura start at $220 for eight people and require a minimum spend of $175 on food and beverage.
A Tiki Pool & Beach cabana, which is located between the pool deck and the beach. Photo Credit: Omar Perez
Something for the kids
The upgrades at the Wyndham aren't all geared toward adults. The resort kept families in mind, upgrading its family pool section by adding two waterslides at Turtle Cove Adventure Pool along with cabanas, the Coqui Cove splash zone for toddlers and a zero-entry pool. There are also new outdoor games and an expanded choice of daily all-ages activities, from trivia to football.
The resort also introduced the Xplorers Club for kids and adults of all ages, offering activities such as kayaking on the adjacent Mameyes River, which flows from the rainforest to the beach. There are on-site nature trail bike rides and hikes and guided tours where guides and a scientist impart their knowledge of wildlife, history and the regional environment. The resort also offers excursions to the nearby rainforest.
"The ecosystem that exists here is very unique," Sariego said. "It is the only resort that is so close to the rainforest and on the beach."
An Ocean View King Bed room. All rooms and suites were upgraded as part of a $70 million refit. Photo Credit: Wyndham Grand Rio Mar
Southern comfort
Despite my propensity for eating regional cuisine when traveling, I became a fan of Roots Coastal Kitchen. The concept of "Top Chef" alumni and James Beard Award finalists Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth, Roots serves Southern favorites with a Caribbean twist, like citrus-zested fried chicken, guava-glazed barbecue ribs and grits with pimento cheese and grilled corn.
For guests who prefer Boricuan flavors, Iguanas Cocina Puertorriquena fills that craving, serving Puerto Rican staples including mofongo and arroz con pollo alongside international dishes like salmon and steak. My skirt steak mofongo, made of fried green plantains and mashed with garlic and olive oil, was rich and filling, perfect after a busy day of burning calories.
The resort spotlights other cuisines like Italian (Palio) and Spanish (Amaya) in addition to standard fares (Seabreeze, 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill and Hole in One Bar & Grill).
Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Rainforest Beach & Golf Resort is about 30 minutes from San Juan's Luis Munoz Marin Airport and is accessible via third-party shuttles, Uber rideshare or taxi. Enterprise Rent-A-Car also has an on-site kiosk.
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Clarification: Breakfast is no longer served at the Marbella restaurant; breakfast is now at Roots Coastal Kitchen.