Experiencing new things is part of what makes traveling fun. This includes tasting local flavors of fruit and foods. To get to try local flavors, and eat ice cream at the same time, now that is a vacation!

El Rinconcito Dulce is a small, local ice cream store in Rio Grande that makes their own ice cream. They make some unusual flavors, such as corn, peanut, guanabana (soursop), tamarind and almond. They also have some of the traditional flavors, including chocolate and Oreo, for the less adventurous.

Stop in and ask for some samples before deciding on your favorite. They had about a dozen flavors available the day we went, and I think we sampled just about all of them. We tried almendra (almond), mani (peanut), maiz (corn), guayaba (guava with white cheese pieces). The ice cream is of a more local variety. It’s a lighter taste - kind of a cross between ice cream and a sherbet. We ended up buying almond and peanut. Really good. We decided the peanut one would have been extra great if you added a chocolate topping!

The store is open from 1:00pm until 10:00pm daily.

They’re located on the marginal road just off the intersection of Routes 3 and Route 959 in Rio Grande. It’s a little green store next to the video and tropical fish stores. You’ll go right past it if you’re heading back to San Juan after going to El Yunque, Luquillo Beach, or Fajardo (though it will be on the other side of Route 3).

On Route 3, a pedestrian overpass and the Ceramic Bohio are landmarks for the intersection with Route 959. If you’re heading east on Route 3, turn right onto Route 959, and then make a quick right onto the little street in front of the buildings (that’s the marginal road). If you’re heading west on Route 3, you’ll be making a left onto Route 959, and then a quick right. Go on the marginal about 500 yards until you see the green building on your left.

If you’re going to be out west, by the caves, there is a larger, better known ice cream store, located in Lares, that sells lots of these odd flavors of ice cream.