Luquillo Beach

Puerto Rico has great beaches for sunning and clean and warm waters for swimming. Along the island's 365 miles of coastline you will find beaches dotted with swaying palms and sandy ones that offer lots of privacy. The palms, symbols of our tropical paradise, form a graceful silhouette against the blue Puerto Rican sky..The mild tropical ocean temperatures lure beach lovers year round...The west coast near Rincon offers some of the finest conditions for surfing such as the Punta Higuero Beach on route 413, said to be one of the best surfing spots in the world. The north coast is a favorite of windsurfers.

Overwhelmingly the favorite fun in the sun, swimming can be enjoyed in the Atlantic or the Caribbean.You will find all kinds of sandy beaches, organized or deserted. By law, everyone may be used by the public.The high-rise San juan hotel "strips", regardless of how clean the blue-green ocean may be, hardly provide the feeling of truly tropical basking and bathing. For that, you have to go out on the island...

The 13 government developed beaches (Balnearios) may feature lifeguards, changing rooms, lockers, showers, snack bars and and picnic areas.There's a nominal charge for parking and facilities. Mondays are typical closing days.

The Condado, Escambrón and Isla Verde Beaches in San Juan are the most frequented. Good snorkeling is possible and rental equipment is available for water sports at both. They are very overcrowded , especially on Saturdays and Sundays, mainly with the younger crowd. Ocean Park and Park Barbosa are more to the east of the Metro Area and are not so crowded.

About a mile and a half from Boca de Cangrejos is a popular surfing beach called Aviones that has the best and most consistent waves in the San Juan area.

Luquillo, with its attractive seaside coconut grove and long row of colorful native snack shacks , is the best known. About 30 miles east of San Juan, it's reasonably accessible from most hotels and included in group tours. It can also be crowded but more with family groups.But those who prefer sand that's deep and soft will have to go farther afield.

Playa Tortuguero is close to Tortuguero Lagoon and curves for a mile along the road. Los Tubos, a surfing beach with rideable waves most of the year, is at the eastern end of that beach.

Several large grottoes, blackened by picnic fires, provide unique shelters on the road behind jewel-like Mar Chiquita, some five miles west of Playa Tortuguero in Manatí(off road 685). A tiny bay fans into the coast; two sets of dune rocks close off all but a funnel of water from the sea. The bay is usually calm and crystalline. There is something for eveyone at Mar Chiquita. Fisherman and sea watchers roam the jagged rocks, waders use a shallow inlet..Snorkelers circle pieces of coral. Surfers ride the surges of water between the rocks, and divers leap from the ledges. Alga-covered reef in the water doubles as a slide.Somewhat to the east you can find Playa Kahlua, a mile of practically deserted beach...

Los Tubos Beach, off road 686 hosts a well-attended beach festival every Summer; otherwise these beaches are used primarily by local residents.

Boquerón in the south-west, Añasco near Rincón in the west coast, Vega Baja in the north and Caña Gorda near Guánica on the south are among the best.

But for the ultimate in paradise beaches, aficionados should head for the off-islands: Culebra for the magnificent, white powder sands and driftwood of Flamenco Beach and Vieques for Sun Bay's 3 miles of dazzling white sand and Bahía Media Luna and Bahía Novillo beaches.

Except where natural or hotel-built reefs provide protection, the island's northern Atlantic coast offers surfy swimming which can be a bit dangerous for children or inexperienced adults. Undertows and currents are less serious around the rest of the island.

The following public beaches have Balnearios:

Punta Salinas(Route 868, Catano)
Escambrón(Puerta de Tierra,San Juan)
Isla Verde(Route 187, Isla Verde)
Luquillo(Highway 3 , Luquillo)
Seven Seas(Route 987, Fajardo)
Sun Bay(Route 997,Vieques)
Punta Santiago(Highway 3 , Humacao)
Punta Guilarte( Highway 3, Humacao)
Boquerón(Route 101, Boqueron)
Añasco( Route 410, Anasco)
Caña Gorda( Route 333, Guanica)
Cerro Gordo( Route690, Vega Baja)
Sardinera(( Route 698, Dorado)

For more information about the island's many beaches, call the Department of Sports and Recreation at (787)722-1551
 
 

Añasco Beach

Jobos Beach

 
Vieques
Condado Beach
 

Puerto Rico-Boriken