When traveling, most of us would rather be lounging on a beach in the Caribbean than doing anything else. If that’s your case, you’re going to need some information on the best beaches Puerto Rico has to offer.
After all, you don’t want to wake up and go somewhere that’s not good. Of course, everyone’s definition of what makes a place special will vary slightly.
If you’re going to Puerto Rico for a vacation anytime soon, you should stop at these beaches. The island is also known for having many beautiful tourist spots, but if you don’t do your research before you go, it’s easy to miss some of the best gems.
Check out also: Best beaches in Florida
Best Beaches in Puerto Rico MAP
These are the top 10 beaches in Puerto Rico, and once you see them all, you will agree.
Crash Boat Beach
Located in Aguadilla, Playa Crash Boat is probably one of the most popular beaches in the area. Thanks to the numerous activities it offers, it is suitable for any kind of traveler.
Families with kids will appreciate the white sand and clear waters that are just great for swimming, fishing, or snorkeling. For divers, there is El Natural – a favored diving spot just a short distance away.
In winter, Crash Boat Beach turns into a surfers’ paradise. Even though it’s not as popular as other beaches, it gets rather busy with surfers during strong winds.
Facilities include restrooms, showers, and a parking lot. There is also a kayak and jet skis rental and a couple of restaurants and beach bars.
Flamenco Beach
This beach is located on Culebra Island, off Puerto Rico’s east coast. It’s one of the most popular beaches in Puerto Rico and is ranked as one of the best beaches in the world.
Flamenco Beach is known for its white sands, crystal clear turquoise waters, and relaxing atmosphere. There are also many restaurants and shops nearby where you can buy souvenirs or try local food.
The beach gets very crowded during peak season, so I recommend going there early if you want to enjoy it more peacefully and get more pictures without many people.
Flamenco Beach has been selected as one of the top beaches in the world by several publications, including Conde Nast Traveler. You can access it by ferry or plane. But be sure to book your ticket well in advance because they sell out quickly!
Flamenco Beach is part of the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge, so it’s protected from many of the adverse effects of tourism.
Pine Grove Beach
If you’re looking for a quiet, undiscovered beach on the east side of Puerto Rico, head to Pine Grove Beach. It is a city beach in San Juan located on the northern edge of Puerto Rico, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll have to walk over some rocks and past two other beaches to get there, but it’s well worth it.
This small beach has stunning views and plenty of space for relaxing. This beach is also known as Balneario de Piñones. It is family-friendly and excellent for swimming, sunbathing, and surfing. It is also close to Luquillo and El Yunque National Forest, and there are many hotels and resorts nearby.
You can find local food like fried plantains and pies at the food stand on the boardwalk. To relax after a day of swimming, you can get a massage on the beach from a licensed masseuse.
There are also two volleyball courts and a basketball court there. The best time to visit it is during low tide because it’s easier to walk out to the rocky point when there’s less water.
Luquillo Beach
The golden sands of Luquillo Beach, just east of San Juan, have been drawing visitors for years. The beach is protected by the U.S. Forest Service as part of El Yunque National Forest and it has restrooms, showers, picnic tables, and lifeguards.
Luquillo Beach is the most popular beach in Puerto Rico, located on the island’s northeast coast. You’ll find a vast stretch of golden sand, a variety of water sports, and plenty of palm trees to relax under.
The calm waters are perfect for swimming. You can also rent surfboards and snorkeling equipment from vendors along the shoreline.
Plus, there’s a small lagoon where kayaking is permitted. Nearby, you’ll find El Yunque National Forest, where you can hike through tropical rainforests to waterfalls.
If you get hungry, you’ll find food trucks serving local cuisine like tostones (fried plantains), alcapurrias (meat-filled fritters), and mofongo (mashed plantains with pork).
Seven Seas Beach
Located in the municipality of Fajardo, Seven Seas Beach sits off the northeast coast of Puerto Rico. The beach consists of three sections: a calm area for swimming, a shallow spot for snorkeling, and a rocky area on the east side.
Some of the best snorkeling spots in Puerto Rico can be found there, as there are over 200 species of marine life. The crystal clear water and soft sand make it a great place to swim or just relax on the beach as well.
Facilities include restrooms and changing areas, but no lifeguards are on duty there. You can rent tents, chairs, and umbrellas for a fee. The site is also known for its bike trails so that you can go for a ride in between dips in the ocean.
Caracas Beach
This beach can be found at the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge and offers excellent surfing conditions. If you’ve never surfed before and are looking for a place to learn, then this is it.
The waves here are great all year round, and the surroundings are beautiful, with palm trees and white sand as far as the eye can see. A small food truck can be found there. However, just to make sure, better bring your own food and drinks as this beach is very secluded.
If you’re not interested in surfing, then why not take advantage of the peacefulness of Caracas Beach? It’s a great way to get out on the water and experience one of Puerto Rico’s best beaches even from a shadow of a tree.
Playa Sucia
Playa Sucia is located on the tip of the island in the Cabo Rojo Wildlife Refuge. This is on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico. The beach gets its name from all of the shipwrecks that can be seen off the shore and are now covered in algae.
You can reach it by car from San Juan, but for a more relaxing beach experience, you can charter a boat out of Fajardo to get there.
Playa Sucia has crystal-clear waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling. There’s also an underwater cave with a small pool where you can dive into the world below.
A cliffside walkway takes you down to the sandy shoreline along Playa Sucia, where you can dip in clear waters or relax on the shady beach area. You can climb down to the water’s edge if you’re feeling daring and jump in.
The area is popular among surfers and windsurfers who flock here for fun on the waves (and maybe some sunburn :-).
Summer offers the best conditions for surfing. Offshore winds are from the west. It tends to receive a mix of groundswells and wind swells, and even when there are waves, it’s not likely to be crowded.
Jobos Beach
Jobos Beach is located in northwest Puerto Rico, near Isabela, Aguadilla, and Aguada. Among the best beaches in Puerto Rico, Jobos Beach is an idyllic little cove on Isla Verde. The water is calm and warm, making it suitable for swimming, snorkeling, and other water sports.
The shore is lined with coconut trees, creating a beautiful postcard-worthy backdrop. This beautiful beach is famous for surfing and is also a favorite among locals.
The best time to surf is all year-round. Swells are more consistent from November to March, but the surf is good most of the time. Jobos Beach offers a taste of all wave types: lefts, rights, peaks, and pointbreaks.
Some days you will find waves in the 3-5 foot range, while others, the waves can be 10 feet or more in height. There’s always a sound wave somewhere at Jobos Beach all year round.
Surf spots: There are five breaks at Jobos’ Beach that offer different types of locks for all levels of surfers, including beginners. The first break is on the left when facing the ocean and is a longboarder’s paradise — it’s perfect for riding longboards and bodyboards.
The second break is a short ride out and has a sandy bottom with low-speed rights (best for advanced surfers). The third break lies just past the second break and has a rocky bottom with fast rights and lefts (best for advanced surfers).
The fourth break has three reefs that create fast lefts and rights (best for advanced surfers). The fifth and final break is on the far right of the beach and offers long rides with fast lefts and rights (best for advanced surfers).
Tres Palmas Beach
Tres Palmas is located in the northwestern part of the island and is also known as the Northwest Passage — a stretch of coastline where waves can be more than 50 feet high. The area attracts surfers and swimmers alike, but you’ll find more boogie boarders and body surfers than beginners.
For years, many would drive right past this stretch of sand, passing the line of cars parked along Highway 115. Now, Tres Palmas Beach has become a household name in surfing. Consistent surf breaks and beautiful scenery make this one of Puerto Rico’s most popular surfing beaches.
The best time to visit is during the winter months (November to April) when the north swell brings some severe waves. Due to its location on the northwest coast, Tres Palmas shields itself from the trade winds through surrounding hills and mountains. This yields some severe waves that are perfect for longboarding and short boarding.
You’ll find locals and visitors alike getting their surf on at Tres Palmas Beach on any given day. It’s a great place to catch the action or get in on it yourself! If you don’t have your board, plenty of local shops in Rincon rent boards and give lessons.
Isla Verde
Experience a tropical beach in the heart of the city. This award-winning beach is popular with travelers because of its proximity to SJU Airport.
The golden sands of Isla Verde are lined with tall palm trees, hotels, restaurants, and stores, making it one of the most beautiful beaches in the metropolitan area.
This public beach has lifeguards, restrooms, and showers, and there are a number of restaurants right on the beach where you can grab delicious local food.
You can swim on the long stretch of beach, which has a fairly calm blue sea, or rest at the beach even if you are not staying at one of the resorts.
There are also a number of water sports available, including jet skiing and parasailing. The beach is also good for surfing, and if you do not know how to do it, local surf schools offer lessons.
Sun Bay Beach
Isla Vieques (Vieques Island), like Culebra, is a Spanish virgin island surrounded by beautiful stretches of coastline. Isla Vieques is 21 miles long and five miles wide and is only eight miles from the mainland of Puerto Rico. This is where the beautiful Sun Bay Beach is located.
With its expansive sandy beach, Sun Bay Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island and has plenty of parking and public restrooms and showers.
The island is also known for a unique phenomenon known as Bioluminescent Bay, which occurs on certain nights (Mosquito Bay).
When conditions are favorable, the water in the bay glows due to the movement of a high concentration of phosphorescent dinoflagellates. You can explore this natural treasure by joining a boat, canoe or kayak tour after dark.
Visit Puerto Rico Today!
So, if you’re looking at traveling to Puerto Rico and want to check out some beautiful beaches, these are definitely worth a visit. They are considered among the best beaches in the country. If you add a trip there to your club, you’ll be making an excellent choice.
These beaches will not disappoint travelers of any kind, whether they’re on vacation or live there and just want a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Take your pick and visit one or all of them to experience something special when you go. This is the place to be.