Puerto Rico beaches are some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. If you are planning a trip to this paradise island, chances are spending heaps of time on the beach is part of the plan!
The island has hundreds of miles of coastline and houses beaches with the most beautiful turquoise waters and fine sand extending to the Caribbean sea and Atlantic ocean.If you’re planning a beach destination vacation, chances are you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed planning your beach itinerary. Puerto Rico beaches are some of the best and most diverse in the world. To make your life easier, we put together a list of the best beaches in Puerto Rico you should check out during your visit.
The Best Beaches in Puerto Rico
Playa Flamenco (Flamenco Beach)
This beach is referred to by the locals and fluent Spanish speakers as Playa Flamenco, Puerto Rico. Playa Flamenco is located in Culebra, Puerto Rico, about 17 miles east of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and one of the most famous beaches in Puerto Rico. Culebra is a small, peaceful island commonly visited just for the world-renowned Flamenco beach. This beach is an absolute must on your Puerto Rico itinerary.
Playa Flamenco is one of Puerto Rico’s amazing white sand beaches with azure-toned waters. The beach has a ton to offer, especially if you like outdoor activities. The island surrounds over twenty coral reefs which are home to vibrant marine life. To snorkel here is an absolute treat. The crystal clear waters ensure that you see all of the beautiful wildlife. If you enjoy hiking, you will find lots of trails through the lush tropical rainforests at the island’s national wildlife refuge to find adventure!
Playa Jobos
Located on the island of Isabela, Playa Jobos is a favorite for tourists and locals, especially those looking for a beach with many bars and restaurants. Sunrises in Jobos are a dream, and a great way to welcome the sun is by taking a stroll on its boardwalk, which offers breathtaking ocean views.
Another great activity is walking the Paseo Lineal trail. This trail leads right to the beach. If you enjoy water sports, Jobo’s has many adventurous activities such as paddleboarding, water surfing, snorkeling, and more.
Playa Crash Boat
Located on the western side of Puerto Rico in Aguadilla, Playa Crash Boat is one of the most popular Puerto Rico beaches and the go-to for enchanting sunsets at its pier. Aguadilla’s crash boat beach features stunning turquoise waters, so swimming and surfing here is a real treat.
Crash Boat is for you if you’re looking for a poppin’ party scene! This beach is known for its great party atmosphere, lots of rum, music, and food stands lined around the pier.
Playa Negra
Playa Negra, or Playa Negrita, which means the Black beach, is located in Vieques as is known for its black sand. This beach is unique because of the black sand and volcanic material that washed onto the beach. Tourists call this beach Black Sand Beach Puerto Rico, which allows us to experience a beach with black sand without traveling to Hawaii.
There are many people that do not even know that Puerto Rico has a black sand beach. The black sand beach has recently become more popular and is now considered a beach visit you do not want to miss.
Domes Beach
Domes Beach is located in Rincon and is widely referred to as one of the best surfing spots in Puerto Rico. It is located right next to the Punta Higüero Lighthouse, which is why many locals refer to it as “lighthouse beach.”
The water provides such great waves that many surfing competitions are held here. It offers excellent waves all year long, with the best waves being in the winter months. This beach is perfect for surfers or for people who would like to spectate.
Tortuga Beach
Tortuga Beach is on the island of Culebrita. This beach gets its name from the large population of sea turtles that visit its coast. The beach has calm deep blue water and soft white sand and is considered the main beach of Culebrita. There are fantastic snorkeling opportunities at this beach due to the shallow, natural pools full of diverse wildlife.
This beach is remote and gives “off the beaten path” vibes. So if you want a more private beach experience, this is one of the perfect Puerto Rico beaches for you to visit. Keep in mind that since this beach is remote, there are no amenities available, and you will need to pack everything you will need for the entire beach visit (beach chairs, food, water, trash bags, towels, etc.).
Sun Bay Beach
Sun Bay Beach is a 2-mile beach found on the Isla de Vieques. The island is famous for its bioluminescent bay, Mosquito Bay, but most visitors relax on Sun Bay Beach during the day.
Sun Beach Bay is the only beach on Vieques with facilities such as lifeguards, showers, and food stalls. This beach has calm waves, but there is not much wildlife found in the waters, so if you are a snorkeler, you may want to visit another beach.
Beaches in Cabo Rojo
Cabo Rojo is a beach town on the southwest coast of San Juan. The town of Cabo Rojo is known for its natural beauty landscapes, such as hidden beaches and wildlife reserves. It is home to the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge and is the habitat of many tropical and native bird species. This town is a popular spot amongst locals and tourists. Cabo Rojo means “red cape,” referring to the pink to red colored water in the salt flats area. It is the best place to enjoy a sunny day on the beach in Puerto Rico.
Pink Lakes in Puerto Rico
Besides the typical pristine Puerto Rico beaches with crystal clear waters, Puerto Rico is also home to pink lakes referred to by tourists as the “pink beach.” The pink lakes are located at the Las Salinas Salt Flats in Cabo Rojo. A fun fact about the pink color of the water: the water is pink due to the high concentration of salt. Salt is frequently mined from the flats regularly. The best time to see the beautiful pink water is on a sunny day on any day of the year.
This beach is not to be confused with the Pink Sand Beach in the Bahamas, only the water is pink. If you are looking for pink sand, you will have to go to Pink Sands Resort in Harbour Island, Bahamas.
Balneario de Boquerón (Boquerón Beach)
Balneario de Boquerón, or Boquerón Beach, is located in the coastal city of Cabo Rojo. This area is perfect for getaways and family vacations because there are many villas and beach houses for rent near the beautiful beach.
Boquerón beach is one of the most visited Puerto Rico beaches and has been awarded for meeting strict water quality and safety standards. Many visitors dedicate an entire visit to Boquerón Beach due to the availability of nearby activities and a family-friendly environment.
Playa El Combate
Combate Beach is part of Boquerón National State Forest and features stunning natural vistas and world-renowned snorkeling. Visitors can go on diving adventures thanks to the area’s extensive reefs. This beach is a favorite for visitors because of the popular activity of leaping from the pier! If you are looking for fun and plenty of action photo shots of you jumping off the pier, then this is one of the best Puerto Rico beaches for you.
Playa La Playuela (Playa Sucia)
La Playuela translates into the “ordinary beach,” but this beach is far from ordinary. This beach is one of the most beautiful Puerto Rico beaches. This beach is commonly called “Playa Sucia” and is next to the Cajo Rojo Los Morrillos lighthouse.
Featuring jaw-dropping views of the ocean and lots of wilderness to explore, this beach is included in Cabo Rojo’s nature reserve, and it guarantees a quiet escape if that is what you’re after.
Playa Buyé
Playa Buyé is a hidden gem in Cabo Rojo and is an ideal place to go if you’re after a low-key beach experience.
Boasting crystal-clear waters and fluffy, beautiful golden sand, a day spent at Playa Buyé makes for the perfect nature and relaxation combo. This beach has mangroves to explore local wildlife, a secret trail leading to a secluded, hidden beach, and many opportunities to explore Puerto Rico’s nature beyond its popular tourist highlights.
Due to its low-key, secluded status, there are not many amenities or services available at Buyé. If you visit, you want to ensure you bring enough water, food, and supplies you will need for a day spent here.
Best Beaches in San Juan Puerto Rico
Isla Verde
The Isla Verde beach is a Puerto Rico beach with a long shoreline that stretches several square miles. Close to the airport, this San Juan Puerto Rico beach is popular amongst visitors and constantly ranked as one of the best beach experiences in the Caribbean due to its multiple food options, fun activities like parasailing and jet skiing, and various watersports.
La Posita
If you are looking for a beach with calmer tides, you should check out La Posita. La Posita is a quiet beach in Loiza, just a 30-minute drive from San Juan, the mainland.
La Posita’s stretch of beach makes for a peaceful day. Moreover, its waters are calm, making it a great destination to visit with kids near the city of San Juan. The name La Posita translates into “pool” or “puddle,” which is attributed to its pool-like, calm waters.
Luquillo Beach
Luquillo Beach is just a half-hour drive from the San Juan Puerto Rico airport (SJU) and is located on the northeast side of Puerto Rico island, northwest of Fajardo, and east of Río Grande.
One of the best things about Luquillo Beach is that it is close to the mountains and El Yunque National Forest. This makes the beach an ideal location for adventurers and outdoors people alike. Luquillo beach is perfect for water activities and has equipment rental options to make the day even more fun. You can rent equipment such as surfboards and even jet skis. You should try to take a break from studying and entrust your writing tasks to professional essay help at https://essaynow.net/. Many students order high-quality papers on this service and get high marks while relaxing on the beach.
Condado Beach
Condado Beach is located in El Condado, a district of Santurce in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This beach is the ultimate destination for travelers looking to have the ultimate Caribbean experience close to entertainment and vibrant city life.
Everything is within walking distance of this beach, with hotels, restaurants, boutiques, and clubs located nearby. If you are looking for a quiet, calm beach, this is not the one for you as it is very busy, crowded, and a popular spot for all tourists.
Ocean Park Beach
Ocean Park Beach is a large public beach located in Ocean Park, a neighborhood of the barrio of Santurce in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This quiet small neighborhood is between the two main tourist beaches of San Juan: Condado Beach and Isla Verde.
If you would like a similar experience to Condado Beach but with less crowd, you should visit Ocean Park Beach or Playa Ocean Park. It has a calmer vibe and is very popular with tourists and locals who like to kite surf.
Best Puerto Rico Beaches
I hope this list of the most beautiful Puerto Rico beaches helps you plan the perfect Puerto Rico beach itinerary and list of things to do in Puerto Rico! Whether you’re looking for a party beach to enjoy with friends, a calm spot to enjoy with your family, or a destination-packed, scenic drive, Puerto Rico’s got a little bit of everything. You’re guaranteed to find a beach to fit your needs and wants regardless of the experience you’re after.
Have you or anyone ever visited any of these beaches in Puerto Rico? Tell us which one was your favorite. Please tell me your top picks in the comments below!
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This article originally appeared on The Impulse Traveler.
Wow! I can’t believe how many beautiful beaches there are in Puerto Rico! My favorites are La Playuela and Playa Negra. They are so unique and perfect for a summer vacation. Thanks for sharing this article, I am inspired to visit Puerto Rico ❤️
This Is A Great Article And As A Puerto Rican I Have Been To Many Of Them Buy Do Want To Visit Others Mentioned Here. Thanks For The Article And There Is One Mistake And That Is That Isabela Is A Town Next To Aguadilla Not An Island. El Pueblo De Isabela Is A Beautiful Place And A Nice Attraction Is El Pozo Which Is Close To The Beach. La Playa Jobos Is Close By And La Morena Del Swing Songs There Often. A Perfect Weekend Would Be Going To These Three Places. Puerto Rico Is Such A Beautiful Island With So Many Beautiful Natural Places.