Top+5+Beaches

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Aguadilla, PR - Village of the Eye of Water
[] Christopher Columbus’s landing site in Puerto Rico is believed to lie in the Southwestern coast of Aguadilla. This was during his crew’s second voyage to the West Indies in 1493. Visitors today will find many a locale named after the explorer, whose name translates in Spanish to Cristóbal Colón. Most notable of these is the Colón Park, near the ocean. Aguadilla is also one of Puerto Rico’s world-class surfing locations, with beaches such as Gas Chambers, Wilderness, and Crash Boat. There is even an ocean-side boardwalk named Paseo de Surfers. The surfboards might make these beaches even more colorful, but it’s the underground beauty of the ocean –with wonderful corales and diverse marine life– that prompts Aguadilla’s title of “Garden of the Atlantic.” Its history aside, Crash Boat is now a peaceful spot better known for the abundance of colorful fishing boats strewn along its shore. Being a great locale for fishing, chances are you will run into local residents who make their living on the open waters of the Atlantic. Kayaking and snorkeling are popular activities here and several businesses conveniently located right on the beach rent out the proper equipment for these and other water activities. Crash Boat’s south side, meanwhile, benefits from calmer waters perfect for wading and relaxing. Although crowded on the weekends, and especially during the summer, Crash Boat can also provide the ideal romantic setting for an evening stroll. The multi-faceted Crash Boat Beach, said to be one of Puerto Rico’s “most photographed” locations, offers visitors

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 **Rincón Beaches & Surfing Hotspots Rincón, PR  **

Rincón is considered one of the premiere surfing areas on the globe and has been host to international competitions. As its Spanish name suggests, the municipality of Rincón can feel remotely tucked away in the northern corner of Puerto Rico’s west coast… but it is far from unknown. Rincón is considered one of the premiere surfing areas on the globe and as such has been host to several international competitions, including the 1968 World Surfing Championship, and more recently, the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship of 2007. Las Marías, Tres Palmas, and Domes are among the most famous surfing beaches in Rincón. These beaches are located in the ‘wilder’ stretch known as Sunset Coast, where waves range anywhere from 2 to 25 feet, sometimes more. And it’s no wonder then that surfers come here, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea, in search of a perfect wave. Domes is named after one of the island’s true oddities: a short-lived, dome-shaped nuclear reactor installed nearby and shut down during the 1960s. Tres Palmas, on the other hand, is also called Steps, or Playa Escalera, as the former refers to the area outside the surf break while the latter stands for the inside, an area which is sometimes too rough for swimming. Rincón’s beautiful beaches might be moody, but their beauty extends for miles, beckoning many types of visitors not intent on riding the waves. Snorkeling, scuba diving, and beach volleyball are other activities popular with the fairly active crowds. There are also interesting sites to step away from the sand, including a marine reserve and a historic lighthouse. Rincón might be known as “el pueblo del surfing,” but at the end of the day, everyone knows there’s a reason it is also called the town of beautiful sunsets.

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 * Rincón Beaches & Surfing Hotspots** **Rincón, PR**


 * Fajardo, PR - Metropolis of the Rising Sun** []

On the northeastern tip of Puerto Rico lies Fajardo, nicknamed the Metropolis of the Rising Sun (“del Sol Naciente” in Spanish). Fajardo attracts both local and foreign tourism for a variety of reasons, most of them related to the glistening ocean stretching out from its shores. First, there are Fajardo’s beaches. Balneario Seven Seas offers all the facilities one might need and its waters are calm, which allows visitors to fully enjoy many activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, and just plain swimming. Many businesses around Fajardo offer scuba diving tours for people who wish to venture further into the sea. The town also features great seafood everywhere you look, but the fishing village of Las Croabas is a sure bet. Sunset Snuba Balneario Seven Seas Bahía Bioluminiscente Laguna Grande

Luquillo, PR - Sun Capital
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A long row of tall coconut palm trees along the coast announces what is one of Puerto Rico’s best known and most popular public beaches, El Balneario de Luquillo. The crescent-shaped beach has many facilities that make it particularly appealing for family outings. Coral reefs abound and help keep the waters calm. The balneario also features an extensive “Sea Without Barriers” program, providing many services to visitors with special needs and facilitating access around the beach and to the ocean. And then there’s the food… Going to the beach usually involves throwing one’s cares to the wind. At Luquillo Beach there’s no way around becoming a cuchifrito addict – tourists with high cholesterol need not apply. Cuchifrito is the slang umbrella term for all kinds of typical Puerto Rican fritters. Tradition holds this was the way most African slaves ate in the island, magically reinventing the scraps and leftovers given to them by the Spaniards into a delicious meal. The fritters consists of an outer covering made from cornmeal, plantain, or potato (among many possibilities), and almost any kind of meat or seafood filling imaginable. A row of about 60 small food kiosks line the road in front of the beach, selling long lists of fun-sounding, delicious foodstuffs like bacalaitos, sorrullos de maíz, and empanadillas. For those in search of a more active beach experience, there’s also Playa La Pared. La Pared means “The Wall”… Considering that it is where many local surfing competitions are held, one can imagine that the waves can be challenging (Note: on average the waves here are considered medium-range). At yet another public beach, Playa Costa Azul, smaller crowds make for better snorkeling.




 * Boqueron Beach, Cabo Rojo**

[] Boqueron is another beautiful beach in the area, just 30 minutes up the road from La Playuela. Boqueron has the best balneario in the area and 5 km of out of this world beach. The sand, like on most beaches of Puerto Rico, is off-white. This is because of the great rock content. Not too much coral. Try the middle section of Boqueron. We found a lot of sea grass on both sides of the beach.

But do take the road down to the lighthouse and get out to see this beach. We're not sure why they call the area Cabo Rojo, which means Red Cape, or Red Handle. However, some of the sunsets here are breathtaking. And there are many places to stay the night, if you'd like. Awaken the next day refreshed to check out both land and sea. You're probably only going to see this once.

Hey, and if the kiddos are along, you're in for a treat. Boqueron has a nice playground with gazebos and a nice handicap sea ramp. Plus the bathrooms were downright clean!

Do yourself a favor and if you're out on this end of Puerto Rico, get to Cabo Rojo and drive along the coast. It's spectacular and worth the time.