Did you know that Puerto Rico has some of the best beaches in the Caribbean? With over 270 miles of coastline, you can visit several magnificent beaches here.
Whether traveling solo, as a couple, with family, or with friends seeking an adventure, the variety of beaches in Puerto Rico cater to every kind of traveler. Some popular beaches include Flamenco Beach on Culebra Island, Luquillo Beach on the mainland, and Playa Sucia in Cabo Rojo, among many others.
The Best Beaches of Puerto Rico
Laze around in the afternoon sun, build sand castles, go for a swim, or enjoy some water sports and activities on the best beaches of Puerto Rico. Here’s where you should head for your Puerto Rican beach getaway:
Flamenco Beach
Flamenco Beach is located on Culebra Island, about 17 miles east of Puerto Rico, and is a tropical paradise in the archipelago. It’s a picture-perfect location, with sparkling white sand and crystal-clear water that turns different aquamarine shades throughout the day.
This beach is consistently ranked among the best beaches in the world. If you’re a beach bum, you’ll love Flamenco Beach with its shady palm trees and the sight of lush green mountains.
You can go snorkeling, swimming, and sunbathing on this beach. The various facilities include restrooms, showers, food vendors, and even a campground area where you can spend a day or two in the serene outdoors.
There’s also the odd-looking military tank on the shore, abandoned by the U.S. Navy in 1975, now covered in graffiti. It’s one of Flamenco Bay’s iconic features, apart from the jaw-dropping beauty that surrounds it.
Luquillo Beach
Luquillo Beach, on the east coast, is a popular Puerto Rican beach for more reasons than one. Spread over more than 12 miles of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, Luquillo is also known as the “Sun’s Capital.”
This vibrant beach is a favorite spot for families due to its calm, shallow waters and amenities such as showers, restrooms with lockers, and food kiosks. Between the coconut trees lining the beach and cerulean waters lapping the shore, you have a long crescent-shaped stretch of golden sand to relax.
Don’t miss out on a swim, with the El Yunque National Forest in the backdrop; it’s a sight to behold. Also, Luquillo is among the few Blue Flag beaches in Puerto Rico – you’ll find it safe, clean, eco-friendly, and stunning at all times.
When you’re inevitably hungry after some sun, sand, and sea, you can visit the line of food stalls that sell traditional Puerto Rican cuisine just outside the entrance.
Isla Verde Beach
Isla Verde Beach is located near San Juan and offers a lively atmosphere with plenty of water sports activities available. It’s also a popular spot for tourists owing to its proximity to hotels and restaurants and its calm waters make it perfect for swimming.
Often voted the best urban beach in the Caribbean, Isla Verde is also the perfect place to try jet skiing and parasailing. You can tick these items off your bucket list after visiting this beach!
Here’s an interesting fact about the beach – most people know it as Isla Verde Beach, but it’s actually three beaches: Balneario de Carolina, Pine Grove Beach, and El Alambique. All three beaches have three miles of sun-kissed sand and water, each unique in its own way.
While Pine Grove attracts surfers, El Alambique has numerous nearby restaurants. As for Balneario de Carolina, don’t be fooled by how quiet it is during the week, for it transforms into a party beach over the weekends.
A water park for the kids, a beach volleyball court, and tempting food vendors; can it get any better than this?
Playa Sucia
When you get to Playa Sucia, you’ll likely pinch yourself to check if you’re in a paradisial dreamland. They say looks can be deceiving, but with Playa Sucia, the name can be deceiving. That’s because Playa Sucia means “Dirty Beach” in Spanish.
Located on the southwestern tip of Puerto Rico in Cabo Rojo, this secluded beach offers stunning views of limestone cliffs and turquoise water of the Caribbean Sea. It’s a great spot for photography enthusiasts.
It’s an all-natural landscape without any resorts or amenities, just the picture-perfect beach to laze around all day.
The beach has a public car park, and there’s a 10-minute walk to reach this gorgeous strip of golden sand and turquoise water. With plenty of hiking trails in the area, you can explore nature apart from swimming and sunbathing.
One of the highlights around Playa Sucia is the Cabo Rojo lighthouse; it’s open to the public and offers mesmerizing panoramic views of the surrounding area. If you happen to visit the lighthouse around sunset, you can witness views of breathtaking beauty.
Crash Boat Beach
Crash Boat Beach in Aguadilla is the ultimate beach destination for the best of everything.
Its turquoise waters, filled with vibrant marine life of various forms and colors, make it ideal for snorkeling or scuba diving. If not relaxing in the sun, you can also go swimming, surfing, or fishing. Crash Boat Beach is a popular destination for winter surfing.
Looking for entertainment? Crash Boat Beach is the party beach of Aguadilla; music, food, shopping, and more, make it an ideal place to spend a day at the beach easily.
This beach has two parts – one is the free side, but it has no facilities. However, you’ll find watersports equipment rentals and kiosks on this side. On the other part of the beach, you’ll find a paid parking lot and facilities like bathrooms and showers.
Playa Jobos
Playa Jobos, located on the northwest coast of Puerto Rico, near the town of Isabela, is known for its consistent waves, making it a favorite among surfers. It’s basically a surfer’s paradise.
Since the currents can be strong, this beach isn’t the best option for inexperienced swimmers or kids. Those who can’t swim needn’t be disappointed; you can rest under the coconut palms lining the beach or grab some fresh seafood or local fritters here.
This is among the less-explored beaches and isn’t bustling with tourists. Yet, it’s a popular local spot with turquoise waters, a natural rock wall, golden sands, and budget-friendly eateries.
If you’re keen on a peaceful getaway from the bustling crowds, this natural beach makes the perfect destination.
Seven Seas Beach
For a beach that’s a treat to the eyes, has all the amenities, and is family-friendly, head to Seven Seas Beach. Located about 11 minutes from Fajardo’s city center, this beach has bright blue, calm waters – perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
A range of amenities make it an excellent place for kids and adults alike. From showers and on-site bathroom facilities to barbecue facilities, you can also spend a couple of days here by booking a caravan house or campsite. Doesn’t that sound tempting?
That’s not all; there’s a wide stretch of grass and trees a few steps away from the water and sand, ideal for kids to run and play and adults to kick back and relax. It also makes a lovely picnic area.
Sun Bay Beach
One of the most popular beaches of Isla Vieques, Sun Bay Beach, is all about its relaxing landscape and range of amenities. That includes bathrooms, showers, lifeguards, and food vendors.
Apart from the soft white sand and blue water, you’ll find beautiful white horses roaming the parking lot. Ironically, the coastline of this beach is shaped almost like a horseshoe and is close to two miles long.
It takes a bit of work to get to the beach, but it’ll be worth the effort once you get there. The massive palm trees along the beach provide the perfect shade for beach bumming. Just hang up a hammock and immerse yourself in the dreamy surroundings.
This Puerto Rico beach has been awarded the Blue Flag recognition several times.
Icacos
Cayo Icacos, or Icacos, is more of a tiny island than a beach. Located on the east coast, this is one of the many cays of Puerto Rico.
It’s only accessible by boat and is entirely uninhabited (that means no amenities). Making it totally worth the extra effort to reach this small cay is the solitude and peace you can experience here. It almost feels like a tiny world on its own.
Hop onto a water taxi to Icacos or take a private catamaran tour that will also provide you with snorkeling equipment and lunch.
You’ll find the clarity of the water in Icacos is unlike any other beach on the east coast of Puerto Rico. Go swimming, paddleboarding, or snorkeling in Cayo Icacos for a fun day trip – you’ll fall in love with this natural wonder.
Summing It Up
Puerto Rico’s coastline has nearly 300 beaches, each magnificent in its own way. What kind of beach are you looking for? A party beach? A secluded cove with white sand and crystalline water? Or a beach that is perfect for water sports? Whichever it is, the different beaches of Puerto Rico will cater to your needs.
The sun can be intense in Puerto Rico, so don’t forget to bring sunscreen and stay hydrated while enjoying the beach.
Some other notable beaches include Shacks Beach, La Chiva Beach, and Boqueron Beach. Consider visiting Mosquito Bay on Vieques Island to witness an almost magical phenomenon – bioluminescent plankton that light up at night!