Best beaches of Puerto Rico Mark Rogers, Special for USA TODAY One persons beautiful beach might be another persons sand-filled nightmare. Luckily, Puerto Ricos profusion of beaches provide enough variety to satisfy the pickiest of beachgoers; everything from city beaches backed by towering hotels to sunny secluded strands with translucent waters. Here are a few of the islands best. Ocean Park Beach: One of the joys of vacationing in Puerto Rico is the option to have both a city and beach vacation while only unpacking once. When travelers choose the islands capital city of San Juan as a base, its easy to spend the morning shopping, the afternoon on the beach and the evening dancing salsa in one of the nightspots. While San Juan has fine beaches of its own, there are really superb stretches of white sand in neighboring Isla Verde, especially Ocean Park Beach — a wide beach popular with both locals and visitors. The waves can really kick up, creating prime conditions for boogie-boarding, surfing and kitesurfing. Flamenco Beach: It takes a little extra effort to get to Flamenco Beach, designated the second-best beach in the world by the Discovery Channel. Flamenco Beach is on the small island of Culebra, about 17 miles off the east coast of the mainland. Some people fly into Culebras small airport while others opt to take the 90-minute ferry ride departing from Fajardo, on Puerto Ricos eastern shore. Once they get there theyll find a horseshoe-shaped bay and a mile-long sugar white beach. The crystal-clear waters create ideal conditions for snorkeling. If you walk along the shore to your left youll come upon abandoned U.S. Army tanks slumped in the sand. For decades, Culebra was used for military exercises. This practice was eventually halted in 1975 due to protests by environmentalists. Amenities at Flamenco Beach are on the basic side; there are showers and bathrooms, as well as kiosks renting beach equipment and serving cold drinks and snacks. Sandy Beach: Rincon, located on the western shore of Puerto Rico, has the islands best surf breaks and a laid-back atmosphere. There are a number of beaches in Rincon – Sandy Beach is considered the best for swimmers. Another great reason to choose Sandy Beach is the Tamboo Beach Bar, which regularly makes its way onto lists of the top beach bars in the world. Head there an hour before sundown, score a table on the deck overlooking the beach, and settle in with a cold Medalla as the sun sinks into the sea. If youre in Rincon January through March, keep your eyes peeled for humpback whales – these are the months when they migrate to the warm waters off the western shore of Puerto Rico for a 40-ton hookup. Mar Chiquita: Can a beach be secluded and popular at the same time? Mar Chiquita has somehow managed this feat, still retaining its sense of private charm as the surrounding town of Manatí developed. Mar Chiquita is about a 45-minute drive west of San Juan. The beach looks out on an oval-shaped cove and is backed by palm trees and dramatic limestone walls. Facilities are scant, with just a couple of huts serving light fare. Bring a beach chair – this is a place to relax and soak it in. Luquillo Beach: This is a family-friendly beach with gentle surf and only 30 miles east of San Juan. Luquillo Beach can be perfectly paired with a visit to the nearby El Yunque Rainforest. Theres a full range of facilities at the beach, including picnic tables and restrooms. If youre looking for an authentic Puerto Rican beach experience, Luquillo would be my recommendation. Be sure to stop at the long row of Luquillo Beach restaurant kiosks. Over 60 eateries serve up everything from crab on a stick to hearty mofongo, with a huge side dish of local color.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Apr 2014 19:30:08 +0000
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