There
is no place quite like a tropical volcanic
island, and no island in the Caribbean
quite like Puerto Rico. The geography
of the island is very unusual, as it encompasses
distinctly different kinds of topography
and microclimates in a relatively small
area.
A
rugged mountain range runs across the
center from east to west, which often
prevents rain clouds from passing to the
south. The north side of the island is
covered by dense vegetation, karst formations,
and rushing streams, while, the south
side is sun-toasted terrain, home to tropical
dry forests and many species of exotic
birds. Puerto Rico is only about 100 miles
long and 35 miles wide, so its most distant
points are only a three-hour drive apart.
It also means that just about every tropical
landscape in existence is a short trip
from wherever you happen to be!
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Puerto
Rico is home to some of the most beautiful beaches
in the world, and its hundreds of miles of coastline
harbor an almost endless selection for the beach
connoisseur. Beaches come in every size, color,
and form, from the pure white dunes of Isabela
to the black volcanic sands near Punta Santiago.
You can find a beach for any level of seaside
activity, from a stroll in the shimmering shallow
waters at Luquillo to a thrilling ride in the
boisterous surf of Rincón.
The beaches featured in this section are just
a few suggestions. Ask a local, and you will
get a dozen more!
Singles
(Straight & Gay)
Sandwiched between the Condado and Isla Verde
beaches along San Juan's beachfront, Ocean Park
Beach attracts more adults and less of the family
trade. Only Isla Verde beach to the east matches
Ocean Park for its broad beach and good swimming.
The people-watching here is nothing compared
to the well-stuffed bikinis (both male and female)
found on South Miami Beach or Rio de Janeiro.
However, for the Caribbean, Ocean Park is as
good as it gets. Because many gay boarding houses
lie in Ocean Park, a lot of the beach here is
frequented by gay young men, mainly from New
York. However, straight people looking to meet
someone while wearing swimwear will find plenty
of lookers (and perhaps takers).
Families:
Winning without contest, Luquillo Beach, 30
miles (48km) east of San Juan, attracts both
local families, mainly from San Juan, and visitors
from Condado and Isla Verde beaches in San Juan.
Beach buffs heading for Luquillo know they will
get better sands and clearer waters there than
in San Juan. The vast sandy beach opens onto
a crescent-shaped bay edged by a coconut grove.
Coral reefs protect the crystal-clear lagoon
from the often rough Atlantic waters that can
buffet the northern coast, making Luquillo a
good place for young children to swim. Much
photographed because of its white sands, Luquillo
also has tent sites and other facilities, including
picnic areas with changing rooms, lockers, and
showers.
Teenagers:
More families with teenagers check into the
Hyatt Dorado Beach Resort & Country Club
west of San Juan than into any other competitor
in Puerto Rico, including the resorts along
the San Juan beach strip. Six beaches border
the Hyatt resorts, each a strip of white sand
fronting the north coast. Because the Dorado
features many activities for kids of all ages,
its beaches over the years have become family
favorites. The Hyatt beaches originally opened
onto a grapefruit-and-coconut plantation, but
today these 1,000 landscaped acres (400 hectares)
are devoted to fun, ranging from jogging and
biking trails to swimming in the longest pool
on the island. Young people find it easy to
meet other teenagers here, not only on the beach
but while participating in the resorts' myriad
of activities.
Swimming:
Whereas on much of the northwest coast of Puerto
Rico, rough Atlantic waters often deter bathers
but attract surfers , the south coast waters
are calmer. On the south coast, Playa de Ponce,
outside Ponce, Puerto Rico's second-largest
city, consists of a long strip of beautiful
white sand that opens onto the tranquil waters
of the Caribbean. Less crowded than Condado
and Luquillo, Playa de Ponce is an ideal place
to swim year-round in clearer, less polluted
waters than those along the more heavily populated
northern coastline.
Scenery:
In the southwestern corner of Puerto Rico, Boquerón
Beach lies in a section of the island called
the Cape Cod of Puerto Rico. The beach town
of Boquerón itself, filled with colorful
scenery, stands at the heart of a 3-mile (5km)
bay, with palm-fringed white sand curving away
on both sides. In addition to this panoramic
vista, you can also sample vignettes of local
life. Fisherfolk, sailors, and scuba divers
are also attracted to this beach, where fresh
oysters are shucked on the spot, doused with
Tabasco, and sold at various ramshackle shacks.
You can see that there are plenty of interesting
photo ops at this beach. While enjoying the
scenery and the sands, you can take a break
and order a regional ice cream at one of the
stands. It's made with sweet corn and dusted
with paprika. Sound awful? Try it: It's good.
Windsurfing:
Rincón's winter surf, especially at Playa
Higüero, puts Malibu to shame. Today surfers
from all over the world are attracted to Rincón,
which they have dubbed "Little Malibu."
From Borinquén Point south to Rincón,
nearly all the beaches along the western coast
are ideal for surfing from November to April.
As the windsurfing capital of the Caribbean,
the Rincón area was put on the map when
it was the site of the 1968 world surfing championships.
Some of the 16-foot (4.8m) breakers here equal
those on the north shore of Oahu.
Being
Alone: The main island is filled
with isolated sandy coves that only the locals
seem to know about. The best, all guaranteed
to delight the escapist in you, stretch between
Cabo Rojo (the southwesterly tip of Puerto Rico)
all the way east to Ponce. Beginning in the
west, directly east of Cabo Rojo, you'll discover
Rosado Beach, Santa Beach, Caña Gorda
Beach, and Tamarindo Beach. Access to many of
these is limited because of poor roads, but
the effort is worth it. Be sure to bring the
necessary supplies.
Snorkeling:
For snorkeling, we prefer to escape from the
Puerto Rican mainland altogether, heading for
the isolated beaches of the offshore islands
of Vieques and Culebra, part of the Spanish
Virgin Islands. In Vieques alone there are some
40 beaches, most of them officially unnamed
even though U.S. sailors once stationed on the
island have nicknamed their favorites-everything
from Green Beach to Orchid. The best beach for
snorkeling on Vieques is Playa Esperanza, especially
that spot in front of the Trade Winds Guesthouse.
Another favorite location, which we discovered
when directed there by a Navy SEAL, is across
the little harbor at Cayo de Afuera. This site
gives you the best preview of dramatic (and
living) antler coral. Nurse sharks and the occasional
manatee also hang out here.
On
the neighboring island of Culebra, the beaches
are less visited by snorkelers, even though
they open onto coral reefs and clear waters.
The snorkeling is not so hot at the island's
most frequented beach, Flamenco Beach. But all
you have to do is take a 15- to 20-minute hike
from the parking lot at Flamenco over the hill
to Playa Carlos Rosario, which offers some of
the best snorkeling in Puerto Rico. A barrier
reef virtually envelops the beach, and you can
snorkel all day. For other great snorkeling,
you can walk along the cliffs south of here
for about a quarter mile (.4km) to a place called
"The Wall," which has 40-foot (12m)
drop-offs, rainbow-hued fish, and other delights.
The
Hotel Beaches
Wyndham
El San Juan Hotel & Casino (San
Juan)
This posh resort occupies the choicest beachfront
real estate at Isla Verde Beach, one of the
finest in Puerto Rico. Ideal for swimming, the
golden sands near the airport evoke South Miami
Beach. Picnic tables are found here, and the
beach is also good for snorkeling. But it is
mostly the sands themselves that provide the
attraction-that and all the many facilities
of El San Juan resort itself.
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Hotels
in San Juan >>
Hyatt
Resort at Dorado (Hyatt Dorado Beach
Resort & Country Club)
Lying 18 miles (29km) west of San Juan, this
posh resort was carved out of a plantation.
Today it opens onto several miles of white sandy
beaches at the mouth of the Río de la
Plata. Since the turn of the 20th century, Dorado,
which means "golden," has attracted
U.S. presidents and rich folks like the Rockefellers.
Today families can be seen romping along its
sands.
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Hotels
in San Juan >>
Copamarina
Beach Resort (Caña Gorda)
Lies west of Ponce, Puerto Rico's second-largest
city. A laid-back retreat, the resort opens
onto one of the best and least crowded beaches
in southwestern Puerto Rico. This appealing
beach is set a quarter mile (.4km) south of
Guánica at the edge of a government-protected
marshland known for its rich bird life. Its
pale beige sand fronts a backdrop of bohios
(thatched huts), where you can retreat from
the noonday sun.
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Hotels
in Ponce Puerto Rico >>
Links
& Sources:
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