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15 Best Beaches in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is an exciting travel destination for lots of reasons: the food, the nightlife, the history, nature, and more. But one of the top reasons this island is so popular for vacations and honeymoons is its incredible beaches.

There’s a lot of personal preference that goes into choosing a beach when you travel. Some beaches are perfect for relaxing and getting away from it all, while others are best for partying, playing with kids, and enjoying a romantic sunset with your special someone. When you visit Puerto Rico’s beaches, all those options are available to you, along with beautiful weather to go with it.

What’s great about beaches in Puerto Rico is that they’re clean, natural, safe, and conveniently located near luxury hotels and local restaurants. There are lots of amazing choices, but these are a few of our favorites, no matter what your travel style is!

Isla Verde Beach, San Juan Isla Verde Beach
Credit: Isla Verde Beach by bigstock.com

Isla Verde Beach, San Juan

If you enjoy people-watching while on vacation, Isla Verde is the beach for you. There’s lots to see and do here, and it’s also near so many great hotels in the area. This beach really makes you feel like you’re indulging in a Caribbean vacation. You’ll see parasailers overhead and wave runners zipping by just steps away from your favorite resort.

Flamenco Beach, Culebra Flamenco Beach
Credit: Flamenco Beach by bigstock.com

Flamenco Beach, Culebra

One of the most beautiful beahces in Puerto Rico is Flamenco Beach, which is on the Spanish Virgin Island called Culebra. This beach isn’t quite as convenient to get to as some of the others near San Juan, but it’s well worth the effort. To reach Flamenco Beach, you can fly into the small airport or take a 90-minute ferry ride from Fajardo. Come to this beach if you want to go swimming or are traveling with kids. The area is picture-perfect and the turquoise blue waters are clear and inviting. The waves are gentle, and it’s also a great place to go snorkeling. Make sure to visit The Tank, a remembrance of the U.S. Navy’s occupancy of the island and Flamenco’s most iconic attraction.

Crash Boat Beach, Aguadilla Crash Boat Beach, Puerto Rico
Credit: Crash Boat Beach, Puerto Rico by Discover Puerto Rico

Crash Boat Beach, Aguadilla

It may have an odd name, but Crash Boat Beach in Aguadilla is one of the best beaches in Puerto Rico. Known as the island’s party beach, you can dance to music, snag a snack from local food stands and pick up a souvenir at the surrounding kiosks. You can also go surfing and snorkeling with ease here, but it’s best to hit the waves early in the morning to avoid the crowds, especially on weekends.

Blue Beach, Vieques Blue Beach on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico
Credit: Blue Beach on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico by © Stephanie Beverungen | Dreamstime.com

Blue Beach, Vieques

This beach is located on the offshore island of Vieques and is perfect for travelers who don’t like dealing with crowds. Blue Beach is typically not as crowded as some of the others on this list, and it’s wonderful for swimming and snorkeling. And it’s definitely called Blue Beach for a reason. The water here is many shades of blue, and the colors don’t end there. Diverse and colorful fish and other marine life live down below and are just waiting to be explored on a snorkeling excursion.

La Posa de Obispo La Posa de Obispo, Puerto Rico
Credit: La Posa de Obispo, Puerto Rico by Discover Puerto Rico

La Posa de Obispo

If you’re looking for a relaxing beach getaway in Puerto Rico, head to La Posa de Obispo. Backed by limestone rocks that prevent the tide from rising, the small beach is surrounded by a natural pool of calm water. Set in the charming coastal town of Arecibo, this nature lover’s paradise allows you to unplug from your everyday stresses and take in the beautiful surroundings. It’s a family-friendly spot where kids can play along the golden sand or make a splash in the clear waters.

La Posita Beach La Posita
Credit: La Posita by bigstock.com

La Posita Beach

If you plan to spend a good amount of time in the city of San Juan, then a visit to La Posita Beach is a must. This beach is very close to the city, without being right in the city itself. That means that it has a laid-back vibe, but that it’s also incredibly convenient for travelers. Drive about 30 minutes to reach this beach, which is in the nearby town of Loiza on the Atlantic Coast. Here you’ll find some delicious street food in the kiosks, especially fried Puerto Rican favorites. Foodies also love this beach area because Pinones is nearby too. Here you can experience even more authentic local flavors in a causal setting. If you want to be active and get some exercise on your beach days, take the bike trail from Isla Verde to La Posita and then to Pinones.

Luquillo Beach Luquillo Beach
Credit: Luquillo Beach by bigstock.com

Luquillo Beach

This is one of the most well-known and popular beaches on the island, and it enjoys a very convenient location too. It’s just 30 miles east of San Juan and a favorite of families. The ocean water here is warm and shallow, which makes it perfect for swimming with kids. Another reason this beach is so popular is that it’s right next to El Yunque National Rainforest too. This is one of the best places to visit for nature lovers because of the excellent hiking opportunities. Luquillo Beach is a very well-established beach, so you’ll find vendors selling snacks and drinks here, as well as lifeguards and showers.

Boquerón Beach Boqueron Beach, Puerto Rico
Credit: Boqueron Beach, Puerto Rico by © One Pixel | Dreamstime.com

Boquerón Beach

This beach spans about a mile and is located on Puerto Rico’s southwestern coast and in the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge. This is a great beach for families because there are playgrounds here for the kids and nice picnic spots. Families with kids are welcome here, and you can rent a cabana right on the water for a reasonable price. This beach often gets crowded on weekends. Foodies also enjoy spending time in this beach area because there are some tasty seafood shacks along the shore of Boquerón Beach. Stay throughout the evening to hear live salsa, jazz, and rock music at the restaurants along the beach.

La Monserrate, Luquillo La Monserrate, Luquillo
Credit: La Monserrate, Luquillo by Discover Puerto Rico

La Monserrate, Luquillo

The whole gang will love a beach getaway to La Monserrate, where you’ll discover shallow waters and a golden sand coastline. With El Yunque as the backdrop, you have plenty of options for adventure at the crescent-shaped beach, including swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding. It’s lined with lifeguards, local vendors, and lounge chair rental spots, so you can just show up for a day of fun in the sun. For something truly unique, try fly-boarding at this award-winning beach.

Balneario de Carolina Balneario de Carolina, Puerto Rico
Credit: Balneario de Carolina, Puerto Rico by Discover Puerto Rico

Balneario de Carolina

Families looking to plan a beach getaway can pack their sunscreen for a day at Balneario de Carolina. This Blue Flag awarded beach offers a long list of things to do in the surrounding area, whether you want to join a volleyball game on the beachside court, grab a drink at nearby Ocean Lab Brewing Co., or let the kids play at the local waterpark. Known for its cleanliness and convenient facilities, this beach also has lifeguards and paramedics on-site, making it one of the best places to take the entire family.

Dorado Beach Dorado, Puerto Rico
Credit: Dorado, Puerto Rico by © Juan Hernandez | Dreamstime.com

Dorado Beach

If you’re looking for seclusion without sacrificing convenience, then Dorado Beach is an excellent choice. This beach is west of San Juan and is famous for once being home to a sugar plantation. Laurance Rockefeller owned the property too, which is while the 11-mile trail here is named the Rockefeller Trail. Although Dorado has a more secluded vibe than some other beaches on this list, it’s also a great place to visit for luxury travelers. The Ritz-Carlton Reserve is right on the beach.

Ocean Park Beach Ocean Park Beach, Puerto Rico
Credit: Ocean Park Beach, Puerto Rico by wikimedia.org

Ocean Park Beach

One great beach to spend time on if you like doing more than just lying in the sand is Ocean Park Beach. Here you can give kite surfing a try, join in a game of beach volleyball, or hit the waves on a boogie board. After being out on the water and active all day, you’ll enjoy the laid-back vibe of this Atlantic Ocean beach that spans about a mile. This is a wonderful beach for singles because it attracts more adults and fewer families with kids. There are lots of beachfront bars and restaurants for locals and tourists to mix and mingle with here at Ocean Park Beach.

Bahia Beach Bahia Beach, Puerto Rico
Credit: Bahia Beach, Puerto Rico by © Ruth Peterkin | Dreamstime.com

Bahia Beach

The big luxury hotel to stay at along Bahia Beach is the St. Regis Bahia Beach, which is well-suited for both couples and families. This is an ideal beach to spend time if you enjoy water sports because you can do everything right here. Try snorkeling, scuba diving, and water skiing in the ocean water just off the beach, and then go for a hike in the nearby El Yunque National Rainforest.

Mar Chiquita Beach Manatí coast, Puerto Rico
Credit: Manatí coast, Puerto Rico by © Gastonebaldo | Dreamstime.com

Mar Chiquita Beach

For stunning scenery, look no further than Mar Chiquita Beach. This area is famous for its dramatic crashing waves and coral rock formations that make for a picture-perfect scene that nature photographers love. This is more of a coastal area for walking around and photographing than it is for swimming. Head to one of the other beaches in this list for that.

Sandy Beach Sandy Beach

Sandy Beach

All beaches are sandy, but not all of them have the privilege of going by the iconic name, Sandy Beach. This Rincon beach is well-known for its amazing sunsets, cocktail scene, and live music. Travel + Leisure once named Tamboo Tavern one of the best beach bars in America. Order a mojito at sunset and listen to the authentic music while lounging on the beachfront deck. Couples looking for a little romance in their beach vacation love this beach area. This is a well-established beach with lots of restaurants, hotels, and apartments along the shore. Sandy Beach is also a great place to learn to surf, even if you’ve never set foot aboard. Sign up for a surfing lesson, or just sit on the beach and watch others learn to surf!

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