The best beaches of the west coast are blessed with incredible conditions all year round. In the summer they become great family playgrounds with usually calm conditions. In the winter, the Atlantic storms create large swells that delight surfers. But don’t despair, you can find tranquil, swimming waters even in the largest swells.
Isabela
This exploration begins in Isabela. Most of the beaches on the north coast feature large rocks that stick out into the Atlantic and provide a foothold for a protected beach. The rocks are actually ancient compacted sand dunes that have solidified over the milenia.
The two most popular beaches in Isabela feature this characteristic. If you take Route 466 west you can see it in action.
Montones Beach- This is a real family friendly beach that offers a shallow pool ideal for small children. It’s actually two beaches in one. The small shallow pool and just on the other side of a sand spit another, slightly deeper pool. There’s food kiosks nearby so no need to pack a lunch.
Jobos Beach- in the summer this beach attracts a lot of locals on the weekends because there are many food kiosks and the water is calm. In the winter, when the swells get larger, the crowd changes over to surfers. Our cover photo features Jobos Beach.
Shacks Beach- further down 466 and on to 4466 look for this beach on the map on your phone. This is a popular kite surfing beach and on calm summer days snorkeling. Beware of venturing over the shallow areas. You wouldn’t want to brush up against some coral heads.
If you feel adventurous, use your map app to find a dirt road that runs west along the coast. It’s an undeveloped beachside area that promises some great beach exploration.
Aguadilla
Once you round the northwest corner of the Island the beaches change. Gone are the offshore rocks and the coastline becomes more of a continuous line interrupted only by shoreside cliffs.
Crashboat Beach- This is one of the more popular beaches in the northwest. It features a large pier constructed by the Air Force to harbor the downed airplane rescue boats. Ramey used to be an Air Force base that used Desecheo island for target practice. This is a great snorkeling beach with crystal clear water in summer and a surfing beach in winter.
Rincón
This westernmost point on the island features some of the more popular surfing beaches in Puerto Rico. In the 60’s east coast surfers “discovered” the winter waves and soon a steady population of surfers visited this sleepy town to stay in cheap rented rooms. Today Rincón still has its surfer heart but many people from around the world have discovered its magic and have bought property and development to the area.
Sandy Beach- this long strip of beach is appropriately named. Bars, restaurants and vacation rentals abound so its popular with the locals.
Domes Beach- In the winter this is a surfers dream. In the summer the calm waters are great for bathing. The name comes from an inactive nuclear reactor that was built in the late 60’s.
Marías Beach- in the 60’s a woman called María lived close by and fed the surfers that came during the winter. So this beach is named in her honor. It’s another surfing beach that becomes a great snorkeling area in the summer.
Tres Palmas- this beach features three tall palm tress that give it its name. It’s also a marine reserve so a great place for snorkeling in the summer. When the surf gets really large 20 foot breakers appear on the outer reefs.
Playa Corcega- On the south side of the town of Rincón you will find a long stretch of beach lined with houses and other buildings. It has a southern exposure so its a great swimming beach even in the winter.
Añasco
The Balnerario de Añasco (Tres Hermanos)- is one of the longest beaches on the west coast. This protected bay is ideal for a full day of lounging. There’s plenty of vegetation growing on the coast and includes some mangroves and small streams that give you a back to nature experience.
Hope our list of the best beaches on the west coast helps you set out and explore this end of the Island. When you travel, keep your eyes and your map app open to discover your own unique beach. Next chapter we will cover beaches in the Southwest.
