Best Beaches In Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a stunning island paradise. It's easy to travel to this U.S. territory for fun in the sun, as it's just a short flight from most places on the mainland.

Thousands of island visitors flock to the coast during their stay. But with so many options, it's hard to decide which one to visit during your trip. Puerto Rico’s Northeast coast offers the best urban beaches, and the southwest coast offers the best beaches for surfing, whale watching, and sightseeing.

To help you choose the right beach for your next vacation, we've compiled a list of the best beaches in Puerto Rico. We’ll also give you some tips on which documents you need to enter the country, such as the Puerto Rico ESTA.

The most beautiful sandy beach in Puerto Rico: Flamenco

Flamenco Beach arguably has the best that Puerto Rico beaches have to offer. It was rightfully named the second most beautiful sandy beach in the world by the Discovery Channel.

The one-mile-long beach on the island of Culebra is surrounded by beautiful hills and exotic palm trees - a picturesque experience for visitors.

The crystal clear water has no rocks, only soft white sand, and small fish. If you're lucky, you might even spot sea turtles.

The port of Flamenco is crescent-shaped, surrounded by low green hills and the finest sand. At the far end of the beach, you'll see two brightly painted Sherman tanks, a reminder of the Navy's occupation of the island.

The beach offers amenities such as restrooms, showers, picnic areas, and umbrella rentals. Children can snorkel safely in shallow, clear waters.

Escape the crowds: Playa Peña Blanca

If you find yourself in Aguadilla, you should visit Peña Blanca, also known as Wishing Well Beach. This remote beach is hidden in a residential area and is a quiet place with clear waters. The water is the calmest in the summer and the best time to surf is in winter.

The fascinating thing about this beautiful beach is that the tides are constantly changing, so every time you visit, you'll feel like you're experiencing the beach for the first time.

If you really want peace and quiet, turn north after the concrete steps that lead to the beach and stroll on. The crowds that are there will disappear as you continue walking.

The beach is great for snorkeling, but it’s also ideal for relaxing to the peaceful sound of the gentle waves. You’ll enjoy the flowering tree that greets you upon arrival, the clean water, and the endless blue of the ocean.

Peña Blanca also has turtles, stingrays, nurse sharks, and many enchanting fish to offer. So if you want to visit this beach, be sure to bring your fins and snorkeling gear!

Nature’s finest: La Playuela

La Playuela, also called Playa Sucia, is one of the most visited beaches in Cabo Rojo, on Puerto Rico’s southwestern coast. This beach is part of a nature reserve and offers spectacular views and plenty of wilderness.

Although there is no hotel strip or other seaside facilities, this beach is a unique natural beauty because of its spectacular location.

It's the perfect place to lounge on the beach and get a flawless tan. Parking at Playuela near Los Morrillos Lighthouse is limited, so come early.

This crescent-shaped jewel in the southwest will leave you speechless with its stunning sea and surroundings. To get there, you'll have to hike a bit, but once you're there, you'll realize how breathtaking the dramatic scenery is.

La Playuela is ideal for either spending a lazy day in the sun or exploring the fantastic surroundings. With all these qualities and more, La Playuela certainly deserves to be called one of the best beaches in Puerto Rico.

Ideal for family-fun: Playa Crash Boat

Crash Boat beach is another beach located in Aguadilla. It is popular with locals and tourists alike.

It features a stunning long and extremely wide coastline of soft sand that is well-protected from the breeze and is surrounded by large palm trees and rich flora. The sea is perfect for families with kids because it has shallow and crystal-clear water with calm waves.

Families, who enjoy camping under the many palm trees that flank the shore, frequently pack the beach, so you might find it very crowded.

However, in winter it turns into the ideal place for surfers. With a pier and fishing boats, it's one of Puerto Rico’s most beautiful beaches. On a clear day, the surrounding mountains offer a breathtaking view of the pristine coastline and the setting sun.

Easy access: Sun Bay Beach

Sun Bay beach is one of the easiest beaches to access without a car. You can reach the beach by taking the passenger ferry from Ceiba, on the east coast of Puerto Rico. It’s located in the southern part of Vieques Island and is considered one of the three most beautiful local resorts in Puerto Rico.

Sun Bay offers turquoise waters and golden sands surrounded by coconut trees and other tropical flora and fauna.

This beach is popular with families, especially on weekends, but the beach is big enough to accommodate everyone. It also has plenty of facilities, such as bathrooms, lifeguards, and more.

Local favorite: Ocean Park Beach

In the past, tourists were a rare sight in Ocean Park, most guests were San Juan residents. However, recently, the beach has become more popular among visitors as well, due to the lack of crowds and plentiful activities.

Unlike many other popular beaches, you won’t find any casinos or other crowd-attracting facilities here.

There is just a mile-long stretch of sand surrounded by shadow areas, palm trees, condominiums, private residences, boutique hotels, restaurants, and guest houses.

The fantastic offshore conditions and great swell are great for surfing, kiting, jet skiing, and windsurfing, or keep to the sand with some beach volleyball or jogging. There is ample parking in the area.

Other amazing beaches in Puerto Rico

There you have it, some of the best beaches in Puerto Rico. The island is a paradise for beach vacationers, and there are many more beaches to choose from. Here are a few other beaches that might be of interest:

• Luquillo beach - Located next to El Yunque National Forest on Puerto Rico’s mainland, Luquillo beach has warm waters, and is a prime location for trying out the local cuisine.

• Combate beach - Meet some locals on this party beach with golden sand, located on Puerto Rico’s southern coast.

• Tortuga beach - This horseshoe-shaped beach has white sand and crystal clear waters. It is an excellent beach for swimming and snorkeling.

• Seven seas beach - Snorkel in the waters of a nature reserve, at one of the most popular places in Fajardo.

Do I need a visa to visit Puerto Rico?

Get ready to enjoy all the wonders and activities that Puerto Rico has to offer! However, you will need the right travel documents to enter the country. Puerto Rico has the same entry regulations as the United States.

US citizens don't need a visa to visit Puerto Rico. For most other nationalities, a travel document is required before traveling to the country. You must apply for a specific visa or electronic travel authorization (ESTA) for Puerto Rico.

Use our handy Visa Checker Tool to find out which document you need and apply instantly online via iVisa!

Need more information? Simply contact one of our visa specialists via live chat 24/7.