The 10 Best Beaches in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is only 100 miles long and 35 miles wide, but it’s jam-packed with stunning beaches ideal for swimming, surfing, snorkeling and more. To find the perfect beach to suit your mood, there are a couple of things you should know. All beaches in Puerto Rico are accessible to the public — that means even the fanciest seaside resorts (like this one at Isla Verde Beach) must allow non-guests on the beach in front of their properties. Balnearios are beaches maintained by the Department of Natural Resources, which charges a small parking fee. These beaches are regularly cleaned and offer amenities like restrooms, showers, picnic shelters, lifeguards and food vendors.

When swimming in the ocean in Puerto Rico, be aware that strong rip currents sometimes occur, especially on the north coast during high surf and low tide. Before you go into the water, check for safety warning flags (yellow = moderate hazard, red = high hazard, double red flags = water closed to public) and check the National Weather Service for daily riptide reports.

And remember, because Puerto Rico is a US territory, no passport is required for travelers arriving from the States, and the currency is the US dollar.

Picture a mile-long, horseshoe-shaped crescent of soft white sand gently lapped by crystal clear, aquamarine water set against a backdrop of thick tropical vegetation without a sign of civilization in sight. That is Playa Flamenco, the primary reason travelers visit Culebra, an archipelago 17 miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico. Named one of the best beaches in the country and the world by several sources, including TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards and the Travel Channel, the beach is remote but not without amenities. A short walk to the parking lot reveals restroom facilities, lounge chair and umbrella rentals, and tons of street food vendors. Because nothing worthwhile comes easy, getting to Culebra requires a ferry or plane ride from the main island.

The ocean tends to be rough and the shore rocky along the northern coast of Puerto Rico, making it less inviting to swimmers and sunbathers. That’s one reason Mar Chiquita is so popular. Located at the foot of a cliff in Manatí, Mar Chiquita is like a natural swimming pool that was formed when waves eroded a hole in a rocky outcropping, allowing the ocean to rush in and create a basin of calm water ideal for swimming. It’s perfect for little ones scared of big waves. Although it is not a publicly maintained beach, there are food vendors and lounge chair rentals on weekends and holidays.

Located on the northwest corner of Puerto Rico in Aguadilla, Crash Boat Beach was once part of a now-shuttered Air Force base, which left behind a large concrete pier and docks that are painted bright blue and yellow and stretch far into the sea. Swimmers, sunbathers and snorkeling fans flock to this two-sided beach. One side is a government-managed balneario that has restroom facilities. Across a footbridge spanning a small stream is a public beach with food vendors and water sport outfitters renting personal watercraft and snorkel gear.

Officially named Balneario La Monserrate, Luquillo Beach is a government-maintained beach featuring plentiful parking, restroom facilities, covered picnic shelters, food vendors and lounge chair rentals. But it’s the long crescent of sand, calm ocean waters and shady palm trees that make Luquillo Beach a popular day-trip destination from San Juan, a 40-minute drive away. Next door is Mar Sin Barreras, a beach facility adapted for visitors with disabilities. In addition to accessible restrooms, showers and beach entry, staff members can provide special chairs and flotation devices.

Vieques is a small island 21 miles east of the main island renowned for its pristine wilderness beaches, many of which are part of the National Wilderness Refuge. But the crown jewel of beaches is Balneario Sun Bay, which boasts nearly two miles of sandy shoreline dotted with palm trees, plus there are restrooms, showers, picnic shelters and tent camping. Part of what makes Balneario Sunbay so special, though, is the herd of horses that roam freely here. It's also a Blue Flag beach, which means it meets strict criteria for safety and environmental management. To visit Vieques, travelers must take a ferry or plane from the main island.

Located in the town of Fajardo, Balneario Seven Seas has plenty of parking, restrooms, showers and lifeguards. Thanks to a coral reef that buffers the waves some distance from the shore, the water here is calm and suitable for children. On the farthest eastern edge of the beach is some sea grass and a small reef ideal for beginning snorkelers. Across the street is The House of Pastelillos selling empanadas stuffed with pork, beef, crab and cheese, perfect for a seaside picnic.

The backdrop for Isla Verde Beach in San Juan is a wall of swanky resorts and condominiums, giving this wide stretch of sand a South Beach party vibe. Don your skimpiest swimsuit, order a piña colada and get your tan on while engaging in some people watching at this lively scene. It’s also a great place for water sports like riding personal watercraft, parasailing and kitesurfing. There are lounge chair and umbrella rentals, strolling vendors selling snow cones and ice cream, and beachside restaurants selling cocktails to-go.

Cabo Rojo in the southwest corner of Puerto Rico is as wild and remote as you can get from the go-go pace and stateside influence of San Juan. That’s why Puerto Rican vacationers flock here in the summer. You can really get away from it all, and the beaches are spectacular. Among our favorites is Playa El Combate, a nearly four-mile stretch of white sandy beach with crystal blue water on one side and a thick tropical forest of palm trees, almond trees and sea grapes on the other side. Enter the beach behind a cluster of seafood restaurants and bars that sell cocktails to-go, then walk south toward the island’s most southwestern point where there is nothing but sand, sea and greenery as far as the eye can see.

Rincón on Puerto Rico’s west coast is a world-famous surfing destination in the winter, and Steps Beach (aka Tres Palmas Beach) is a beloved spot for its long, powerful waves that break over a rocky, reef floor, suitable for pros only. But even first-time snorkelers can enjoy the underwater world of Steps Beach. Located at the end of a narrow dirt road in a protected area called Tres Palmas Marine Reserve, this pristine stretch of undeveloped beach got its name from a set of concrete steps that appeared one day after a storm. Rent a mask and flippers onsite or bring your own, and hunt for Elkhorn coral, hawksbill turtles, parrot fish and spiny lobsters.