Rincon surfing is the jewel in the crown of Puerto Rico. Breaks here bash right over shallow reefs and there are some XXL options that work on big winter days.
An introduction to Rincon surfing
Rincon surfing is the best in Puerto Rico. There are basically no arguments on that count. It was this region of palm-tufted sands and rocky points that virtually single-handedly elevated the unincorporated territory of the USA to levels of fame enjoyed by the likes of the Aloha State and southern California. It’s recently seen some upgrades in infrastructure to make it a bit more gentrified than the 1960s hippy hangout it once was. Love that or hate that, don’t worry – the breaks are still the same, if a touch busier.
There are about seven main spots here, all strung along the Rincon shores from the north-facing parts around Sand Beach to the rugged southern river mouths that give way to Tres Palmas. Reefs dominate and the shape of the shoreline lends itself to harnessing the strong winter time N-NW swells into good rights. That said, there are one or two left peelers and longboard waves if you want them, but this is no Waikiki.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in the Caribbean and surfing in Puerto Rico
Rincon surfing at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Rincon surfing?
Where is Rincon?
Rincon is a town and a region that occupies the northwestern edge of Puerto Rico. It’s around two hours from the main airport on the island, the Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Muñoz Marín, which sits just on the eastern side of the capital of San Juan. The drive in is kinda’ fun, taking you all the way down State-Road 115 (PR-115) from the city to the shoreline past some seriously nice beaches and even colonial-era forts tagged by UNESCO.
A guide to the Rincon surf spots
There are about seven breaks that really stand out on the Rincon surfing scene. A couple face north at the top end of the region. We’ll start with those here. Others – probably the more famous of the bunch – face west.
Antonio’s
Facing north, Antonio’s gets the full hit of the N swell systems in the winter. Thankfully, there’s a good alignment of coral shelf here to help temper that. The result? A series of well-honed peaks that give both right and lefts at varying parts of the bay. For the most part, they are high-quality wedges that can be torn up from bottom to top, calling shortboarders with a thing to prove or a penchant for hotdogging. Quite shifty, lots of rips.
Sandy Beach East and across
Antonio’s beach fast turns into Sandy Beach as you move westwards, starting with the creatively named run at Sandy Beach East. The seabed here is noticeably more forgiving than elsewhere in Rincon, swapping those jagged rock reefs for banks of golden-beige powder. That’s why this one is widely seen as a beginner and all-level beach. It’s also a goofy’s dream, since the lefts reign supreme and will get pretty darn long on any swell with NW in the channel.
Pool’s
A NE to NW swell can really help plump up the right point that works off the rocks on Pool’s Beach. One headland around from the all-level breaks of Sandy Beach, this is one seriously heavy customer that go strong, capable of holding 10+ foot with an offshore to stabilize. There are also some lefts in the middle of the bay.
Domes
Domes is one of the Rincon breaks that first put Puerto Rico on the map. Fitted out to handle some of the wildest N-NW swells that the winter can muster, it’s known for its super-pitty rights that go from steep drop in to barrel in a matter of seconds. Drop the swell chart a touch and Domes transforms into a more accessible break that’s just about perfect for intermediates and up, offering rights and lefts that are steep but not gnarly. Can look glassier than a glass factory if combined with a SE offshore. Does get busy, though.
Punta Higuero
A swell-sucking point and reef combo that can see waves scorch to over 20 feet in the midwinter, Punta Higuero is for the gun chargers. It’s actually the starting location of the sets that cruise through into more forgiving Maria’s Beach further down the line. Only works on the biggest of days and certainly only for pros.
Maria’s
Come to Maria’s if you’re after one of the longer rides in Rincon. An all-level break on smaller swells of 5-7 foot and a bigger beast if it’s over 8 foot, the spot is a relatively versatile one that loves those easterly trades, which are offshore in these parts. There are a couple of peaks up and down the stretch, but it’s anchored on the point closest to the lighthouse, which churns out right-hand shoulders than can peel for like 100 meters if you can find the pocket.
Dogman’s
Dogman’s is one of the northern breaks of Rincon and one of the most exposed to the northern swells that curl around the tip of the island come winter. It’s also one of the most iconic spots in the strip, capable of holding well overhead on fearsome and shallow reefs to create gnarly setups. It will calm down sometimes to throw out rippable walls that peel beautifully to the right and are a little shorter on the left. Take off zones vary with the swell, but it’s usually a spread out line up; some out back waiting for the heavier sets, some closer in to pick up the crumblier scraps. The wave is a bit section – first fast and clean but then smoother and bowlier at its end.
Tres Palmas
If you’ve navigated to this guide to rincon surfing after seeing the region highlighted on the cover of some surf mag somewhere, chances are it was Tres Palmas that you saw. This is the most iconic XXL break of the Caribbean. Needs at least 15 foot to even start showing its teeth. That happens a handful of times throughout the winter surf season here and when it does mere mortals should reserve themselves to the shoreline. Guns will be out as the pros charge against colossal water walls with big open faces to the right. Offshores make it look even better, with spurts of whitewash fizzing off the crests like it’s nobody’s business.
Where to stay when surfing in Rincon?
There was a time when Rincon was the preserve of coconut-husked beaches backed by palm-topped shacks. Today, there’s an accommodation offering that’s a touch more, shall we say, deluxe. In fact, you can get everything from stylo surf camps to boutique B&Bs with blazing sunset views. Here are some of our favorites…
Coconut Palms Inn
We can’t sing the praises of Coconut Palms Inn enough. It hearkens back to the days before Rincon was a cool surf spot, offering authentic and hearty Caribbean service without the fancy edge to it. Rooms are colorful and kitschy. Some even face Rincon’s main beach to let you check the surf from your balcony.
Casa Verde Hotel
Stay here if you’re coming to Rincon to learn to surf. It’s close to the best beginner beach in the area – Sandy Beach. In fact, its right behind. The rooms are contemporary and modern, all facing onto a charming outdoor area with a pool smack dab in the middle.
Rincon of the Seas Grand Caribbean Hotel
There aren’t actually all that many big resort hotels in the Rincon region but one that does pop up is the sprawling Rincon of the Seas Grand Caribbean Hotel. It’s a well-rated choice that gives a few extra frills than some of the more local guesthouses – think a big pool, walking beach access, and concierge service.
Step-by-step guide to planning your rincon surfing trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the rincon surfing…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step five: Enjoy!
For paying for stuff when you’re traveling – Get a Wise borderless card/account. They charge NOTHING for POS payments in any country and have some of the best FX rates around in our humble opinion.
When to surf in Rincon?
The magic in Puerto Rico and especially in Rincon is with the big winter swell sets that originate in the North Atlantic. They’re the same swells that set up Cabarete in the Dominican Republic. Even the same swells that cruise eastwards into New England. They start in earnest around December time, which is when Tres Palmas and its brothers get firing on all cylinders. However, we’d actually pick out October and March, each side of the winter swell season, as the finest of the times to surf in Rincon. Yes, there are some flat periods but the dispersal of the crowds (from both surf line ups and the bars of spring break) mean that it’s probably worth the risk of getting skunked.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
4 comments
Hi Joseph,
I am going to be bringing my son and a friend to Rincon to surf and was wondering if you might be able to recommend a guide who could show him the surf spots in the area and the ins and outs of the different locations.
They are 15 and 16, pretty good, but a little over confident, and I’d love to have an insiders knowledge. Any recommendations would be really appreciated. Thanks so much.
Hey – we racked our brains this end but really don’t know any surf guides on the ground in Rincon. The best we could think of is to reach out on Reddit or perhaps directly to the guys at Rincon Surf School, which are the longest running surf school in the region.
Hi Joe, Thanks for the info. I just booked a flight for March 2024. Pumped! Should I bring my own boards or look to rent there? My small quiver includes a 9’6″ modern longboard, a 5’10” fish, and a 6’6″ Al Merrick Flyer II. I’m traveling with my kids so I won’t be able to totally focus on myself, extra gear, etc., but I don’t want to get stuck with a soft top or something not suited to the breaks. Any tips for rental spots would be helpful. Cheers!
Our two cents would be take your own. It’s not so much something specific to Puerto Rico. Just more that it adds way more flexibility and means you won’t get stuck with anything you don’t want. For example, we just did two weeks in Portugal and were consistently fobbed off with bad boards at rental spots that were very clear on thier websites that they did “performance boards,” only to reveal that it’s a big beginner NSP or shorter foamie when we get there.