The Ultimate Guide to Surfing in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is probably the best surf destination in the Caribbeam, with right-hand peelers on reefs that can rival any in Southeast Asia or Central America. Rincon made it famous, but there’s also loads more. This guide has the lowdown on everything, from surf stays to seasons…
An introduction to surfing in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is the golden boy of the Caribbean when it comes to surf. An unincorporated territory of the USA, it’s long been seen as the playground for East Coasters looking to snowbird out of their eyebrow-freezing nor’easterner swells to something more worthy of the rash vest and bikinis.
Here’s the deal: Warm water all year, good, strong swell showings from the north channel, and some seriously high-quality breaks to rival even what SoCal can muster. What’s not to love?
Barrels and beach breaks abound on the northwestern coast of the isle. It’s there that legendary names like Rincon pop up, fizzing rifle-like lanes across gorgeous bays threaded with low-lying coconut palms.
There’s decent surf all along that part of the island, basically until you get to the fringes of happening San Juan, the capital. Kegs are chased in big winter swells. But there are crumbly leg warmers for the beginners when the summer trades blow, too.
Cap all that off with an island that’s positively chilled to the T. Beach hotels with pools by the Caribbean Sea mingle with fish-fry shacks selling jerk and rum punches. Ah, it’s heaven. Plus, you’ve got the UNESCO history of old San Juan, one of the most historic towns in the Americas!
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!
This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in the Caribbean
Surfing in Puerto Rico at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to surfing in Puerto Rico?
Where is Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico is smack dab in the middle of the Great Antilles islands of the western Caribbean.
To the west, the Dominican Republic heralds the start of the island of Hispaniola. To the east, the sailing mecca of the United States Virgin Islands takes over with its mangrove-fringed bays of pure, white sand.
Technically speaking, Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the USA. though accession to full statehood gets more and more likely each year as refurendums and various bills are passed. Still, that doesn’t change the geography: Puerto Rico remains over 1,000 miles off the south tip of Florida.
How to get to Puerto Rico?
Getting to Puerto Rico is made pretty darn easy by the abundance of flights that jet over from mainstay North American cities. There are tons of them in months like February and March because this is a big spring-break hub, but plenty to go around in other seasons too.
They’ll most often drop you at the airport in Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) on the western side of San Juan, from where it’s about two hours’ driving to the premier surf breaks.
If you can, it’s WAAAY better to fly into the Aeropuerto Internacional Rafael Hernández. It’s a smaller hub to the west of San Juan but does have some links to major US cities like New York. The upside is that it’s right on the doorstep of the island’s major surf areas: Rincon, Aguadilla.
Try using Kiwi to search flights – they have a unique algo that links together all airlines to get the best deal, not just the ones that use codeshares. It can turn up some great bargains.
You can also come by cruise ship if that’s your sort of thing. San Juan is one of the major ports of call in the Caribbean region for the larger ships out of Florida.
Should I rent a car for surfing in Puerto Rico
It all depends what your plans are.
A lot of people will head to Rincon, base themselves there, and not really move around too much. Now, a car will still help there because it can be 10-20 minutes’ drive to cover the distance between the main breaks/beaches in Rincon itself. But it’s not strictly neccessary.
To surf multiple spots around the north and western shores of the island, a car is a very good idea indeed. Public transport is good but not amazing here, and it won’t take you right to the more hidden spots for the best waves.
More than that, having your own car adds extra freedom to explore the island. God forbid it goes flat, but if it does you can head up into the wild El Yunque National Forest for hikes between the orchid blooms or go waterfall hunting in the Bosque Estatal.
We use RentalCars for our hires. We like thier late cancellation policies (sometimes they let you cancel up to 48 hours before).
Puerto Rico surf spots
iStock.com / seanaj21The mainstay region for surfing in Puerto Rico is the far west, specifically the far northwest. There, a little lip of a headland known of Rincon is hailed as one of the great surf meccas of the globe.
The whole north coast along from Rincon going towards San Juan is also very good.
Basically, those are the places that are well-placed to get the main action in the northern swell channels come the winter.
Here, we’ve split the north coast and the west coast into different sections but the reality is they run into each other without much break, so it’s easy enough to plan a road trip all the way from San Juan to Rincon and surf any spot that’s working along the way.
Surf spots on the north coast of Puerto Rico
The north coast is slowly but surely gaining traction as one of the more accessible surf regions of Puerto Rico. Proximity to the capital and beach breaks that can be long and cruisy help with that, especially user-friendly Jobos.
San Juan
If you’re a serious surfer and want to taste the best that Puerto Rico has to offer, there’s no doubt about it: Head to Rincon and the west.
However, San Juan – the vibrant, party-mad capital – does have it’s own breaks. They’re all north-facing, so get lots of swell and can actually be pretty darn decent.
The old town area sits on a peninsula of its own, and that’s even got a few breaks. They include La Ocho, a fine intermediate+ right that’s a bit mushy but can have long, workable walls when there’s some size (5-7foot). It’s close to Fiji, a cleaner left hander that’s great fun for shortboarding goofies and works on smaller swells.
IN the new area of the city, there are breaks for boadyboarders in front of the Sheraton Hotel on Condado Beach, plus more hollow rights a bit further east along the same beach.
That’s really just scratching the surface. Check our full guide cos’ you’ll find more than 10 breaks in the San Juan area that are makable during a city break/spring break romp here.
Where to stay? Mango Mansion has won a HOSCAR (an award for being the best hostel in any given destination) and it’s within striking distance of the surf beaches in the San Juan new town, but also pretty close to the old city.
We have a full guide to surfing in San Juan right here
Isabela
Isabela has like 5-7 spots up its sleeve.
The main one is the right-hand point that works on the boulders you can see off of Sardineras Beach. It’s usually got a crew on it. Some say they’re fiercly mean, others laud the warm aloha-style welcome. We’ve never had an issue. Just DON’T SNAKE!
That’s closely followed by Middles Beach. The Trestle’s namesake is a corker for sure. It throws out barrels aplenty when head-on N swells come down. On larger days, it’s a solid backdoor entry into a proper bowl of a pit and you won’t want to paddle in.
There’s also more to this town than just those two, including beginner-friendly beach breaks and protected log waves. That’s why we now rate it as a must-stop location on any cross-north shore surf road trip.
Where to stay? Angelica Beachfront Paradise is a condo that’s not to condo-y. A pool and walking access to both the main breaks in town = the perfect base for surfers here.
We have a full guide to Isabela right here – check it before you travel! (coming soon)
Montones
Further along the north coast in the direction of San Juan, Montones is mainly reserved for kite surfers who hit the water when the summer trades start firing. It’s got some nice beaches, but is too sheltered to pick up worthwhile sets in the wintertime.
Jobos
Jobos is now probably established as the go-to surf town on the northern shore of Puerto Rico.
It’s closer to San Juan than both Rincon and Aguadilla, so can draw some crowds.
But it’s the break that should do the talking because it’s pretty darn fantastic…
Reminding us a touch of the bendy rights that cruise into Zurriola Beach in San Sebastian, the sets here hit a long headland to the north and proceed to cruise all the way into the main beachfront.
They can give nice long rides of over 200m when working best.
The local rippers know where to go to hoover up all the action – you’ll see them clustering by the main point.
Traveling surfers are usually left to chase the run-through scraps or sit on the shoulder but that’s not a bad thing because even the shoulders are high-quality.
We have a full guide to surfing in Jobos, Puerto Rico (coming soon)
Surfer’s Beach
The beach that gets the moniker is probably the one that deserves it most. We’d say Surfer’s Beach is the most consistent spot in the municipality of Aguadilla.
That’s down to the orientation – it looks north to get the full hit of the winter N swells.
The point at the eastern end of the bay actually bends the waves inwards a touch before they start breaking, too, which means the E trades can be a touch offshore. It varies here from big (when it’s a hard wave) to very small (when it’s suited to beginners).
The rights are the best.
Surf spots on the west coast of Puerto Rico
The west is the celebrity of Puerto Rico. It’s got Rincon, one of the planet’s best surf regions, and some of the finest tropical reef and beach breaks in the Caribbean…
Wilderness
Wilderness is a bit more like a Rincon classic up in Aguadilla. Sometimes heavy, sometimes cruisy, it flits this way and that with the ebb and flow of the strong winter swells.
You should know that the reef here is VERY shallow and sharp. It’s taken many a pound of flesh in its time. On the upside, the remoteness of the spot means it’s often empty for dawnie sessions, and there’s a surrounding park with some historic ruins to see.
Wilderness is the first known break located on the western shore. It’s actually on the bend between the north coast and the west coast, sat at the end of the runways of the Aeropuerto Internacional Rafael Hernández.
Crash Boat
The best surf beach in the Aguadilla region, Crash Boat is a south-west facing opening in the shoreline jungle. It’s made unique by the presence of a huge pier right in the middle. That can sometimes channel nice NE swells into something akin to Huntington Beach – think sucky rights that froth out to the edges of the bay. It’s kind of a hard wave and very shifty. We’d recommend it to experienced surfers and tray riders.
Aguadilla/Bridges
Aguadilla isn’t Rincon. They’re close. But we’ll stress: It IS NOT Rincon. This town of expat bars and mundane strip malls and manicured golf courses attracting Merc drivers.
It actually rose out of the nearby air force base, not the surf scene. Since then, some great spots have been discovered in the region. We’ll continue to list them below, because most are actually distinct locations north of the town centre.
There is one beach within reach of the city, though: Bridges. A hotdogger’s paradise, this one usually manages lips and wedges that are fun for ripping on. Despite usually being small and having a dubious water-quality rating, it’s actually hard not to like the spot.
Rincon
All hail Rincon – the de facto surf capital of the Caribbean. In just under six miles of seriously gorgeous shoreline on the far north-western tip of Puerto Rico, this little municipality manages to pack in some of the world’s very best tropical breaks.
The likes of Dogman’s and Domes take care of intermediate surfers. There are more mellowed breaks at Sandy Beach and Maria’s. And then there are the beefcakes of Tres Palmas, a break that could well be called the Caribbean’s answer to Nazare.
That ticks just about all levels for all surfers, only you get the lot in a truly stunning part of the island that’s laced with pristine beaches and lovely surf shacks. Sounds perfect, eh?
Where to stay? Coconut Palms Inn has Caribbean charm and front-row seats over the water. Surf checks can be done from the terrace.
Read our ultimate guide to Rincon surfing right now!
Best hotels (for surfers) in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico represents a great escape from the icy North American winters and it has for decades. You’ll notice that the palm-fringed sands of the surf bays here come backed by some excellent resorts and villas that are great for a surf adventure. Let’s take a look…
Coconut Palms Inn
If you’re after an authentic slice of vintage Puerto Rican surf culture, Coconut Palms Inn has you covered.
It’s been a mainstay on the Rincon strip for some years. Zingy rooms with Cairbbean colors spill onto breezy balconies where you can watch the sunsets blaze across the Atlantic.
It’s nothing fancy but therein lies the charm. Close to lots of breaks.
Cozy apartment with 8 minute walk to beach
Dodge the big crowds of Rincon and make for this cozy little bolt hole in Aguadilla.
It’s very well kept and just a short stroll from the waves of Crash Boat, one of the best spots in the area. You get a fully fitted kitchen and even a small al fresco porch to chill in.
Punta Borinquen Resort
The uber-new Punta Borinquen Resort offers contemporary rooms on the hill just above Surfer’s Beach.
It has an on-site restaurant serving Tex-Mex and surf-turf dishes, along with a big pool and even a ping-pong table.
The whole scene is pretty quiet and away from it all, but the surf is right there on the doorstep.
Rincon Surf House
Barebones Rincon Surf House is the budget option in the western surf hub of Puerto Rico. It’s got just a few dorms with bunk beds that are VERY easy on the bank account.
There aren’t many extras but there are surfboards and bicyles for rent.
If in doubt when it comes to booking accomodation for surfing in PR, we like to use Booking.com’s nifty map feature, since it will let you see exactly how far your chosen stay is from a specific beach/surf spot.
When to surf in Puerto Rico?
Winter is the best time to surf in Puerto Rico. Strong NW-W-NE swells dominate from the depths of the upper Atlantic from around November time, sending big groundswells into the reefs of Rincon and the north-facing beaches of Aguadilla.
They are the engine to the XL breaks and the big tubes that make this such a famous destination. They’re not consistent though, so you do get a variation in set size from overhead to under-knee, meaning there are good sessions for learners to be had at this time.
Summer isn’t great. Blustery E trade winds can play havoc with the whole setup of the north shore, messing it to pieces. Rincon is more immune since they are offshore then, but there’s not too much to blow on when the swells disperse.
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!
