Surfing, Sunsets and Fishing Villages

Surfers put Rincon on the map, when teams from around the world showed up to compete in the 1968 World Surfing Championship.

The north-west coastal region of Puerto Rico’s main island is its most famous around the world. Rincón is a town that most serious surfers can talk about. Ever since the sixties, when a world surfing championship was held in Rincón, the area is flooded with local and international surfers who come to Rincón during the winter months to ride the highest waves this part of the planet. These same waters, famous for their roaring waves, also serve as birthing grounds to whales that migrate during the northern winter to the warmer waters of the Caribbean. What is known as the “Puerto Rican Pipeline” in surfing circles, is a string of beaches that run from the town of Isabela to the surfing spots of Rincón. Among the most visited surfing beaches of this “pipeline” are Jobos Beach in Isabela, Crash Boat in Aguadilla, and Tres Palmas and Domes in Rincón.

This part of the Puerto Rico, branded as Porta del Sol, runs from Quebradillas on the north-west coast to Guánica on the south-west coast of the Island. The region is better known, to the non-surfing crowd, for its beautiful sunsets, its many seafood restaurants, its fishing villages and its sandy beaches which are the most visited by the locals during the summer months. Due its distance from San Juan, and its many attractions, this area has a well-developed hospitality industry geared toward family vacations. From small guesthouses to luxury beach resorts, there is always a safe and clean place to stay near where the fun is at the beach. On Porta del Sol the action at the beach is much more than surfing; it is parasailing, jet skiing, sailing, standup paddling, diving, fishing, snorkeling or just plain sunbathing.

Also in Rincón, a great place to visit, with a gorgeous view of the sunset and the occasional whale in the distance, is the Rincón Lighthouse Park. The park has coin operated binoculars and a snack bar. In the distance, you will see the island of Desecheo, a natural reserve and a great diving spot for those willing to rent a boat for the trip offshore. If you feel truly adventurous on your visit to western Puerto Rico, you can arrange a trip to the “Galápagos of the Atlantic”: Mona Island. Located halfway between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, the Mona Island Nature Reserve is home to native iguanas, rare birds and sea turtles. Deep inside the mesa-shaped island wild goats and pigs feed on oregano prairies. Hunting is allowed but strictly controlled.