My Beautiful Puerto Rico: Beaches of the West Coast

Puerto Rico has so many beautiful beaches (and amazing locations) all around the Island. Memories come to mind of those sandy beaches, and the feeling of the sun, the water, and the warm breeze. The fact that there’s tropical warm weather all-year-round, makes it easier to enjoy any beach any time of the year.

As I had mentioned in my previous posts, during my research, I found there are 1,200 beaches named in Puerto Rico. See the article (in Spanish) from Primera Hora, mostly pictures, here https://www.primerahora.com/fotogalerias/noticias/puerto-rico/las1200playasdepuertorico-1069825/foto-1/.

I’ve written two previous articles about Puerto Rico’s beautiful beaches: one about the north coast, check article here https://fullofcoffee.blog/2019/06/30/my-beautiful-puerto-rico-beaches-of-the-north-coast/; and another about the south coast, check article here https://fullofcoffee.blog/2019/07/07/my-beautiful-puerto-rico:-beaches-of-the-south-coast/

On the west coast of the Island, the Atlantic Ocean meets with the Caribbean Sea. That area is called “Canal de la Mona” (Mona’s Passage). There’s a small island named Mona (jurisdiction of Puerto Rico), and further west is Dominican Republic.

From San Juan area, follow the main road PR-2 all the way to Aguadilla. That’s a driving distance of about 2 hours. The same road PR-2 continues all the way south until you reach Cabo Rojo. The west coast extends for about 35-40 miles from north to south. It’s a driving distance of about an hour and a half to go from Aguadilla to Cabo Rojo.

There are six towns in this region with access to the coast: Aguadilla, Aguada, Rincón, Añasco, Mayagüez, and Cabo Rojo. Only six towns with access to the beach, and there are over 200 named beaches in this area! Many of them are very popular among locals and visitors. I chose only ten beaches for this post, which turned out to be a very difficult task.

The town of Aguadilla is located in the northwest corner of the Island. There are 32 named beaches on its coast. There’s an airport in town, the Rafael Hernandez Airport, with direct flights from United States. The facilities were once for the Ramey Air Force Base, and now are used for the airport.

Crash Boat Beach is one or maybe the most popular of all. It gets very crowded, especially during summer season. But it’s such a beautiful beach, that it deserves a visit. It’s located in part of what was the old port of the Ramey military base, so some pier structures remain in the area.

The beach has different areas for everyone to enjoy. There are shallow spots for kids, but always watch for changes in water tidal currents. There are no lifeguards, and no public restrooms. There’s available parking, but it does get crowded fast.

Colón Park Beach is a small beach area located near the downtown of Aguadilla. There’s a beautiful boardwalk that ends on the beach. There’s also a park for kids with swings and a treehouse. There are tables for picnics, but no public restrooms. There are many more beaches in Aguadilla, but on my last visit, during summer of 2017, we ended up stopping there and we really enjoyed the beach area.

Balneario Pico de Piedra Beach is in Aguada. Being a “balneario”, there’s available parking, lifeguards on staff, and public restrooms. There are also picnic areas and a playground area for kids.

The town of Rincón is another one with fantastic and very popular beaches. There are 53 named beaches on its coast. All of them get crowded, but are well worth the visit. Rincón is one of the main places in Puerto Rico where humpback whales migrate to in the winter, so many people visit every year to enjoy whale watching. 

Balneario Rincón Beach is located near town. There are lifeguards on staff and public restrooms. Also has good parking and picnic areas. It’s a good beach to enjoy with the family.

Sandy Beach is also in Rincón. The name fits it well, because there is an extensive sandy shore that allows visitors to enjoy many activities. From playing to walking, this is also a very busy place. There are no public restrooms.

There are 13 beaches on the coast of the town of Mayaguez. The islands of Mona, Monito and Desecheo are also considered to be part of this municipality. This is a busy college town, because one of the University of Puerto Rico’s campus is located here, and it’s one of the top colleges on the Island.

A beach to visit is the Mayagüez Bay. There’s a chain of reefs that extends through its coast. The Port of Mayagüez is also located nearby. There are no public restrooms, but there’s parking available.

Balneario Tres Hermanos Beach is located in the town of Añasco. This town has 18 beaches on its coast. The beach has an extensive and beautiful coastline. Being a balneario, there are available public restrooms and picnic areas. Camping is permited, but there’s a fee per night. Parking is also available, with a fee per vehicle.

The town of Cabo Rojo is located in the southwest corner of the Island. It’s another town with amazing beach locations, well known by locals and visitors. There are about 127 named beaches in this town.

Playa Sucia, also known as La Playuela, is located in the town of Cabo Rojo. It’s name is associated with the Bahía Sucia nearby. There are no restrooms and no lifeguards. Take appropriate security precautions when visiting with children or if you don’t know how to swim. Tide changes might provoke water current changes that might pull a person away from the shore.

Balneario Boquerón Beach is also located in Cabo Rojo. It’s one of the most visited and most popular beaches on the Island. The sand is light colored and the water is crystal clear. It’s a very crowded beach. But it’s a nice beach and a good place for families to visit. There’s a parking fee per vehicle. There are available public restrooms, picnic areas, and basketball courts.

Combate Beach is another one of Cabo Rojo’s most popular beaches. It’s another beautiful beach with amazing views and great areas to enjoy with the family. There’s good parking, but no public restrooms. It’s also a crowded beach, but also worth the visit.

Many of my memories are of good times spent with friends and family, and they include days spent at the beach. My Dad would say “we are going to the beach”, and all of us would get all excited for the trip and the day ahead. My Mom would pack the food and all we needed, and off we headed to the closest beach or to the most popular one.

If you are someone who doesn’t enjoy the beach, at least give a visit to any of these amazing locations. You would enjoy the wonderful view, or a nice walk along those sandy shores. I find a walk on the beach helps clear the mind and helps forget your worries for a little while. And, I don’t know about you, but just looking at these pictures, makes me want to go to the beach. It’s time for my tacita de café. Salud!

Para versión en Español vea https://fullofcoffee.blog/2019/07/14/mi-hermoso-puerto-rico:-playas-de-la-costa-oeste/.