Favorite Beaches of Puerto Rico
The Islands of Puerto Rico are a Caribbean treasure. The country is divided into 5 regions. The North Side and the city of San Juan are filled with historic sites, beaches, lagoons, lakes, caves and forests. While in the East, you will find fabulous golden beaches, golf courses, nature reserves and spectacular underwater reefs and cays. On the other hand, the central area is popular for its coffee. The aroma and taste of an Arabic coffee warms the heart of many coffee drinkers ever since from the day it was first produced in around 1736. The area is also rich in archaeological sites and home to two of the world’s famous botanical gardens.
Though there are lots of things to talk about when considering this area, this article is about the famous beaches. Most of the striking beaches here are not really part of its main island. But rather, you can find these beaches on islands off the main coast. What you’ll normally get with these beaches are a traditional, tropical paradise instead of being overcrowded with lots of gimmicky tourism strategies. Below are my most favorite beaches in Puerto Rico.
Mona Island – This island is on top of my list because of its incomparable ecosystem, and other than that, there are no hotels to spoil the view of the very beautiful surroundings. Mona Island is often referred to as the Galapagos Islands of the Caribbean. This is because you can find lots of bizarre species wandering inland and water openly. Because of this, the island is closed to tourists during hunting season which is usually January through April. If you want to tour the island exclusively, you’ll need permits from the Natural Resources and Environment department, and they only offer this during the months of May to November.
Coco Beach – Coco Beach is not as mysterious as the island of Mona, but does share some similar characteristics. It provides persistent stretches of unspoiled beach and you’ll find the color contrast between the green sand and vibrant blue sea spectacular.
Shacks Beach – Shacks Beach is located on Isabela and is also known for its spectacular waters that provide the best scuba diving, surfing and windsurfing in the country. Their sleepy coconut palms in line at the beach are also a place ideal for napping or relaxing. What is particularly attractive about the beaches of this area is that most of the islands are secluded. Most of the visitors love the feeling of separation that is quite soothing and memorable.
But of course not everything in Puerto Rico is about seclusion, there are lots of wonderful and fun-filled activities you can do here. This island is known worldwide for not only its pristine beaches but also because for its ample opportunities for recreational water sports such as para-sailing, jet skiing, diving and surfing. Para-sailing – The good thing about para-sailing is that you get to see the beautiful surroundings in a different way. It’s like taking a balloon ride. It’s very exciting to be pulled from the edges of the beach. Jet Skis – If you want to feel an incredible adrenaline rush, ride jet skis and cleave the waves of the ocean at 30 km per hour. Jet Ski rentals are available in most ports on the beaches. You should visit the cove known as Taurito when jet skiing. Surfing – Surfing is another sport that you can enjoy during your vacation to these islands. There’s even a surf school near the beaches that offer professional training for aspiring surfers. Most surfing activities in this territory will take place in the north of the island as Pozo Izquierdo and Las Canteras in Las Palmas. Diving – The crystal clear waters of the Canary Islands are very ideal for divers. Scuba diving is one sport enjoyed by locals and tourists all year round. One of the established dive shops to visit is the Top Dive located in Puerto Escala.
The beautiful scenery, rich culture and vast history give a sensual feast to visitors. The country is very easy to discover, since even the most distant areas can be traveled for in 3 hours. Each activity you’ll do in Puerto Rico can help you uncover the history of every place and culture as well as understand every people you’ll meet.
