All along the east coast of Puerto Rico, there are many interesting communities to visit, extraordinary resorts, world class golf courses, casinos and night life, and, of course, many wonderful beaches. All Puerto Rico beaches are open. By law in Puerto Rico none can be private. So if you see a beach, you can go on it! There are a number of convenient spots for swimming and sunning less than one hour from our house. Described here are a variety of beaches and other interesting destinations providing a full range of experiences from which to pick your favorites!

Drive Time: About 45 Minutes
Directions: Take route 3 South to route 9911 (Scenic Drive following a mountainous seaside route). Turn left onto route 760 at signs for "Los Bohios" resturant. Just Past Maunabo Beach

When you visit Punta Tuna, you get a spectacular mountain drive overlooking the Caribbean in the bargain. After Yabucoa, you'll begin to wind up a mountain side. Drive slowly, enjoy the view and let locals pass. Look for the restaurant El Nuevo Horizonte and pull off to the left for a spectacular view near the summit. Continue on winding down to Maunabo, where a public parking area gives access to Larga Beach, which runs along the coast to Punta Tuna Lighthouse. Travel through Maunabo, pass a baseball field on the right, then look left for Route 760 and a restaurant sign "Los Bohios." When you reach the Los Bohios restaurant, turn right down a short steep hill to the parking area in the palms.

A wonderful natural spot, the beach has soft sand, a mild surf and good swimming. It offers a lovely view of the Punta Tuna fishing village and lighthouse perched above the beach on a monumental rocky cliff. Walk away from the lighthouse about 100 yards down the beach to get wonderful vistas of an unspoiled tropical valley. It is a quiet, uncrowded beach surrounded by mountains. We have never seen a dozen people on it! It's a great spot to picnic (no services), bring a cooler. This is one of our favorites!

Drive Time: Expressway 30 Minutes
Directions: Route 53 Expressway North, or Route 3 Along The Coast

Take a quick run up to Fajardo on Route 53 or travel the coast through little towns. The choice is yours. If you follow the coast, Naguabo on the sea (Playa Hucares), offers a harbor walk along bustling bars and restaurants. Further north, you'll find Puerto del Ray Marina, where you'll find sailboats to charter and scuba diving services. Fajardo is also an excellent place to find boat charters, as well as the ferry to Culebra and Vieques. If you go by expressway, you'll get excellent views of the rain forest and shorten your drive.

To take the expressway, go east on Route 30 from Las Piedras. In Humacao, take the left hand fork. When Route 30 terminates, turn left and pass Humacao Plaza. After crossing under the Route 53 Expressway, stay right. At a new Wendy's, you will turn left from the right hand lane to enter the expressway. Very unusual! After the second toll gate ($0.35) you will come to a traffic light and an exit right for Route 194. Follow a winding road until it comes to a "T" where signs say Inn and Hotel. Turn right here, pass an old sugar mill and stay left. Pass a traffic light and a Burger King. Pass a Marina and the entrance for El Conquistador on the right. When you reach a fork, go left and find the entrance to the beach a short distance ahead on the left), follow Route 194 past the entrance to the El Conquistador Resort to the fenced (usually no charge) beach parking area. If you continue on you will come to Las Cabezas lighthouse and nature reserve.

At Seven Seas Beach, you'll find crystal clear water in a quiet cove. This beach offers views of the lighthouse and nature preserve. You'll find picnic tables, toilet facilities, outdoor freshwater showers, and a long protected beach area. The swimming area is roped off and there may be a lifeguard. There will be no surf. A great place for kids.

Drive Time: Expressway 45 Minutes
Directions: Route 53 Expressway North to Route 3

Take Expressway Route 53 to Fajardo, where it becomes Route 3. Continue past Fajardo 7 Miles. Look for a well marked exit ramp to the entrance of a very nice public park. A small parking fee is charged.

One of the most famous beaches in Puerto Rico; it is the subject of many post cards. This is large well-run public beach. Parking is paid and fenced off. It has souvenir shops, snack bars, bathhouses and a water safety staff on patrol. Unlikely to have surf, the large flat beach offers a gentle swimming, long walks and great views of the rain forest peaks. The parking area and beach are closed in the evenings. It reminds us of an American state park. You'll find both natives and many tourists enjoying the sun at Luquillo.

Drive Time: Expressway 20 Minutes
Directions: Route 53 Expressway South, Palmas del Mar Exit

Just 20 minutes from the house is Palmas del Mar, one of the most renowned resorts in the Caribbean. Anyone can enter the resort and use its facilities in a variety of ways. The resort offers 36 holes of golf, a fabulous palm tree lined ocean beach, a Casino, a dozen restaurants, and a scuba diving center at the marina. At the gate, just tell the guard you want to go to the commercial area. He will direct you to where you can park. From there you can walk throughout the resort, visit the Casino, or dine at the restaurants. Before you park, you may want to motor slowly around to view the exquisite architecture and beautiful living areas. Take your camera, there will be plenty of photos worth taking at Palmas! The Marina offers boat charters and scuba services. Look for beach access at the Buena Vista entrance.

Drive Time: Expressway: 30 Minutes, Ferry Voyage: 1.5 Hours
Directions: Plan to arrive for the Ferry at least one hour early. Depending on the day, it may be hard to get a ticket. To travel by the expressway, go east on Route 30 from Las Piedras. In Humacao, take the left hand fork. When Route 30 terminates, turn left and pass Humacao Plaza. After crossing under the Route 53 Expressway, stay right. At a new Wendy's, you will turn left from the right hand lane to enter the expressway. Very unusual! After the second toll gate ($0.35) you will come to a traffic light and an exit right for Route 194. Follow a winding road until it comes to a "T" where signs say Inn and Hotel. Turn right here, pass an old sugar mill and new Court and Municipal Facilities and stay left. Turn right at a traffic light before a Burger King. Follow this road until it reaches at the harbor. Park in either gated paid parking area, when you see the harbor in front of you.

Arrive for the Ferry one hour early. Depending on the day, it may be hard to get a ticket. (If you miss it you can fly, from Fajardo Airport. The flight is an adventure worth the price (about $20 one way), and you can come back by ferry for $2.) Remember boats also go to Vieques. Be sure to get on the Culebra boat. After you land, find 'publicos' or taxis. They leave from the dock square regularly. There, are shops in town, but no services on the beach except bathhouses and toilets. At times, food vendors set up tents at the beach parking area. But it is risky to depend on them being there. Best to bring a full cooler with drinks and some lunch.

Arguably the most beautiful beach in Puerto Rico, Flamenco Beach offers superb snorkeling, calm swimming, wonderful surf...all on the same beach. A 1.5 mile crescent, Flamenco Beach will be uncrowded, offers wonderful views of the surrounding hills, and great walking. The water will be clear enough to see down 20-30 feet and snorklers will view over a hundred species of fish. If Flamenco is too agitated for clear snorkeling, you can hike mile or so through the nature preserve (a well marked trail begins in the parking lot...bring good shoes) and you can swim over the reef at Carlos Rosario Beach, another world class snorkeling area.

Drive Time: Expressway: 30 Minutes, Ferry Voyage: 1 Hour
Directions: Plan to arrive for the Ferry one hour early. Depending on the day, it may be hard to get a ticket. To travel by the expressway, go east on Route 30 from Las Piedras. In Humacao, take the left hand fork. When Route 30 terminates, turn left and pass Humacao Plaza. After crossing under the Route 53 Expressway, stay right. At a new Wendy's, you will turn left from the right hand lane to enter the expressway. Very unusual! After the second toll gate ($0.35) you will come to a traffic light and an exit right for Route 194. Follow a winding road until it comes to a "T" where signs say Inn and Hotel. Turn right here, pass an old sugar mill and new Court and Municipal Facilities and stay left. Turn right at a traffic light before a Burger King. Follow this road until it reaches at the harbor. Park in either gated paid parking area, when you see the harbor in front of you.

Remember boats also go to Culebra. Be sure to get on the Vieques boat. The ferry lands in the town of Isabela Segunda. It is a good size town and may be worth some exploring on foot. If you do, the Fort Conde Mirasol Museum traces the history of the island. There are also a number of restaurants and shops.

Vieques island has wonderful beaches. Perhaps the most popular is Sun Bay, about a mile from the town of Esperanza.( It can be reached from the dock by cab. Make it clear when the cab driver should return so that you can make your return Ferry!) This beach is a broad crescent with good walking and many spots to swim with light to no surf. Some services, including changing houses and bathrooms, may be available. You can walk about a mile along the beach (to the right when facing the water) and around a point to reach the little town of Esperaza, where you will find restaurants and shops overlooking the sea. Other nice beaches to visit include: Red Beach, Blue Beach and Green Beach, all former military base beaches. They can be reached by cab or by renting a car. These beaches are very natural and will have no services. Bring your lunch! Renting a car in advance (last minute rentals are often not available) and touring several beaches, while stoping for lunch in Esperaza or Isabel Segunda, makes an interesting day of varied swimming and sightseeing,

In our view Esperanza beach is not nice enough to spend the day swimming, although some snorkeling is done over the rocks found at the right end of the walkway. If you cab to Esperaza, it is feasable to walk to Sun Bay for better swimming following the shore line to the left.

Drive Time: Expressway: 45 Minutes. Mountain roads 45 minutes.
Directions: Route 53 Expressway North to Fajardo, without exiting continue on west toward San Juan on Route 3. Look for Route 19l, an obscure turn left at Rio Grande, a sign in Spanish says: "El Bosque National." Wind through town and start up the Mountain.

More than 4000 feet high and just miles from the sea, El Yunque is the only tropical rain forest in the US National Forest system. It offers a wonderful drive with many exciting overlooks and photo spots to pull off. Once at the upper parking lots, short walks are possible to view waterfalls, diverse flora, and many picturesque settings and expansive vistas. Longer hikes may be taken to the summits of the El Yunque and other peaks. On longer treks, expect to spend several hours on the trail. Hiking boots or other dependable footwear are advised. There are no poisonous snakes or dangerous wild animals. For more information, see our LINKS page below.

A new, very nice visitor center is located at the base of the park road. It is well worth the price of admission. It offers a video presentation on the park, access to helpful park employees, bathrooms and a nice gift shop.