Summer is easy in Puerto Rico with warm sands, adrenaline-pumping adventures, and spectacular views. Whether in the crystal-clear water or more than a hundreds of feet in the air on a zip-line, the island offers guests excitement and relaxation with some of the best beaches, mixed with some of the most unique sights in the world. Check out these land and water adventures, along with a rundown of the island’s best sands.
Ocean Park, Condado (San Juan)
Land Adventures
A true adventure – explore Cueva Ventana in Arecibo.
Perhaps one of the most unique features of Puerto Rico is the Observatorio de Arecibo, the world’s largest radar-radio telescope. The 20-acre dish (you read that correctly) is operated by the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center of Cornell University, and visitors—and locals—come to see marvelous sight with a vertigo-inducing observation deck, an around-the-clock research facilities, and a gift shop, of course!
Adventure abounds at Cueva Ventana Arecibo, a 45-minute expedition through mountains and forest to see the unique flora and fauna, stalactites, stalagmites, snakes (including the Puerto Rican boa) in their ecosystem. Guests will also see rock engravings from the indigenous Taino. One of the highlights of the cave is a breathtaking view of the valley of the Rio Grande de Arecibo.
Of course, for an ultimate adrenaline rush, guests will love the zipline at ToroVerde, an ecological adventure park. It has more miles of zip-line cables than anywhere else in the world, and the park itself was selected by Travel & Leisure as the 23rd Coolest New Attraction in the World in 2012. Fly like a bird at 60 mph, 853 feet up on a long 4,745 foot-long line. Could anything be more exhilarating? (Maybe, just maybe jumping off the Stratosphere, but we’re not even positive about that.)
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Water Adventures
Surfs up at Atlantic Surf and Bodyboarding School in Arecibo.
No one can go to Puerto Rico without getting into the water! Guests can take a miniboat out to the east side of Puerto Rico, Fajardo, where they’ll discover the pristine beaches and untouched cays. This is a perfect area for snorkeling. Guests who enjoy diving will love the Black Wall by Guanica, on the southwest corner of the island. With its namesake black coral, the wall is 22-miles long with a 2,000-foot drop along with spectacular marine life.
Of course, if surfing is a passion, then Rincón is the place to go. The self-proclaimed “Surf Capital of the Caribbean” drew the first surfers to the island in the 1960s with international competitions, and the surfers never left due to the perfect barrel waves and occasional 25-foot swell. Of course, not everyone is an expect surfer, so guests can learn the basics at the Atlantic Surf and Bodyboarding School in nearby Arecibo.
Beachalicious
Puerto Rico’s 270 miles of beaches have been recognized as some of the best in the world, so after getting your adventure on, try on some relaxation in the turquoise waters and on the powdery sands of this Caribbean island.
Flamenco Beach; Crashboat Beach; Culebra Beach; just some of the warm sands you can enjoy in Puerto Rico.
Ranked as one of the top beaches in the world by Discovery Channel and CNN, Flamenco Beach on the island of Culebra is a horseshoe-shaped paradise surrounded by tropical forest, as it borders the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge, one of the oldest wildlife preserves in the U.S. (Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory. FYI!) It also boasts a camping area, food kiosks, shower facilities, and snorkeling areas. The only way to reach the island and its pristine beach is by ferry or airplane.
Other beach areas include Boqueron Beach with a friendly village with open-air cantinas, food stalls, and dive shops. The beach is a mile long with spectacularly clear waters, calm waves, and fun watersports. Crash Boast Beach in Aguadilla is a favorite of pro surfers, but beach goers can also enjoy kayaking, snorkeling, and of course, tanning. It is also a favorite of romantics, perfect for evening strolls.
For families, Ocean Park in San Juan is hard to beat with its friendly atmosphere, ice cream vendors, warm sands, and room. Despite its popularity, it offers space to breathe and enjoy the tropical joys of the Caribbean.
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Are you ready to get your summer on? Then check out Puerto Rico now, while the deals are hot and so are the temperatures.
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