March 29, 2024

Should you visit Crash Boat Beach?

The History of Crash Boat Beach

Don’t worry, it’s not called Crash Boat Beach because boats always crash there. Crash Boat got its name because the pier there was built for the US military rescue boats to dock. Their boats would rescue airmen who had crashed, hence the name. Over time sand deposits rendered the pier unusable but created a fantastic beach for the public to enjoy.

Crash boat is on the northwest corner, but faces slightly south, this gives it protection from the north shore swell that can get big in the winter months, and it’s also a fantastic place to watch a famous west coast sunset. The beach itself is crescent shape, with a long pier jutting out from the middle. I have found that it tends to be calmer on the left side of the pier if you are looking out to sea. 

Crash Boat is great for snorkeling

My favorite thing to do at Crast Boat is to snorkel. The best snorkeling can be found off the end of the pier. It’s not a hard swim from shore, especially if you have fins, but if you don’t feel comfortable swimming that far you can jump off the end of the pier or climb down one of the ladders. You will see lots of local kids jumping off the pier, always be sure to check the water depth before you leap. There are plenty of fish to see at the end of the pier, but if you venture a little way out to sea and to the left you’ll see an amazing array of sea life. Both hurricane Maria and Irma significantly damaged the pier, and the pilings that remain underwater have created an artificial reef only about 20 feet under the water. 

If you really want have the best experience I recommend doing the Discover Scuba class with Aquatica Underwater Adventures. You don’t have to be certified to do this class, and it’s great for all ages. They walk you through the basics of scuba diving and a certified instructor takes you to Crash Boat and teaches you how to scuba in shallow water. You then head out to the part of the pier that’s underwater for an easy out and back swim. You never go very deep, it’s a great way to see the sea life up-close, and to try scuba without much risk.

Additional tips for Crash Boat

It has a large parking lot, but it can fill up fast, especially on weekends and holidays. I highly recommend going on a weekday and getting there early or later in the day. There is some shade, but it always fills up first, so bring an umbrella if you want to be able to have some space to yourself. There are food vendors there on most days, but it’s not guaranteed they will be open. If they are, definitely get the pinchos!

Looking for other safe beaches to swim? Check out this blog!

How to get to Crash Boat from San Juan

Getting to Crash Boat Beach from San Juan is an easy, safe drive. It takes roughly 2 hours, depending on traffic. Traffic can be bad on the island, especially around San Juan during rush hour, so plan your trip accordingly. I recommend using Waze to route you around traffic. You will start by travelling west (oeste) on PR-22. It's a nice, wide freeway that is very similar to any freeway you will find in the states. Once you get past Arecibo, you will take PR-2 west (oeste) towards Aquadilla. This is a two lane highway that goes through towns with traffic lights. It can be slow going if traffic is heavy, but it's an easy road to navigate. Once you enter the town of Aguadilla, take a right on PR-107 for about a mile, then a left on PR-458 for another mile to arrive at the parking lot.

Tip: Cuevo del Indio in Arecibo is a good stop to make on your way there, if you want to add to your trip. If you are staying in Rincon, Crash Boat is easy to do on the way there from San Juan.

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