Great things to do in Rincón, Puerto Rico
April 11, 2024
Is Rincón, Puerto Rico worth visiting?
Rincon, Puerto Rico holds a special place in my heart because it was our home base for four years while we traveled around the Caribbean. I first visited Rincon when I was 12 years old and my Grandfather was working on the island. Some of my best childhood memories were of this charming little beach town.
When I became an adult and had the opportunity to go back to Puerto Rico, I knew I had to return and see if it was as great as I remembered. It did not disappoint, and after at least half a dozen trips to Puerto Rico, traveling the whole island, we decided Rincon was our favorite spot.
Can you swim in Rincón, Puerto Rico?
Rincon is famous for being a popular place to surf, and while it does get some epic waves, that shouldn’t deter you if you are looking to stay someplace where the beaches are calm.
The good thing about Rincon is half the beaches face north and half face west. If the conditions aren’t to your liking on one side, drive 5 minutes to the other side and they will be different. The surfing beaches are Maria’s, Domes, Tres Palmas, and sometimes Sandy Beach.
The beaches south of Tres Palmas are usually calm and good for swimming. Surf season is from late November until early April, outside of that all the beaches are usually calm unless there’s a tropical storm nearby. Surfline is a great place to check out local beach conditions, and there are live cameras at Maria’s Beach and Sandy Beach.
My Favorite Things to do In Rincon
- El Faro (the lighthouse) to watch the sunset, also a great place to watch for whales in winter.
- Snorkel at Steps Beach and the Marina. Go in front of the rocks on the right side on the beach. Please do not enter or or swim near the boat ramp.
- Beach day at Sandy Beach, there's plenty of shade here and some great places for lunch. Beach chairs are available to rent at the parking lot just after Tamboo.
- Surf or watch the surfers at Maria’s Beach and Domes Beach. They are beautiful beaches, but not good for swimming.
- Dona Lala’s is fun and a party beach on the weekends, Playa Los Almendros is popular with the locals. Both are good beaches for having a beach day and are usually good for swimming.
- Beach day at the Marina (a.k.a. Black Eagle Beach.) Head to the right side of the boat ramp for a sandy entrance. Please do not enter or or swim in front of the boat ramp. The Rincon Balneario is also good for swimming and watching the sunset. Both are the calmest beaches and best for little kids*
- Art Walk on Thursday nights in the town square (don't try to park in the town square, instead park by the ballpark a block to the north and walk.)
- Farmer’s Market on Sunday mornings in the town square.
- Hike the trail from Domes Beach to Pools Beach along the old Spanish Wall. The entrance is just in front of the dome power plant.
- Drive the Road to Happiness (413)
- Walk to the tide pools and Sea Glass beach at the east end of Sandy Beach
Rincon's biggest attraction is it's sunsets. There is no bad place in Rincon to watch the magic unfold, any place with a view of the sky will do, but my favorite places to watch the sunset are the lighthouse in the winter and at Sandy Beach in the summer months.
Best day trips from Rincon
- Gozalandia Waterfalls in San Sebastián
- Day trip to Crash Boat Beach* and Peña Blanca in Aguadilla*
- Day Trip to Playa Buye* and Playa Combate in Cabo Rojo*
- Boat trip in La Parguera
**Go on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
Best Tours and Activities in or near Rincon
- Hook’d On Adventure or Paradise Scuba and Snorkeling in La Parguera a day snorkeling tour or night bio bay trip. Check the moon phase, bio bay is best during or near a new moon or before the moon rise time.
- Pintos R Us for horseback riding
- Aquatica in Aquadilla for snorkeling and scuba diving at Crash Boat Beach
- Crash Boat Experiences
- Rincon Dive & Snorkeling and Taino Divers for snorkeling/diving/boat trips in Rincon
- Surf lessons with Fullmoonrincon and RD2H Surf School
Best Places to Eat In Rincon
For breakfast and/or lunch
- Jack's Shack at Pools Beach (Tues-Sun 8-3)
- Cafe 413 in the town square
- The English Rose Arrive early to get the fresh baked item of the day, but be prepared, the drive here is not for the faint of heart!
- Casa Islena, located on Sandy beach, it also a good spot for dinner and has live music some nights.
- For healthier options Sana Farm to Table (I highly recommend the poke or vegan bowl!) and Spires Market, located near Dona Lala’s Beach.
- Jake’s Java, Rincon Beach Cafe, and Cafe to Go for coffee, smoothies and acai bowls.
For lunch and/or dinner
- Tamboo beachfront, great for sunset or while having a beach day at Sandy Beach (open Thurs-Mon)
- La Copa Llena beachfront, get there early and enjoy the sunset, it opens at 5pm
- The Beach House perched up on the hill over Maria's Beach, it has one of the best views on the island
- Cowboys Cantina & Outside Grill is a really unique location, tucked in to the valley
- Red Flamboyan has authentic Puerto Rican food, it’s a great spot to try mofongo
- Capriccio Tattoria excellent food for a fine dinning experience
- The restaurant at Villa Cofresi
Best Fast Food In Rincon
- Gas Burger (next to a gas station, to go and delivery only)
- From Scratch Cuisine (get the empanadas!)
- Marcos Pizza (they deliver)
Pro tip: In my opinion food trucks have some of the best food, my favorites are Wake and Break (across from Cafe to Go), The Wandering Bagel, and Taquería El Trompo (Thurs 12-7; Fri.-Sun. 12-9, across from the road that leads to Rincon of the Seas.)
I also recommend ordering food made by locals for pickup from Paradise Catering and Bakery and Amanda Simpson. Weekly menus are posted on their Facebook pages, order in advance.
Best Beach Bars In Rincon
- The bar at the Rincon Lighthouse
- Caddy Calypso at Maria’s Beach
- Big Kahuna Bar and Grill, located at Casa Verde Hotel
- Pa’l 22 on the way to Anasco has amazing views
Best Place for Shopping and Souvenirs In Rincon
- Mangos at Sandy Beach
- Playero Surf Shop
- Henna Vida
Where to Stay In Rincon
Best hotels
- Tres Sirenas, a great little boutique hotel located within walking distance of the town square
- Villa Cofresi, one of the larger hotels in Rincon, it has a good pool for kids and the beach is usually calm
- Aqua Marina Beach Club, located at the Rincon Marina, which is a great beach for swimming and has some restaurants within walking distance
- Casa Islena, located on Sandy Beach, ideal for people who love long walks on the beach and a vibrant neighborhood with restaurants and beach bars
Best Short Term rentals
Rincon is pretty spread out and a lot of the places on the booking sites don't give accurate locations. If you are going the short term rental route I recommend staying in one of these neighborhoods. I have also included some places I know personally to be great places to stay.
- Sandy Beach is a charming, walkable neighborhood on the north side of Rincon. It's my favorite beach and there are several great restaurants and bars you can walk to. Perfect for teens that want a little more independence, families that want a wide sandy beach with lots of shade, and adults who like to walk to dinner.
Beachfront Penthouse - a luxury condo right on Sandy Beach with fantastic ocean and sunset views
Ground floor beachfront unit on Sandy Beach in a gated complex
One bedroom right on the beach, this two bedroom is upstairs
Budget-friendly option, right across the street from the beach
Great views with a pool at a budget-friendly price. Up the hill from the beach, but it's not a bad walk.
Large villa for big groups
- The Marina is the best beach for little kids. It's protected from the waves and is an ideal location in the winter months. There are a few good restaurants at the Marina and its a good midway point between the town square and several popular beaches.
Fantastic pool, walking distance to Steps Beach
Close to Steps Beach and the Marina
Good for larger groups, near the Marina, and this one is next door if you need even more room.
Gated property right at the Marina
2bed/2bath right next to the Marina
- The Harbor is where the public beach is located, and while it's not the best beach, it's usually calm and good for swimming. It's a fantastic place to watch the sunset and you can walk to the town square.
Condo near the beach
Two bedroom close to the harbor and town square
- Sea Beach Colony is a cute, quite, little neighborhood just south of the town square. It's right off the main road so it's the easiest to get to, and it's very close to the grocery store.
Fantastic house near a good beach
Condo near the beach and town square
Where do you fly into for Rincón?
Raphael Hernandez Airport (BQN) in Aguadilla is the closest major airport to Rincon and is about a 30-45 minute drive, depending on traffic. It's an easy, safe drive and I have done it in the middle of the night many times. You can also take Cape Air from SJU to Mayaguez, which is around 20-30 minutes from Rincon. I love this flight, it's on a smaller plane so it doesn't fly very high and you get fantastic views of the island.
Flights to BQN
- United from Newark
- JetBlue from Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale and JFK
If you decide to drive to Rincon from San Juan, it takes around 2-3 hours. It is a safe drive, and easy to do any time of day or night. For the first half you will be on a normal freeway. Once you get to Arecibo it turns into a two lane highway that goes though towns. None of the drive is on windy mountain roads unless you choose to take the route through San Sebastian. I recommend using Waze or Google Maps, and if you are staying at an Airbnb have the host drop you a pin on Google Maps to the exact location.
In conclusion
Rincon is an epic place for a daytrip, a month long stay, or anywhere in between. It makes a great home base for exploring the entire west side, and other popular destinations like Cabo Rojo, Aguadilla, Isabela, and La Parguera can easily be reached from Rincon. I highly recommend renting a car to get the most out of your stay. I hope you enjoy Rincon as much as I do.
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