Safest beaches for swimming in Puerto Rico
April 1, 2024
Are the beaches in Puerto Rico safe for swimming?
During the winter months the Puerto Rico travel pages are often filled with scary warnings about dangerous riptides and big surf on the beaches. If you have a beach vacation planned during these months, it’s definitely something to take into consideration, but it should not deter you from planning a trip to the island. There are plenty of beaches that are usually safe all winter, if you plan your trip accordingly.
Surf season in the Caribbean runs from around mid-November until mid-April, with the greatest chance for big surf occurring in January and February. This isn’t ideal for beach lovers hoping to escape the cold weather where they live. The biggest surf is typically on the north side of the island and can affect any beach that faces north from the outer islands of Vieques and Culebra, to the north shore of Rincon. This includes the Luquillo and San Juan metro beaches.
If you want the best chance at having a calm beach nearby, I suggest staying somewhere between Rincon and Cabo Rojo during the winter. The south facing beaches are also much calmer, but in my opinion the beaches on the south shore are not as good as the beaches on the west side, although a few good ones can be found between Ponce and Cabo Rojo.
Balnearios, which are what the public beaches in Puerto Rico are called, are always your best bet for the safest beaches. They usually have bathrooms, picnic tables, a designated parking lot, and some have showers, but they are also the most crowded, especially on weekends.
Safest beaches on the west side of Puerto Rico
To help you decide where to stay, I have created a list of beaches on the west side of Puerto Rico that are usually the calmest and safest.
- Crash Boat Beach in Aguadilla
- Black Eagle Beach, which is at the marina in Rincon
- The Balneario in Rincon
- Dona Lalas in Rincon
- Los Almendros in Rincon
- The Balneario in Anasco
- Playa Buye in Cabo Rojo
- Boquerón in Cabo Rojo
- Playa Combate in Cabo Rojo
- The cays in La Parguera, but a boat required to get to them
Safest beaches on the north shore of Puerto Rico
If you are staying on the north shore and some big surf arrives, I recommend checking out these beaches.
- Escambron Beach
- Playita del Condado
- Balnerio de Carolina
- Balnerio La Monserrate in Luquillo
- Playa Puerto Nuevo
- Flamenco Beach on Culebra
- Sun Bay Beach on Vieques
- Playa La Chiva on Vieques
Tips and tools for staying safe
Keep in mind, beach conditions can change at any time, and the safety at a beach is never guaranteed. While the greatest chance for big surf is in the winer, tropical storms offshore during hurricane season can also cause surf to hit the island. Always check local conditions, and never get in the water if there is a red flag warning. Educate yourself and your family on how to spot riptides and how to get out of one. The Environmental Protection Agency has an interactive map on their website where you can check beach advisories and use Surfline to check forecasted surf conditions before heading to a beach.
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