The most beautiful Beaches in Puerto Rico

If you’re heading to the stunning Caribbean island of Puerto Rico for a little rest and relaxation, then some solid beach time is likely to be high on your agenda. Puerto Rico is blessed with over 260 miles of coastline and dotted along it are hundreds of beaches just waiting to be explored. So, if you are a beach lover and looking for a place to visit or even to live, Puerto Rico is the right one for you!

Now, every beach in Puerto Rico is pretty! They are all palm tree lined, covered in fine white sands, and have the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean washing onto their shores, so how could they not be lovely. But, some beaches are far better looking than others and that’s what we’re here to focus on today.

Join me as we take a look at the most beautiful beaches in Puerto Rico that you should visit during your stay.

Sun Bay Beach, Isla Vieques

Sitting on Isla Vieques, an island around 7 miles to the east of mainland Puerto Rico is one of the most stunning beaches in the country, Sun Bay.

Playa Sun Bay is home to a large stretch of sand that lines the protected bay and it’s a great place to go if you want a little slice of Puerto Rico all to yourself. There is no development next to the beach but a single cafe with showers and restrooms so you truly feel away from it all while still being able to get a cold drink and a snack when needed.

The sea off Sun Bay is perfect for swimming in and great for kids too. The water stays shallow right off the beach and it’s crystal clear so it’s great for snorkeling too.

Playa Flamenco, Culebra

A little further off the coast of mainland Puerto Rico, around 17 miles, is the island of Culebra and on it, you’ll find some of the prettiest beaches in Puerto Rico. If there is one beach you should go to on Culebra, it’s Playa Flamenco on the northern shore.

White sands and crystal blue seas that are perfect for swimming on are what await you at Playa Flamenco with stunning headlands surrounding it on either side. There is very little development around the beach so you are surrounded by nature and nothing else.

There are also two old tanks on the beach which are odd but interesting to see and the snorkeling off the beach is some of the best in Puerto Rico.

Playa Sucia

If you’re looking for a beautiful beach to spend the day at on mainland Puerto Rico then you can not go wrong with Playa Sucia.

Playa Sucia sits on the southwest tip of Puerto Rico on the famous headland of Cabo Rojo. It’s quite a remote beach that requires a 10-15 minute hike to get to but once you’re there, chances are that you’ll have it to yourself.

The beach is covered in white sand and forms a bay with protective headlands to the east and west that ensure the azure blue sea stays calm and great for swimming. It’s the perfect beach to go to when you want to get away from it all, just be sure to bring a good picnic with you as there is nothing nearby.

San Miguel Beach

You’ll find San Miguel beach on the northwestern tip of mainland Puerto Rico and it’s one of the longest and most beautiful beaches on the mainland. It starts in the lovely beachside town of Luquillo.  

The beach is over a mile long and it joins up to Playa La Selva and Playa Fajardo making it the perfect place to go on a long beach walk. Plus, if you want to get away from the crowds, you can always find your own peaceful spot by walking a little further.

This is a great beach for swimming as the water is usually calm and there are lifeguards on duty. You can also rent Kayaks and SUPs and explore the Corredor Ecológico del Noreste nature reserve which sits just behind the eastern end of the beach.

Guayanés Beach

Guayanés Beach is another particularly quiet beach on the southern coast of Puerto Rico. It is a great place to find solitude away from the crowds and the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic with family and friends.

At Guayanés Beach, the forested covered hills meet lovely white sands and a very protected bay that is ideal for swimming. The beach is long and great for walking on and is backed with a small local town to the east and forests to the west.

There is just one restaurant along the beach, which shows just how quiet and peaceful it is, and it’s a great place to have lunch or a sunset drink.

The sea around Guayanés Beach is known to be great for snorkeling so be sure to bring your fins and mask. Be warned, you might see a few harmless reef sharks swimming around which might give you a fright but are nothing to be concerned about.


Beaching Up

We have only scratched the surface here when it comes to the beach of Puerto Rico but these are the top ones to spend time on while you’re there. I highly recommend hiring a car during your stay so that you can get to the harder-to-reach beaches and explore all the amazing things the island has to offer.