6. Rincon

Rincon’s phenomenal breaks

Often referred to as the surf capital of the Caribbean, west Puerto Rico is home to a variety of incredible beaches. While the surfing in Aguadilla and Isabela hosts strong, deep-rooted communities, the most iconic spot has to be Rincon.

Rincon has been on the map as a premier surf spot since 1968 when the Surfing Championships were held there. Located on the northwest side of the island, southwest of Aguadilla, and north of Mayaguez, Rincon is one of the most consistent spots in the Caribbean.

While the locals are typically friendly and a variety of surf craft can be found in the water on any given day, be sure and respect the rules of the lineup and scan the beach for hazards before entering the water. Rincon is home to a handful of stellar breaks: Little Malibu, Tres Palmas, Maria’s, Indicators, Domes, Sandy Beach, and Antonio’s.

Spots for different styles and skill levels

Little Malibu can be a fun spot for longboarding — a fast right-hander breaks over a shallow reef. Tres Palmas is a right-hand reef break and is the most famous big wave spot in the Caribbean. Maria’s is a fun spot for all skill levels that offers long rights and works best on a northwest swell. Indicators is best suited for experienced surfers as it can get big and dangerous with hollow rights and a challenging paddle out.

Domes is a right-hand point break with a flat rock bottom that offers fun waves for a variety of skill levels. As the name suggests, Sandy Beach has a sandy bottom with long lefts breaking along the reef. Antonio’s works best in the morning when the winds are low and offers both rights and lefts. Like most spots, if you do a little searching, you’ll find a number of fun, less crowded spots along the coast.