7 Hidden Gem Beaches in Puerto Rico to Explore

Puerto Rico is well-known for its beautiful beaches and tropical setting. But so many tourists fly into San Juan and never leave–or only venture to Aguadilla and Rincon because they’re popular.

But personally, the best spots are always the ones that aren’t overrun by other tourists, especially when it comes to beaches!

Now, I’m not the kind of girl you’ll typically find lying out on the sand, even though we live just 30 minutes from a popular vacation destination. I’m much more open to it when we’re visiting a beautiful, tropical destination, but I’d much rather be keeping busy than slow-roasting on a blanket. And that’s why we skipped the most popular beach bum spots in Puerto Rico and looked for some hidden gems with more to offer than a few square feet of sand.

*Playa California, Maunabo, Puerto Rico*

Now, don’t get me wrong, each beach on this list is gorgeous and good for sunbathing. (Trust me, with the lack of crowds, you’ll have no problem finding space to spread out. ) But they also add something unique to explore while you’re there, from world-class snorkeling to Spanish ruins and mesmerizing tide pools!

If you’re looking to get away from the crowds and find quieter, more authentic experiences during your Puerto Rico vacation, keep reading, and be sure to add these incredible beaches to your bucket list!

Puerto Rico Beach #1: Playa Punta Arenas

Playa Punta Arenas, Vieques, Puerto Rico — *Playa Punta Arenas is perfect for snorkelers*

Located on the unmissable island of Vieques, Playa Punta Arenas is a small but unforgettable place to visit for snorkeling! You’ll find it on the northwest tip of the island, at the end of Paseo Tablado de la Laguna Kiani hiking area. You can visit on the ferry and hike over here, or book a snorkeling tour from the main island and get dropped off right on the beach!

*The beach is fairly thin due to the recent hurricanes*

Playa Punta Arenas features a small strip of pristine golden sand dotted with unique shells. Be sure not to take any sand or shells with you, however, as they’re both essential to rebuilding the beach here after the recent hurricanes. But despite the storms, this beach still has an incredible underwater world to explore!

Right off the coastline, you’ll find an extensive reef system bustling with tropical fish of all colors and sizes–some people in our group even saw a ray! The water isn’t too deep, and it’s super-easy to float, so it’s a prime spot for snorkeling.

If you’re up for more adventure, venture into deeper waters to see cool plant systems, large schools of fish, and even sea turtles!

Puerto Rico Beach #2: Playa California

Playa California, Puerto Rico Beaches — *Playa California is perfect for long, peaceful walks on the beach!*

If you’re not set on getting in the water and are interested in turtles, head over to Playa California on Puerto Rico’s south-eastern coast. While the waters here are a bit rough for human swimming, this long, secluded beach is a nesting spot for turtles!

*Two turtle nests were marked off when we visited!*

When we visited, there wasn’t another human in sight, and two nests were marked off for safety! We had a great time enjoying the quiet beach, including the cool rock formations at one end.

This is a fantastic spot for those classic long walks on the beach while you hunt for seashells, crabs, or turtles! And since you’ll literally have it all to yourself, you’ll have no problem finding a quiet spot to doze while you catch some sunshine, too.

Puerto Rico Beach #3: Playa Punta del Viento

*Playa Punta del Viento, Patillas, Puerto Rico*

One of my favorite beaches we visited was Playa Punta del Viento. It’s only about 30 minutes from Playa California, but the vibes couldn’t be more different.

Now, getting to Playa Punta del Viento is an adventure in itself. You’ll have to choose between walking about 45 minutes to the beach or driving your car along a narrow, rugged trail for about 2 miles. But the destination is well worth the journey!

This nature reserve is not only set against a stunning backdrop of palm trees, with mountains clearly visible in the distance, but it also has some incredible rock formations and tide pools right by the beach that are teeming with ocean life! We had a blast scouring the area for crabs, sea urchins, and tropical fish, as well as seeing thousands of barnacles and mussels clinging to the rocks.

Further down, we saw a couple of people fishing and swimming, and I read that the area is good for snorkeling and kayaking as well. However you like to explore, be respectful of the wildlife and make sure to keep their ecosystems intact as you enjoy!

Puerto Rico Beach #4: Playa de Tamarindo

Privacy, nature trails, and gorgeous scenery make Playa de Tamarindo a great destination for those who want a peaceful beach experience. Located right at the end of a long coastal road (one of my favorite drives of our trip), Playa Tamarindo is just isolated enough to feel private without fully leaving civilization.

There are actually several beaches along the road with plenty of parking, so you’ll just follow it all the way to the end. You’ll actually reach this beach by walking down a short wetland trail, complete with a raised boardwalk, where you can see all sorts of awesome creatures like lizards, large crabs, and water birds. The boardwalk eventually passes through the trees at the edge of the beach to give you an incredible view of the coastline!

You can walk along more of these trails or chill on the beach. It’s not the widest beach, but with low crowds, there’s still plenty of space to spread out. The water here is crystal clear, and there’s a lot of sea grass, so you might want to bring your snorkel gear to hunt for sea creatures while you swim, too! Just be aware of the tides and currents, which can get a little rough at times.

Personally, I feel like Playa de Tamarindo has a little bit of everything if you’re looking for privacy, swimming, and nature. It’s well worth the scenic drive to get there!

Puerto Rico Beach #5: Playa Ballena

Playa Ballena, Puerto Rico — *Playa Ballena has two beaches and a cool rock formation!*

Located just a couple of minutes down the road from Playa de Tamarindo, Playa Ballena has a very different feel! Like many of Puerto Rico’s south coast beaches, it’s pretty rocky in places, which deters many visitors. However, it’s still a great place to soak up some sun—just without the crowds!

You can pull off on the side of the road and walk just a few feet to this cool beach, which is broken up by large strips of sand and cool pink rock formations. I loved poking around the rock slabs here, which had some interesting colors and plants, along with a great view of the water.

On the left is Atolladora Beach, a smaller crescent beach capped on either end by rock formations, and on the right, beyond the larger rocks, is Yauco Beach, which is slightly larger. You can access either one and enjoy the incredible blue waters. Thanks to all the rocks and sea grass, this is another great spot for snorkeling; just be aware of currents once again! We did notice more people swimming on the Atolladora side since it is a bit more sheltered.

Puerto Rico Beach #6: Playa Escalera

If you want some more prime snorkeling, Playa Escalera has to be on your list! Part of the Reserva Marina Tres Palmas on the island’s west coast, the waters off this beach hold an incredible reef with elkhorn coral and tons of sea life!

We actually booked a guided snorkeling tour here for $50 per person, and I’m so glad we did because our guide had a great eye for spotting cool creatures. In addition to the expansive reef with all kinds of coral and plants, we saw tons of tropical fish, a sea turtle, two terrapins, and a nurse shark!

*We spotted this nurse shark just a few minutes into our tour!*

This is also one of the more convenient beaches to access, with plenty of parking, restrooms, and food just a few steps from the main beach. The actual beach area is small, but once again, low crowds make it easy to find a spot. If you’re not snorkeling, I do recommend wearing water shoes to protect your feet from rocks and the occasional sea urchin while you’re in the water.

Puerto Rico Beach #7: Punta Borinquen Beach

Last but not least is Punta Borinquen Beach, right on Puerto Rico’s northwest coast. If you’re looking for a place to spread out and relax with spectacular cliffs and tropical views, this is the place! There’s plenty of parking right next to the beach, and it’s only a few minutes from the nearest town. When we visited, there were also a few vendors in the parking lot selling food and snow cones.

The beach itself is gorgeous, with soft sand bordered by palm trees, and the water is an idyllic shade of blue! But when you’re ready to stretch your legs, there’s plenty to do nearby!

If you go into the woods, you’ll find a trail that leads to an observation tower where you can look over the beach and the cliffs at the end. And if you continue down the trail, you’ll eventually reach the ruins of an old Spanish lighthouse, Ruinas del Faro. It’s cool to walk around the ruins and look out over the water from this angle, as well. Just be aware that the roads here are often used for 4 wheelers and bikes, so you should stay along the side and keep an eye out.

But if you’re looking for a great place to relax with just a touch of exploration, this is a fantastic choice!

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Final Thoughts on These Puerto Rico Beaches

If you’re looking to step away from the crowds and get more from your beach experience than just some sun rays, these 7 beautiful hidden gems are a great place to start!

While you might have to drive or walk a bit out of the way and bring your own snacks, it’s a small price to pay for the quiet beauty and peace you’ll find here.

What do you think? Did any of these beaches make your Puerto Rico bucket list? Let me know in the comments below! And if you’ve been to Puerto Rico already and know of another quiet beach that should be on this list, please share so I can check it out the next time I visit.

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