Puerto Rico Underwater Magic: An Epic Rincón Snorkeling Tour!

No matter what tropical destination I visit, snorkeling is one of my go-to activities. From the first time I experienced a “watered-down” version of it at Discovery Cove in Orlando, I was absolutely hooked! I’ve been blessed to snorkel in some of the best places in the world, like Isla Mujeres and the Galapagos Islands. But I didn’t even have to technically leave the United States to experience world-class snorkeling in Puerto Rico at Rincon and Vieques!

During my recent road trip around Puerto Rico, I spent a night in the Rincón area specifically for the beaches and snorkeling at Tres Palmas, a famous reserve known for its coral reef and ocean life. A lot of people will come visit here on their own because they can snorkel just offshore. But since I was unfamiliar with the area and wanted a trained eye to help point out sea creatures, I chose to book a guided coral reef snorkeling tour on Viator. Spoiler: It ended up being one of my favorite activities from the whole trip!

In this post, I’m sharing everything you need to know about this tour, what my experience was like, and some helpful tips to make the most of your time exploring the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve.

P.S. Don’t forget to stay tuned because I have a full review of our half-day snorkel trip to Vieques coming soon!

New to Viator? Use this link to save 15% on your first booking! https://mention-me.com/m/ol/fu4hp-carrie-cochran

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Rincón Guided Coral Reef Snorkeling Tour Overview

School of fish swimming at Las Escaleras, Rincón Puerto Rico Snorkeling — *School of fish swimming around the reef*

This tour is based entirely at Black Eagle Beach Marina (part of Steps Beach), one of the most iconic spots in Rincón and part of the protected Tres Palmas Marine Reserve. It’s a hot spot for all sorts of marine life, like sea turtles, sharks, rays, octopi, tarpons, and schools of tropical fish. It’s also a fabulous spot to see massive Elk Horn coral formations.

Here’s what you need to know about the tour:

Three Daily Start Times: Choose from 9 AM, 12 PM, or 1 PM — morning is usually best for seeing marine life and calmer waters, but afternoon options give you more flexibility for your vacation.
Two Tour Options:
- Small Group Tour: $50 per person (up to ~10 travelers). This creates a more personalized tour experience and makes it easy to see everything the guide does.
- Private Tour: $65 per person. This is ideal for couples, families, or anyone who wants more space and a slower pace.

Brown parrot fish at Steps Beach, Rincón Puerto Rico — *We saw so many of these cool fish!*

No Transfers Needed: You meet directly at the marina, park, and start your adventure right there.
Duration: Around 2 hours total, with most of it spent snorkeling.
Location: Black Eagle Beach, Tres Palmas Marine Reserve (you’ll meet at the marina parking lot)
What’s Included: All snorkel gear (mask, fins, snorkel) is included, and life vests are also available for anyone who feels like they need them.
What to Bring: Reef-safe sunscreen, towel, water, water shoes (if you plan to explore before or after your tour), and a waterproof camera if you have one.

📌 Important Note: This tour is non-refundable, but if bad weather cancels your trip, you can reschedule or receive a full refund.

My Experience Snorkeling at Tres Palmas Marine Reserve

Black Eagle Beach in Tres Palmas Marine Reserve- Snorkeling in Rincón Puerto Rico — *Black Eagle Beach seen from the water*

Leading up to the tour, we received several helpful messages from the Great Escape PR team, ensuring that we knew exactly when and where to meet our guide.

When we arrived at the marina, there was plenty of parking, although we had to circle around to make sure we were in the car parking and not the boat trailer spots. Once we parked, we walked over to a small cafe area with restrooms, where our guide was waiting with all our equipment.

It turned out that we were the only two people signed up for the tour, so we got a private tour experience and were able to get started right away! Our guide set us up with all the necessary gear and gave us a quick safety briefing about the area. He told us to watch out for the rocky areas and be aware that sea urchins like to hang out there, so we always needed to have fins or shoes on. He also gave specific instructions for following him around and to keep him between us and the shoreline at all times.

sea urchins hiding in rocks at Las Escaleras — Watch out for sea urchins in the rocks

Exploring the Reef

As we waded out into the water, our guide also filled us in on his expertise, sharing that he was an experienced diver and telling us about some of the cool things he’d seen that morning and in other places around Puerto Rico.

For the next two hours, he led us in lazy passes around the reef, popping up occasionally to share fun facts about something we’d just seen. He led us to some gorgeous parts of the reef, and while we were immersed in seeing all the fish and colors, he made sure that we didn’t miss anything else, like sea turtles, a nurse shark chilling in a deep crevice, or tarpons swimming by.

Although the water was rather cloudy that day, we saw so many cool parrotfish (always one of my favorites because of their colors), a school of large blue fish, and so many other tropical fish. Not to mention massive elkhorn coral, anemones, and fun plants.

Overall, the tour was very relaxing, and we never felt rushed. The water was super easy to float in, even without life jackets, making it effortless to just focus on all the sights. Honestly, the two hours flew by, but we got to see so much in that time.

Rincón Snorkeling Tour FAQs

Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
No, but you should feel comfortable in the water. The guide provides life vests if needed, but it’s honestly almost hard to sink because the water is so salty!

Can kids join?
Yes — this is a family-friendly activity, but children should be able to swim or use flotation devices comfortably.

What if the weather is bad?
If the tour is cancelled due to weather, you’ll get a full refund or the chance to reschedule.

How many people are in a group tour?
Small group tours are capped at around 10 travelers.

Can I bring my own gear?
Yes, you can, though high-quality gear is provided.

See This Rincón Snorkel Tour in Action on YouTube!

Verdict: Who Will Love This Rincón Snorkeling Tour

Snorkeling at Black Eagle Beach was such an amazing experience, and definitely ranked in my top memories from the trip! With such an incredible display of coral and so many sea creatures just offshore, it has a very low-effort, high-reward ratio.

If you’re looking for an easy, fun way to experience the beauty of Puerto Rico’s reefs without spending half the day on a boat, this is the perfect choice. It’s great for beginners, families, and anyone who wants to snorkel in a protected marine area with an expert guide.

What do you think? Would you take this tour? Let me know down in the comments, and don’t be afraid to ask any questions you might have as well. And if you are ready to go ahead and book this for yourself, you can click here and get ready for an unforgettable underwater adventure!

Interested in learning more about my Puerto Rico trip? Browse through my other articles to learn about ziplining at Toro Verde, get honest reviews of where we stayed, and get tips for making the most of your experience. And, of course, drop your email below to sign up for my free newsletter and get the newest posts sent straight to your inbox.