BEST SURF SPOTS IN PUERTO RICO

BEST SURF SPOTS IN PUERTO RICO



Puerto Rico surfing first started in the 1950’s.
Since then, it has grown in local popularity, and even gained international recognition after hosting the 1968 World Surfing Championships.
Today, Puerto Rico remains a top Caribbean surf trip destination.
To most surfers’ amazement, Puerto Rico gets good-quality surf on all coasts during all seasons, even summer!
However, the sole focal point of Puerto Rico surfing remains on the north and northwest coasts during winter swells.
Aguadilla and Rincon are the two main surfing destinations on Puerto Rico’s northwest coast. Aguadilla sits at the northwestern tip of Puerto Rico and picks up the majority of north and northwest swell activity.
Sitting on the western coast, Rincon surf spots are a little more tucked in and not as exposed as Aguadilla. It takes a bigger swell with a more westerly angle for Rincon to break; but when it does, it produces some of the biggest, best waves in the Caribbean.
The surf season in Puerto Rico stretches from late summer to early spring. Puerto Rico receives the majority of its swells during hurricane season as large storms move off the west coast of Africa, and during winter months as cold fronts and low-pressure systems move off the eastern seaboard of the United States, sending in long-period groundswell to the north- and northwest-facing beaches.
Paradise always has a price. In Puerto Rico, it’s the crowds...
Maddening at times.
During winter months, Puerto Rico surf spots are packed with locals and travelers alike, riding every form of watercraft you can think of: surfboards, boogie boards, body surfing, stand-pp paddle boards
…i'ts just like Hawaii minus the Asian influence in the culture.

Perhaps the coolest thing about a Puerto Rico surf trip is its accessibility for US residents: no passport requirements, no currency exchange,
and it’s just a short flight from the international airports along the eastern seaboard.
Add in the crystal clear water, consistent year-round surf, and a relatively safe vacationing environment for families, and you can see why Puerto Rico is such a popular surf destination.

Find a Puerto Rico surf school.

Below is a list of SOME of the top surf spots in Puerto Rico, broken down by region. We did not catalog every surf break, just the main surf spots in each region.

NORTH COAST PUERTO RICO SURF SPOTS

CHATARRA - SAN JUAN AREA

Surf Location  -  North

Best Swell Direction  -  Northeast

Best Tide - high tide is safer, low tide is more hollow

Best Wind Direction  -  South

Best Surf Season  -  Winter, November-April

Wave Quality  -  Super hollow left-hand reef break. Considered one of the best lefts in the Caribbean. Draws comparisons to Pipeline in Oahu.

The surfers  -  Crowded, the takeoff here is narrow and the locals have it wired

Boards  -  shortboard, bodyboard

Paddle out  -  moderate

Skill Level  -  advanced

Bottom  -  reef

Watch out for  -  urchin-covered reef

Water condition  -  clean and clear

LA OCHO - SAN JUAN AREA

Surf Location  -  Go to Parque Del Escambron

Best Swell Direction  -  North or North-Northwest

Best Tide - any

Best Wind Direction  -  South

Best Surf Season  -  Winter, November-March

Wave Quality  -  Mushy reef breaks spread out across the entire beach. Mostly right-hand peelers best surfed on a longboard.

The surfers  -  mellow vibe in the water

Boards  -  fish, funboard, longboard, stand-up paddle board

Paddle out  -  moderate

Skill Level  -  total beginner to advanced

Bottom  -  reef

Watch out for  -  nothing

Water condition  -  clean and clear

AVIONES - ISLA VERDE

Surf Location  -  North Coast 

Best Swell Direction  -  North or Northeast

Best Tide - high tide is safer, low tide is more hollow

Best Wind Direction  -  South

Best Surf Season  -  Winter, November-April

Wave Quality  -  One of the most consistent surf spots in Puerto Rico.

Right and left breaking reef break that can produce some very long tube rides. Beware, the wave is steep and breaks in very shallow water over an urchin-covered reef.

The surfers  -  Narrow takeoff zone gets very competitive with locals

Boards  -  shortboard, bodyboard 

Paddle out  -  moderate

Skill Level  -  advanced

Bottom  -  reef

Watch out for  -  urchin-covered reef

Water condition  -  clean and clear

NORTHWEST COAST PUERTO RICO SURF SPOTS


WISHING WELL - AGUADILLA

Surf Location  -  Northwest: Aguadilla, next cove south of Wilderness

Best Swell Direction  -  Northwest

Best Tide - any

Best Wind Direction  -  East-Northeast is offshore

Best Surf Season  -  September-March

Wave Quality  -  Wishing Well is a fun, hollow wave that is perfect for speedy, high-performance surfing. It’s tucked into the cove, so it needs a bigger swell to start breaking.

The surfers  -  Competitive with good local and visiting surfers

Boards  -  shortboard, bodyboard

Paddle out  -  moderate

Skill Level  -  advanced

Bottom  -  reef

Watch out for  -  shallow reef & lots of sea urchins

Water condition  -  clean and clear

GAS CHAMBERS - AGUADILLA

Surf Location  -  Northwest: Aguadilla

Best Swell Direction  -  Big northwest or west swell

Best Tide  -  any

Best Wind Direction  -  East-Northeast

Best Surf Season  -  September - March

Wave Quality  -  Gas Chambers is a legendary, yet tricky right-hand reef break. When it’s breaking, Gas Chambers produces Puerto Rico’s finest tubes. The takeoff is super critical, but the barrel’s are totally worth it.

The surfers  -  You will find Puerto Rico’s finest tube ridders at Gas Chambers when its breaking.

Boards  -  shortboard, bodyboard

Paddle out  -  moderate

Skill Level  -  advanced

Bottom  -  reef

Watch out for  -  shallow reef, big cliff at the takeoff zone, sea urchins

Water condition  -  clean and clear

ANTONIO'S - RINCON

Surf Location  -  Located next to Sandy Beach near Casa Islena in Rincon

Best Swell Direction  -  West, Northwest

Best Tide - any

Best Wind Direction  -  Southeast

Best Surf Season  -  Winter, November-March

Wave Quality  -  Right-hand reef break that can produce long, rippable walls. When the conditions are right, this is a super fun wave.

The surfers  -  not too crowded. There are better waves in the area and it’s rarely glassy. Plus, multiple takeoff spots keep the crowds spread out.

Boards  -  shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard, stand-up paddle board

Paddle out  -  moderate

Skill Level  -  beginner to advanced

Bottom  -  sand and reef

Watch out for  -  sea urchins, reef, undertow

Water condition  -  clean and clear


SANDY BEACH - RINCON

Surf Location  -  on Puntas Beach just north of Antonio’s

Best Swell Direction  -  West, Northwest, Northeast

Best Tide - incoming high tide

Best Wind Direction  -  South, Southeast

Best Surf Season  -  Winter, November-March

Wave Quality  -  left-hand reef break

The surfers  -  it’s crowded here with locals that have the spot wired. The takeoff spot is narrow, and gets pretty competitive

Boards  -  shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard

Paddle out  -  moderate

Skill Level  -  beginner to advanced

Bottom  -  sand and reef

Watch out for  -  the takeoff spot is in front of a rock and the inside reef section

Water condition  -  clean and clear

DOMES - RINCON

Surf Location  -  Park near the old nuclear power plant and walk in

Best Swell Direction  -  Northeast

Best Tide - low

Best Wind Direction  -  Southeast

Best Surf Season  -  Winter, November-March

Wave Quality  -  Very consistent right-hand reef break that is known for producing some carvable walls. It also produces a lackluster left. This is not a great big wave spot. The wave is located in a small cove, which creates a lot of currents when the swell is larger and causes the wave to break in sections

The surfers  -  Get crowded with locals and travelers. Everyone surfs here from beginners to pros. One of the only spots that breaks during summer

Boards  -  shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard, bodyboard

Paddle out  -  can be difficult

Skill Level  -  beginner to advanced

Bottom  -  reef and rocks

Watch out for  -  sea urchins, jellyfish, undertow

Water condition  -  moderately clean

MARIA'S RINCON

Surf Location  -  Northwest, by Sandy Beach

Best Swell Direction  -  Northwest

Best Tide - low

Best Wind Direction  -  Northeast

Best Surf Season  -  Winter, November-March

Wave Quality  -  Awesome right-hand reef/point break that can produce very long, speedy rides

The surfers  -  very crowded

Boards  -  shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard, stand-up paddle board, bodyboard

Paddle out  -  moderate

Skill Level  -  beginner to advanced

Bottom  -  reef

Watch out for  -  sea urchins on the reef, crowds...stay alert

Water condition  -  clean and clear


TRES PALMAS - RINCON

Surf Location  -  Northwest, by Sandy Beach

Best Swell Direction  -  Northwest

Best Tide - any

Best Wind Direction  -  East

Best Surf Season  -  Winter, November-March

Wave Quality  -  This is THE big wave break of Puerto Rico. A perfect right-hand reef break that produces some beautiful open face walls perfect for high-performance carving

The surfers  -  Very crowded: locals have this place wired, and there is a large number of traveling surfers that wait for Tres Palmas to come alive


Boards  -  big wave gun

Paddle out  -  easy paddle through the channel

Skill Level  -  advanced or pro only

Bottom  -  reef

Watch out for  -  freak sneaker sets

Water condition  -  clean and clear


Check the video taken from the water:

And now the video taken from the shore:

SOUTHEAST COAST PUERTO RICO



INCHES

Surf Location  -  just outside the Patillas

Best Swell Direction  -  South, Southeast

Best Tide - high tide is safest

Best Wind Direction  -  Northeast

Best Surf Season  -  Summer and Fall

Wave Quality  -  long left-hand reef/point break. Can peel for up to 100 yards

The surfers  -  very crowded, locals have this place wired

Boards  -  shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard, stand-up paddle board

Paddle out  -  easy paddle through the channel

Skill Level  -  beginners to advanced

Bottom  -  reef

Watch out for  -  very shallow reef


Water condition  -  clean and clear

The source: http://www.thesurfingsite.com/Surf-Spots-Puerto-Rico.html