I’m an author of Puerto Rican descent who has been traveling to and from the beautiful island of Puerto Rico since I was 2 years old. When I wrote the book PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO: A DIARY FROM 1898 as a collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, I had a lot of memories and information to help me create the world of the story. One of my cousins who lives in Puerto Rico calls me “Almost a Local” which is where I got the idea for this blog.

If it’s your first time visiting Puerto Rico, you need to think about what kind of experience you want to have. Here are some examples:

I want to see beautiful beaches.
I want to taste amazing food.
I want to experience adventure on my trip.
I want to get to know the culture and history of Puerto Rico.

So you want to see beautiful beaches…

For this experience, you’ll want to start your trip on the West Coast of the island. On the Northwest corner of Puerto Rico, you’ll find the municipality of Aguadilla. Aguadilla has its own airport (BQN), which makes it an easy starting point for your vacation. Make sure you book a rental car ahead of time. It can be very challenging to travel all over the West Coast on Ubers and taxis alone.

Here are 5 of my beach recommendations on the West Coast (these are all photos I’ve taken from my trips to Puerto Rico):

Playa Peña Blanca is my favorite beach in Puerto Rico! The view from the top is at the edge of a cliff. To the left are stairs made from rocks that lead to the beach. It’s a relaxing beach in Aguadilla where you can see fish and turtles in the water. If you get there and claim a cave on the beach, you’ll have plenty of shade for the day. There are no food or drink concessions, so be sure to bring snacks and water, and bring them back with you.

Pro tip: Playa Peña Blanca doesn’t have a parking lot. To avoid getting a ticket, ask a local if you can park on their property for the day. They’ll ask you to pay $5 cash and your car will be safe for as long as you stay on the beach.

Crash Boat Beach is a popular beach in Aguadila and offers plenty of sandy areas for lounging and soaking up the sun. Often you’ll hear DJs blasting reggaeton music, which gives total party vibes. You’ll also find local vendors selling delicious food and cold drinks. Have fun jumping off the fishing dock as many do when they visit Crash Boat. Also, sunsets from this beach are gorgeous.

Domes Beach in Rincón is about 30 minutes from Aguadilla and offers a long stretch of sandy beach. It’s picturesque, but be mindful of the strong currents. Beaches in Aguadilla and Rincón are prime surfing locations.

Bonus: The Punta Higuera Lighthouse is a quick drive away, where you’ll find views for miles.

Further south on the West Coast of Puerto Rico is Playa Santa. The water was so calm and the ocean waves were relaxing. You can see in the above video.

Bonus: We spent the afternoon there before going to La Parguera (the bio-luminescent bay) at night.

This last recommendation is on the East Coast of Puerto Rico. It’s only a 2 1/2 hour drive from Aguadilla. At the base of El Yunque rainforest, you’ll find Playa Luquillo. The beach isn’t as sandy as the other beaches on this list, but the water is clear and the lush greenery that surrounds it make it picturesque. Water sports like jet skis are available here for adventure-seekers.

Bonus: The Luquillo Kiosks (restaurants) are steps away and are perfect for when you get hungry or need to get out of the sun.

This is just a sample of beaches on the West Coast of Puerto Rico for beach lovers to enjoy. There are many more to discover! Stay tuned for my next post - So It’s Your First Visit to Puerto Rico… Foodie Edition.