Is the West Side the Best Side?

West Puerto Rico is a truly enchanting destination that offers something for everyone, as long as you like warm weather! From beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters, to rainforest and mini mountain ranges, West Puerto Rico is the perfect place to escape the bustle of the city or the hustle of regular life. Each part of the island can offer a different experience – from a true rainforest, flat and calm beaches, beaches with more tides for surfing, and a slew of local attractions. It also doesn’t hurt that the range of temperatures year round is less than 20 degrees, from a low of 70 up to 90 degrees, year round. 

One of the main draws of West Puerto Rico is its stunning natural beauty, which includes of course, the beaches! Home to famous Crash Boat, Jobos, and Steppes, which draw huge crowds of both locals and tourists throughout the year. You can’t go wrong with any of the beaches, and there are tons of smaller beaches, with every flavor you want – more waves for surfing, or just a nice flat secluded beach to spread out with your family. You can easily rent equipment to do any variety of water sports, or just rent a chair and soak up the sun.  From jet skis to paddle and surf boards, there are many ways to experience the clear and beautiful ocean.  We recommend trying them all, and ask the locals or a guide on where to do each activity. With a wide variety of beaches and changing tides, each beach is great for something different on each day. Don’t forget to bring your sun tan lotion and swim trunks!

With a thriving food truck or restaurant scene near the beaches, you’ll never go hungry – or thirsty. With great weather year round, most dining is outdoor – or alfresco.  There’s a wide variety of culinary options, ranging from authentic Puerto Rican cuisine, to some solid burgers and fries.  Facebook and Google are the predominant review sites over Yelp in Puerto Rico, so start searching there and you won’t be disappointed.

Snorkeling is one of the huge attractions on the west side of the island.  With vibrant coral reefs, you can be swimming amongst the aquatic fauna just minutes from the shore. You can awe at the many corals, fish, turtles, and other small creatures that call the reef home. This activity is best when the waters are calm, which is more common during the summer months.  Although, there is usually a place to go snorkeling nearly year round – reach out to a local guide to help you find one appropriate for your party.

In addition to its natural beauty and stunning beaches, West Puerto Rico is also home to a rich cultural heritage. The region is home to several historic towns and villages, each with its own unique character and charm. These include the charming town of Rincon – which has a beautiful town square full of restaurants and shops. Rincon is known for its laid-back atmosphere and world-class surfing.  There’s also the historic town of Cabo Rojo, which is home to several beautiful lighthouses and is a popular spot for birdwatching. There are also many marinas and you can charter a boat to go fishing or go snorkeling off in the reefs. There are a ton of other beautiful towns with rich histories who have frequent events, such as Isabela, which has authentic Puerto Rican music in the town square or another event nearly every Friday.  

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, you’ll love the many outdoor activities available in West Puerto Rico. From hiking and biking in the national parks, to snorkeling and scuba diving in the crystal-clear waters, there’s no shortage of things to do. You can go through the Camuy Cave park

You can also take a boat tour of the region’s stunning coastline, or go horseback riding through the countryside.  The Paso Fino is a naturally gaited light horse breed dating back to horses imported to the Caribbean from Spain.  These tours are pretty magical – riding the horses through the light brush, and then emerging onto the beach and trotting along the water for miles. Whether you are new to horseback riding, or an experienced rider, these horses are amazing and you won’t want to miss it. Make sure you schedule ahead of time, as these tours can fill up fast!

In addition to its natural beauty and outdoor activities, West Puerto Rico is also home to a wide variety of dining and shopping options. You can try local favorites such as “mofongo” or “pinchos”, or dabble in the mixture of other foods available on the island.  Panaderias, or bakeries, have daily offerings of bread and hot food that always hit the spot, from “pernil”, or roast pork to “bacalao”, a salt cod-based dish – or just grab a sandwich!  There’s also weekly local farmers markets and art walks in Aguadilla, Rincon and San Sebastian, among others. The square in Isabela also had events nearly every week, especially during high season.

The short term rental, or tourism scene, on the island has exploded in the last few years.  This is partially due to a shortage of hotels, and also owing to increased interest in visiting the island since Covid. As the only Caribbean destination not requiring a passport for US citizens, many people visited the island for their first time when travel restrictions were in place.  Especially for those with families where kids don’t have passports, it is the preferred option for Caribbean travel, whether to escape the cold winter, or to take a summer trip while the kids are off from school.  

Given the natural beauty of the island, it is recommended to spread out an AirBnB/VRBO option over a hotel. In West Puerto Rico, the hotels are not more convenient, and a short term rental of a house offers you a much better option. You can find a property with both a pool and some authentic landscaping, including fruit trees or native foliage. For larger groups, these tend to be more affordable than hotels.  Whether a multi-generational group, large family, collection of families, or bachelor/bachelorette parties, you will typically pay less $ per person renting a house.  We recommend finding one with a pool, so you can lounge and help cool you down when you’re not at the beach!

Tropical fruit and vegetables on the island are amongst the best in the world and available year round.  Among the more common fruits – local bananas, papayas, starfruit, mangos, you can also try some more exotic fruits, such as jobos plum, guava, starfruit, or varieties of zapote, among others! Not to mention some of the best avocados available anywhere! If you are looking for something more savory, there are a variety of starchy vegetables both grown on trees and in the ground. Some of our favorites are pana – or breadfruit, plantains, yucca, or a local sweet potato people call “batatas”. These are used in a variety of dishes on the island and are frequently stewed or fried. For example, try empanadillas – which are stuffed with everything from meat and cheese, to guava paste.  Or mofongo – available basically anywhere on the island, which is twice fried plantains, topped with your choice of protein, and usually served with a delicious garlic sauce!

Overall, West Puerto Rico is the perfect destination for any group looking to relax and unwind in a stunning natural setting. Whether you are just looking to escape the city, or need to have a Caribbean destination, Puerto Rico checks every box! With so many options for activities for small and large parties, it can really meet everyone’s goals.  Feel free to ask us a question at Luxury PR, and we can help you book your next fabulous vacation in West Puerto Rico.