Guajataca Beach, Isabela - Puerto Rico

Close to Quebradillas, home to the Guajataca Forest in Puerto Rico, there's Guajataca Beach. This is a surfers beach. If you're not into surfing, you can still enjoy the beach. Guajataca Beach is perfect for tanning or strolling. And a tip - this beach is excellent for shelling! You'll be amazed at the variety of nice shells found here. Get on the beach early, though.

Because of the way the shoreline is angled into the ocean, waves bring up many shells that would normally flow along with offshore currents. This setting makes it perfect for things to wash up on shore for the taking. Of course you want to leave anything that is living. But you can find some real gems here at Guajataca.

Now the name Guajataca comes from an Indian chief of the Taino tribe. He lived in this area and the beach. There is a lot of Guajataca here.

For instance, there's the Guajataca Forest, a preserve. In the preserve is a beautiful man-made reservoir named Guajataca Lake. It's large and is popular in the area for fishing. There are some great bass here along with tilapia. Camping and hiking are also available in the preserve. So nice is it here at the lake, that the Boy Scouts of America have a large campground here.

There's a small river that flows from the reservoir to the Atlantic, and that's where Guajataca Beach is located. The water is wild here, but the sand soft. To get to the beach, make sure you use the coastal trail. It's so fun because you walk through an abandoned train tunnel! This railway used to take the sugarcane from along the coast to processing. It was so well built that hardly any work has been done throughout the years. Take the camera along. This is Puerto Rican history!

Guajataca Beach - Beach Index:

• Sand - coarse, lightly packed
• Facilities - full
• Shade - coconut palms are our friend
• Sports - another awesome surf beach
• Notes - worth the hike through the tunnel
  

The Condado area near San Juan is probably the best know beach area in Puerto Rico - and not because it's near the big city! These beaches are world class! Next! >>

Montones Beach, Isabela - Puerto Rico

There are numerous great condos in the area, some right down on Montones Beach, Puerto Rico. If you are the owner of a vacation condo, and would like us to link to you, please write us here at Three Best Beaches. Montones Beach in Isabela is perfect for families, but often we saw just one or two people out. The thing is, the beach is so long and nice, you just find your spot and there you are in paradise.

This is the kind of beach that you could set up the tripod and film hours of the sea as it meets the shore. It's really spectacular and each wave is different. Montones is also far enough off the beaten path that you don't have the beach all to yourself most of the time. What we found enchanting is both the color of the water, the sky, and the sound. Just breathtaking. You have to be here to experience it.

Montones has some interesting outcroppings of rock which serve to protect the shore and makes for great swimming. You won't find a better swimming beach in all of the Isabela or Aguadilla area because the Atlantic Ocean just doesn't let up on this shore. However, other beaches in the area have coves but with strong undertows which are very dangerous.

What happens is that as the tide goes out, combined with the heavy Atlantic current, flow is out toward open sea and at times the surface appears calm - but danger is still present. People die off these beaches every year - but you can be smart by staying in the shallows and by using Montobes Beach for swimming.

The shore break here is worth respecting. It can be unfriendly at times. Use caution if you see that the waves are breaking right at the shoreline. That said, there's a really cool natural pool on the east end - you'll see it when you arrive at the beach - that is formed by a sand dune on one side. Take the kiddos there and spend the day. Because of the calm shallow water, it's really warm and fun.

Unlike Jobos Beach, Montones has no bars or restaurants surround the cove. You are basically on your own - but we found a small store nearby with facilities. Let us know if you find more available here.

Montones Beach - Beach Index:

• Sand - coarse, soft
• Facilities - few and far between
• Shade - palms provide some relief
• Sports - swimming, kiteboarding during winter months
• Notes - check vacation condo rental sites for lodging
  

Don't move a muscle. A national forest and lake, plus a popular beach makes Guajataca our next stop! >>

Jobos Beach, Isabela - Puerto Rico

You can't leave Isabela, Puerto Rico without dropping by Jobos Beach. This whole area, just west of the former Ramey Air Force Base, now Raphael Hernandez Airport, is breathtaking. You can hop on Jet Blue, as of this writing, from JFK and be here in a few hours. Most tourism to Puerto Rico happens around San Juan. This coast is often overlooked.

The northwestern Puerto Rican shore has wild sand dunes and a handful of recommended beaches we have to tell you about, as they are better known to surfers. But we were asked about what locals consider the better sites to surf and Jobos Beach in Isabela was always mentioned. So with a little research we found that even though it takes some work to get to - the reward is great. You'll be presented with a family beach that encompasses something for everyone. Seems people have grown up coming here and have great memories of it.

We just reviewed Shacks Beach for you, some five miles from Isabela. But two miles east you'll see Jobos Beach. It's a nice walk from one to the other. Jobos curves beneath an unusual geological formation known as a fossilized sand dune. It's incredible to see. The cove her seems serene, but be aware of the rip currents. Even in the calm area, tidal currents move deep.

This natural beauty, Jobos Beach, Puerto Rico, is a haven for surfers. You'll catch the local gang in the southwestern corner by the coral heads. But Jobos also offers a strip of sand great for families with children. Bunches of restaurants line the beach. There's fishing here, snorkeling, scuba diving, along with kiteboarding and windsurfing. This area is great for exploring, too. See some unusual surf and shore formations.

There are a few hotels close by, but most are high priced between November and April. You'll get more reasonable accommodations inland at Isabela.

Jobos Beach - Beach Index:

• Sand - nice white/tan combination
• Facilities - full
• Shade - great palms and umbrellas
• Sports - snorkel, diving, kiteboarding, boogie boarding, windsurf, surfing
• Notes - amazing terrain makes for a spectacular beach
  

The surf keeps getting bigger. We make our way to Montones Beach! Next! >>

Shacks Beach, Isabela - Puerto Rico

Probably the most popular spot for kiteboarders and windsurfers is Shacks Beach, Puerto Rico. Now I know what you're thinking - there are things such as "beach shacks", but this beauty is called Shacks. It's located in the little town of Isabela on the northwest point of Puerto Rico. Come here to enjoy water sports.

Most days you can see as many as a dozen intermediate kiteboarders on the water. Shacks Beach is big and you'll not be in the way. If you are a boarder, know that the wind blows in the same direction as rip currents: offshore, so make sure you know how to tack back in. As anywhere, beaches with surf are dangerous and the very best thing you can do is converse with a local surfer who has a little experience under his belt.

For snorkelers, this is pretty nice as well. There's about 50 yards of nice water between the reef and shore. But watch out for the kiters. As with most ocean with coral, the bottom here has its share of sea urchins! Make sure you wear booties.

If you're not into kiteboarding, downwind you'll find a nice area of sand to enjoy. You can do some snorkeling here as well as diving, although we found the water slightly clearer up wind.

There is some good lodging here as well. Check out the room rentals along the beach. We found a few with oceanfront restaurants. Stay further in town if your budget is tight.

Shacks Beach - Beach Index:

• Sand - medium grain, soft, mixed with some rock in places
• Facilities - full
• Shade - nice shade from trees along beach
• Sports - known for kiteboard, but windsurfers abound, snorkeling
• Notes - you will enjoy the view if you venture out here, not recommended for swimming
  

Just up the coast is Jobos Beach, another surfing hot spot in Puerto Rico - and the beach is rad! Next! >>