Vieques Island is the absolute champion in the number of picturesque beaches, but the title of the best place for swimming in Puerto Rico is still held by San Bay Beach. This area is beloved by Puerto Ricans themselves, so often come here to relax in a noisy company. It’s not a wilderness area, so changing rooms, showers, and toilets are never hard to find on Sun Bay. A more romantic and picturesque option is Media Moon. The beach is in an enclosed bay, so there are almost no big waves. In addition, the sea here is shallow, which will especially please children.
For those who do not look for the easy way, Esperanza is the town beach of Vieques. A more or less suitable area for swimming is just behind the pier. The shore and the bottom are stony, so the extreme will appreciate it. You can roll on the snow-white hot sand in Navio, although you can’t enjoy swimming here – the sea is always stirring. Playa Flamenco on the island of Culebra has enough fans. The place is crowded (there’s a campsite nearby), so it’s unlikely you’ll get much privacy, but you won’t get bored either.
If you don’t want to leave San Juan, head to Ocean Park, near the only beach in the capital that hasn’t been altered by ubiquitous high-rise construction. Enjoy the generous Caribbean sun while sipping a cocktail in the shade of palm trees at Playa Escambron. There is a minimum set of amenities (shower + toilet). You can also check in on Isla Verde – it’s certainly not ideal, but it’s certainly not the worst of San Juan’s beaches.
Holidays
Holidays in Puerto Rico are not just a number on the calendar, but a full-fledged carnival, festival, or at least a parade. And so all year round. For each city “is assigned” its own saint, in honor of whom the mandatory celebrations. And often a Catholic martyr is added to the Indian, and even African patrons. In the second half of January, San Juan is gripped by holiday fever: the city begins the festival of St. Sebastian with its indispensable processions and dances. In late June, the capital is another local holiday – St. John the Baptist Day, which brings together in Puerto Rico, the musical groups from all over the country.
You can see the islanders painted in all the colors of the rainbow during the carnival in Ponce, organized on the eve of Lent. In November the city streets shake with drum rhythms – Ponce hosts a festival Bomba y Plena. If you want to replace Spanish-Indian events with something with an African flavor, welcome to Lojca for the St. James Festival. And the most unusual costume parade can be found in Hatillo (festival of Innoces): participants dressed in medieval armor parade chasing children, commemorating the atrocities of the biblical King Herod.