Sorry i´m copying the same comment from evan´s blog, but I´m trying to get the message out.
Hey guys, just discovered this site while researching South America travel.
I am from San Juan, though I´m currently living in Santiago, Chile.
I don´t know if I´m too late for this, but if your in the south of the island by no circunstances miss the beautiful beaches of Cabo Rojo. Cabo Rojo is a town in the southwester tip of the island popular among natives, but not overflown by tourists. There are many great, white sand, turquoise shallow waters to enjoy. Boquerón, the biggest beach, is a public beach with family oriented facilities and plenty of parking. There are very cheap cabañas with plenty of vacancy during the week that can accommodate up to 8 people (you must bring your own bedsheets though). Other beaches include Buyé, where you can walk over 200 feet with the water up to only your ankles. The best activity there is just to chill in the shallow water with a couple of Medallas. Combate is a large popular spot for boats, and has a lot of great seafood stands, don´t miss the empanadillas de chapín! The best seafood restaurants are found in Joyuda, not a great beach, but a really great hangout.
But the undisputed champion of the Cabo Rojo beaches is Playa Sucia, which literally means dirty beach (yeah have fun with the pronunciation). Why it is called like that, i have no idea, maybe to scare the tourists. In my opinion is the most beautiful beach in the island (Culebra is better, but that´s another island). It´s located inside a Fish and Wildlife Reserve, so there are no developments nearby, only a small inn a couple of kilometers before the beach. You have to ride a couple of miles of dirt road to get there, but it is truly worthwhile. Imagine a 2 mile stretch of white sand and tourquise water, guaranteed to be almost deserted during weekdays. There is an abandoned lighthouse overlooking the beach, and the path to get there passes through some salt pools and a wooden observatory for great photo ops. Don´t miss it. To get there just follow the signs to Combate, and ask around. You could also ask for direction to Punta Salinas, the small inn close to the beach. Once you see the huge salt mounds and enter into the unpaved road you know you are on the right track.
Once you leave Cabo Rojo, you´ll never want to bathe in a San Juan beach again. I promise.
There is a Tourism Co. information center in the main road leading to Cabo Rojo, I think is Route 100 but I am not sure, you can ask for info there as well.
Anyway, enjoy. There is a lot to seen and do in Puerto Rico. The people are friendly and great.
Later I´ll post some more stuff to do in San Juan and around the island.
lherrero
Dang...I missed it.
Sorry i´m copying the same comment from evan´s blog, but I´m trying to get the message out.
Hey guys, just discovered this site while researching South America travel.
I am from San Juan, though I´m currently living in Santiago, Chile.
I don´t know if I´m too late for this, but if your in the south of the island by no circunstances miss the beautiful beaches of Cabo Rojo. Cabo Rojo is a town in the southwester tip of the island popular among natives, but not overflown by tourists. There are many great, white sand, turquoise shallow waters to enjoy. Boquerón, the biggest beach, is a public beach with family oriented facilities and plenty of parking. There are very cheap cabañas with plenty of vacancy during the week that can accommodate up to 8 people (you must bring your own bedsheets though). Other beaches include Buyé, where you can walk over 200 feet with the water up to only your ankles. The best activity there is just to chill in the shallow water with a couple of Medallas. Combate is a large popular spot for boats, and has a lot of great seafood stands, don´t miss the empanadillas de chapín! The best seafood restaurants are found in Joyuda, not a great beach, but a really great hangout.
But the undisputed champion of the Cabo Rojo beaches is Playa Sucia, which literally means dirty beach (yeah have fun with the pronunciation). Why it is called like that, i have no idea, maybe to scare the tourists. In my opinion is the most beautiful beach in the island (Culebra is better, but that´s another island). It´s located inside a Fish and Wildlife Reserve, so there are no developments nearby, only a small inn a couple of kilometers before the beach. You have to ride a couple of miles of dirt road to get there, but it is truly worthwhile. Imagine a 2 mile stretch of white sand and tourquise water, guaranteed to be almost deserted during weekdays. There is an abandoned lighthouse overlooking the beach, and the path to get there passes through some salt pools and a wooden observatory for great photo ops. Don´t miss it. To get there just follow the signs to Combate, and ask around. You could also ask for direction to Punta Salinas, the small inn close to the beach. Once you see the huge salt mounds and enter into the unpaved road you know you are on the right track.
Once you leave Cabo Rojo, you´ll never want to bathe in a San Juan beach again. I promise.
There is a Tourism Co. information center in the main road leading to Cabo Rojo, I think is Route 100 but I am not sure, you can ask for info there as well.
Anyway, enjoy. There is a lot to seen and do in Puerto Rico. The people are friendly and great.
Later I´ll post some more stuff to do in San Juan and around the island.