Top 10 Snorkeling Spots in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has some of the most beautiful beaches in America. The soft white sand, crystal clear water and the picturesque views make it one of the top holiday destinations in the Caribbean. The abundant natural landscapes such as bays, coves and coral beaches make it a haven for snorkeling. Snorkeling in Puerto Rico is one of the top activities that travelers look forward to doing on the island.

The three hundred miles of pristine coastline make it one of the top places to snorkel in the United States. It does not matter whether you are a beginner, there are beaches suited to every level of snorkeler.

The best time to visit Puerto Rico for snorkeling is during the summer months between March and June. The waves tend to be calmer during this time and it provides for a better experience. I invite you to read this article to find out about the best places to snorkel in Puerto Rico.

Get Equipment

If you book a snorkeling tour with any company they will provide you with all the equipment you need. If you plan on going snorkeling by yourself I recommend taking your own equipment. I used to rent snorkeling equipment for a long time before buying my own equipment. It is much easier and convenient to have your own snorkeling equipment. I recommend investing in a good high quality snorkeling mask, snorkeling fins, and breathing tube.

Snorkeling Spots in Puerto Rico

Fajardo
La Parguera
Rincon
San Juan
Vieques
Culbera
Isla de Mona
Caja de Muertos
Cayo Aurora
Aguadilla

Best Snorkeling in Puerto Rico

The best snorkeling in Puerto Rico is found in beaches that are protected from the ocean but still have abundant sea life. These beaches exist on the island from the north to the south and from the east to the west. In this article we will be covering the top places for snorkeling in Puerto Rico. I have included the best beaches, the smaller islands off Puerto Rico and the best tour companies to use for snorkeling tours.

Fajardo

How to get there – Drive to Seven Seas beach and park in the parking lot. The beach entry is free.
Facilities – rental equipment and restrooms available on the beach. There are restaurants very close to the beach as well.
Species – ?
Excursion companies –
Places –
- Seven Seas Beach
- Cayo Icacos
- Culebrita

On the shore – The city of Fajardo on the east coast of Puerto Rico is one of the top snorkeling spots in Puerto Rico. The Seven Seas beach is where you will find an abundance of coral and beautiful sea life. The beach has a rocky bottom and lots of coral starting about twenty meters in.

The Seven Seas beach is a local hangout spot and does not have many tourists. There is rental equipment and food available on the beach. I love this beach because it has a cool vibe with locals playing with balls and chilling. And then you can go in the water to look at some amazing animals.

Offshore – There are private tours that do snorkeling tours around the coast of Fajardo. The companies take care of all of your needs. They offer snorkel equipment, a light lunch and any alcoholic or not alcoholic drinks that you want. The tour starts in the morning by going to multiple snorkeling spots and then the boat docks at Cayo Icacos or Culebrita in the afternoon where you can enjoy more snorkeling or relax on the beach on an uninhabited island.

If you want to do a day trip to Icacos by yourself then check out my complete guide to a Cayo Icacos.

La Parguera

How to get there – Go as part of a tour or charter a boat.
Facilities – None.
Species – Dolphins, manatees, sea cucumbers, conches, turtles, jellyfish.
Excursion companies – West Divers and Paradise Scuba
Places –
- La Parguera Nature Reserve

Snorkeling off the southern town of Lajas is an amazing experience. The La Parguera Nature Reserve is part of Lajas and it is a dream come true for nature lovers. La Parguera Nature Reserve has a pretty seagrass bed with sea cucumbers and conches. The coast has mangrove coves which house a variety of mammals including dolphins, turtles, manatees and jellyfish.

The underwater structure called The Wall is a famous place to go look for some turtles. The shallow coves are only accessible by boat so it is recommended that you charter a boat or take a tour. They know the best places for you to spot some of the most amazing sea life in the Caribbean.

The bioluminescent bay where the water glows at night is also in La Parguera and tour companies offer night snorkeling tours to see the beautiful glowing waters.

Rincon

How to get there – Rent a car and drive to Steps Beach in Rincon town or take a boat to Desecheo Island.
Facilities – None.
Species – Dolphins, reef sharks, humpback whales, green turtles, angel fish, blue tang.
Excursion companies –
- Rincón Diving and Snorkeling
- Taíno Divers
Places –
- Tres Palmas Marine Reserve
- Desecheo Island

On shore – The Steps Beach in the surf capital of Rincon is also one of the top destinations to snorkel on the island. The Tres Palmas Marine Reserve is a gorgeous coral garden with lots to see. During low tide the coral shelf at the very top gets exposed and it is easy to get in and out of the water while avoiding sea urchin.

The coral shelf drops to a death of about 5 meters a few steps in. You can snorkel just outside the shelf and explore the coral or go deeper if you want to see some turtles or reef sharks.

It is the perfect place for kids to snorkel because the beach is very calm during low tide. Be careful of strong swells as in the winter because Rincon is the surf capital of Puerto Rico and the waves get very big.

Offshore – Desecheo Island is an uninhabited island that can be seen from the coast of Rincon. To get to the island you have to charter a boat or go on a tour. This is where all the dives of Rincon take place. It is a pristine environment because it cannot be disturbed according to law.

If you have already snorkeled at Steps Beach then Desecheo Island is the next natural stop for snorkeling in Puerto Rico. The channel between the coast of Rincon and Desecheo Island is a pathway for whales to migrate north and south. There is a good chance you will see whales here during migratory season.

San Juan

How to get there – Take an Uber to the beach. Car parking available for $6 per day.
Facilities – It is a public beach and has all facilities. Restrooms, showers, lifeguards, picnic tables.
Species – turtles, eels, blue tang, crabs.
Excursion companies –
- Scuba Dogs
- Aqua Adventures
Places –
- Escambron Beach
- Escambron Marine Reserve

Escambron Beach or Balneario del Escambron is the area on the northside protected by the natural coral reef. This is the area with the natural pool and open to the ocean. The huge natural rock formation protects the beach from the swell.

Inside the pool, especially on the east and west corners there is an abundance of sea life that lives in the rocks. I counted at least 20 different types of fish, plus crabs and a small eel that I saw in the waters.

The Marine Reserve is the second beach to the south, 100 meters away with artificial coral and much deeper water. The marine reserve is also where all of the snorkeling and diving tours in San Juan take place. The end of the pool is shallow and easy for snorkeling while in the middle there are artificial concrete boulders that have created a thriving habitat for sea life. There is a deep drop off area after the boulders where all the scuba divers go.

Vieques

How to get there – Rent a car and drive to the beaches. Charter a boat or take a tour to the islands.
Facilities – None.
Species – Nurse sharks, spotted eagle rays, green turtles, hawksbill turtles, manta rays.
Excursion companies –
- Black Beard Sports
- Pure Adventure
- Isla Nena Scuba
- Bieque Eco Trips
- Fin Time Adventures
- Abe’s Snorkeling & Biobay
- Melaya’s Tours
Places –
- Blue Beach (Bahia de la Chiva)
- Isla Chiva
- Esperanza Beach
- Mosquito Bay
- Pata Prieta Beach

A gorgeous island off the coast of Puerto Rico is Vieques. The lack of development has kept this a pristine natural habitat with lots to see for snorkelers. The Vieques National Wildlife Refuge is twenty thousand acres of land used only for conservation of the biodiversity of the island.

The island has some unique species that aren’t usually spotted anywhere else in Puerto Rico. Amongst these are Spotted Eagle Rays, Green Sea Turtles and Manta Rays. Bahia de la Chiva is especially child friendly with a protected cove with no waves.

Culebra

How to get there – Go as part of a tour. Take a ferry or plane to Culebra.
Facilities – Only at Flamenco Beach.
Species – Stingrays, turtles.
Excursion companies –
- Culebra Snorkeling and Dive Center
- Culebra Divers
- Culebra Island Adventures
- Pure Adventure
- SS Tobias Snorkel & Beach Tour
- Culebra Island Kayak and Snorkeling Adventure
- Culebra VIP & East
Places –
- Tamarind Beach
- Flamenco Beach
- Carlos Rosario
- Cayo Luis Pena
- Culebrita
- Punta Soldado

17 miles off the coast of Puerto Rico is a pretty island called Culebra. It has many secluded beaches that are rarely visited by anyone. Out of all these only Flamenco Beach has restrooms and food while the rest invite abandonment and play. You can spend days exploring all of the different beaches in Culebra.

To snorkel in Culebra you can either charter a boat or go as part of a tour. If you want to stay a few days in Culebra then I recommend taking a plane instead of a ferry because the ferries are known to be notorious with timings and overbooking of tickets.

Isla de Mona

How to get there – Charter a boat or take a tour.
Facilities – None.
Species – Octopus, rays, clownfish.
Excursion companies –
Places –
- The entire island

If you take a boat from the west coast town of Rincon and go 3 hours out into the ocean you will come upon a gem in the ocean. The small island of Mona. The Isla de Mona is as romantic as the name predicts. It is full of wondrous ocean life and calm blue water. You can see octopus, rays and clownfish in the clear waters.

After snorkeling you can go hiking on the island, explore the caves and even gaze at one of the clearest skies you will ever see in your entire life. Only 100 visitors are allowed on the island at any time so be sure to book your tour in advance. The boat journey to the island can get rough so I recommend getting some sea sickness medication beforehand.

Caja de Muertos, Ponce

How to get there – Charter a boat or take a ferry.
Facilities – some restrooms.
Species – ?
Excursion companies – ?
Places –
- The entire island

Coffin Island, or as the locals call it, Caja de Muertos is a mysterious island off the coast of Ponce in the deep south of Puerto Rico. The island has lots of hikes that you can do amongst untouched nature and a pretty lighthouse perched on the coast. What’s the legend associated with this island you ask?

Cayo Aurora, Guanica

How to get there – kayaking or boat tour.
Facilities – None.
Species – ?
Excursion companies – ?
Places –
- The entire island

A giant pool surrounded by lazily draped mangrove roots in the south is known as Gilligan’s Island or Cayo Aurora. It has shallow waters which kids will feel safe in and lots of fish about. You will dock at the tiny wood pier which is about the only structure on the island, before your boat leaves you and you are left alone in the middle of the sea.

Aguadilla

How to get there – rent a car and drive to the beach.
Facilities – None.
Species – ?
Excursion companies – Not needed since the beach is open access and very calm.
Places –
- Crash Boat Beach
- Playa Pena Blanca

Dive under the pier at Crash Boat Beach and you will come upon schools of fish all swimming along. The kids love this beach because there are no waves and parents can relax. Drive over to Playa Pena Blanca and you will see sea turtles splashing in the waters right on the shore. Aguadilla is not known for its snorkeling spots since the locals have kept it a secret. But if you find yourself near here then don’t miss out on some of the coolest reefs and beaches on the northside of Puerto Rico.

FAQs

Does Puerto Rico have good snorkeling?

Yes, Puerto Rico has some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean. A huge number of marine species can be found here including Green and Hawksbill turtles, Manta rays, Spotted Eagle rays, reef sharks, dolphins and humpback whales.

Are there any coral reefs in Puerto Rico?

All of the beaches of Puerto Rico that have the best snorkeling are coral reef beaches. The biggest Elkhorn Coral beach in the Caribbean is in Rincon on the west coast of Puerto Rico.

Where is the best snorkeling off the beach in Puerto Rico?

The best snorkeling can be found in beaches across the island. SOme of the best snorkeling in Puerto Rico is at Escambron Beach, Tres Palmas Marine Reserve and Cayo Icacos.

Can you snorkel in the San Juan Islands?

Yes you can snorkel in San Juan. The best beach to snorkel in San Juan es Escambron Beach with a protected marine reserve.

Where is the bluest water in Puerto Rico?

The bluest water in Puerto Rico is at Cayo Icacos island off the northwest coast.

Should I bring my own snorkel gear to Puerto Rico?

Snorkeling tours provide you with equipment but it is recommended that you bring your own equipment if you want to do snorkeling by yourself in some remote beaches.

Conclusion

Puerto Rico is a haven for those that love the underwater world. Snorkeling in Puerto Rico is an experience everyone should have once in their lifetime. Even if you visit the city of San Juan, try to get a couple hours of snorkeling and seeing what wonders the ocean has to offer.