The town of Rincon on the west coast of Puerto Rico is a haven from the hustle bustle of the city and feels like true paradise. From deserted beaches to the abundant marine life you can feel peace soaking into your skin as you explore the slow way of Puerto Rican living. Here is my list for the top things to do in Rincon, Puerto Rico that will leave you feeling amazing and remind you of what an actual vacation should look like.
Top Things to do in Rincon
- Desecheo Island Scuba Diving
- Deep Sea Fishing
- Snorkeling
- Horseback Riding
- Punta Higuera Lighthouse
- Thursday Art Walk
- Surfing Class
- Surf at Domes Beach
- Waterfalls
- Beaches
- Sunset
- Whale Cruise
- Downtown
- Sandy Beach Sea Glass
- Playa Oeste Gallery
- Cycle Tour
- BONUS Technological Museum
- Villa Cofresi Pirate Drink
- Local Food
- Gastropark@115
- Mountain Bike Park
- Domes MTB Trail
- Day Trips
- Restaurants
1. Desecheo Island Scuba Diving
Desecheo island 12 miles off the coast of Rincon is one of the top 20 places to dive in the Caribbean. The island was previously used by the US military to perform experiments so no one is allowed on the island. The good side to this being that the reef and marine life around the island is pristine. Taino Divers are one of the companies that takes divers out to the island for beginner to advanced diving. You can also do fully guided diving at Desecheo Island.
2. Deep Sea Fishing
This is for those who have the stomach for it. I don’t so I’ve never tried it but deep sea fishing is supposed to be good around Rincon. The undisturbed ecosystem makes for easy catch. Some species that can be found here are tuna, wahoo, dorado, kingfish, rainbow runner, sailfish, mahi mahi. This activity is on the expensive side with a half day charter costing about $750.
3. Snorkeling
One of the top things to do in Rincon, Puerto Rico is to enjoy its water sports. It is then no surprise that the best snorkeling in Puerto Rico is at Tres Palmas Marine Reserve. The protected marine reserve is abundant with sea life, turtles and reef sharks. I went diving at low tide when the surge was also calm. This is the best time to dive because it’s easy to get in and out of the sea and the visibility is good. Do not get scammed and book a snorkeling tour. You do not need a tour to go snorkeling here. If you are a good swimmer and know the rules of the ocean then you are more than safe going into Tres Palmas and having fun exploring. I didn’t see them myself but if you venture out a little deeper around 50 meters in, you can also see turtles on the ocean floor.
4. Horseback Riding
I did not realize that horse riding was so popular here until I saw a few groups riding down the road in between the cars. Turns out the locals have been using horses as a mode of transportation for a really long time. The horse back riding companies offer trails down the beaches and into the lush forest next to it. Pintos R Us company offers 2 hour riding trails for all levels of riders. This is one of the most unique things to do in Rincon, Puerto Rico.
5. Punta Higuera Lighthouse
The lighthouse which had been guiding ships into Mayaguez Harbor since 1892 was converted into a recreation park in 1993. The park now includes a maritime museum and a platform at the top of the lighthouse for viewing out into the ocean. El Faro also has a small local market in front of the market for local artists and craftspersons. The park is well known for the small eatery it has at the end where you can get local Puerto Rican food and try to spot whales in to bay.
6. Thursday Art Walk
Out of all the things to do in Rincon, Puerto Rico I most enjoyed strolling through the art walk market in downtown Rincon. The art walk as it is called happens every Thursday evening. The local artists are incredibly talented and you will see some crafts and art which have been part of the culture for thousands of years. For example I saw a vendor with beautiful wood sculptures of the story of the three kings (famous in Puerto Rico). I was very alarmed to see that white artists and people have taken over a lot of the market. Please remember to support the local artists whose home it has been for a long time before buying stuff from generic vendors that you can find back in Los Angeles for 2 bucks.
7. Surfing Class
Of course the list wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention surfing class for beginners. If you saw some sexy surfers ripping the waves at Domes beach and wanted to become one yourself then take some lessons! There are lots of local teachers in Rincon that do classes for beginners. My first ever surf lesson was actually at a beach in Rincon and now I’ve been surfing for over a year. The surf lessons are very chill and catered to your needs. No matter your physique, your instructors make sure you have fun while also learning some basic surfing skills. This is my top recommendation for things to do in Rincon, Puerto Rico.
8. Surf at Domes Beach
One of the more advanced surf spots around Rincon, Domes beach has been home to some awesome surf competitions over the years. We happened to chance a competition for kids on the day we went there and it was pretty awesome to see the little babies ripping. Domes beach is the perfect spot to catch a few waves. There is also a very cute swing at the beach for those that prefer to sit and watch instead. You can also rent boards on Maria’s beach right down the road if you prefer not to bring your own. There is no shortage of board rentals in Rincon, Puerto Rico.
9. Waterfalls
Gozalandia
Cascada Gozalandia is a two step waterfall around 45 mins from Rincon and I definitely recommend them. The lower waterfall has a big pool and a very high jumping rock that daredevils will love.
Maricao
Maricao waterfalls are a little further away from Rincon and take 1 hour 15 min to get to. The route passes through the city of Mayaguez which has the best skate park in all of Puerto Rico!
El Ultimo Brinco
This small waterfall is inside the town of Rincon so it tends to get a bit dirty during rainy season with some trash washed up but other than that it is a very pretty place to hang out and enjoy a picnic.
Top Tours in Puerto Rico
The craziest and most adrenaline filled tours to get your heart pumping. These tours combine the best of the natural wonders the island has to offer with great activities.
10. Beaches
Sandy
The best beach for beginner surfers. There is a van next to the beach that renst surfboards by the hour. I took one out and spent an hour in the water just having fun. There are also some cute restaurants 5 minutes walking from there inland that you can grab lunch at.
Domes
The beach right next to the now defunct huge nuclear reactor. The beach is for advanced surfers since the swell can get big and nasty. I saw a lot of surf photographers with their equipment here all the time. There is a swing here and lots of place to spread your towel and tan.
Maria’s
This has been taken over by the white people coming to town because of the 4 really trendy cafes that are right next door. There is no actual beach here at high tide, only rocks that you can sit on. The paddle out from this beach is really really far for the break. There is also a surf rental shop here on the beach. I haven’t been here during low tide but maybe there are better conditions then?
Tres Palmas
My favorite beach in Puerto Rico. At high tide you can only go to the entrance of the beach but at low tide the beach has lots of saltwater pools that kids and adults can play in or relax. It’s also part of the marine reserve so at low tide you can go in and snorkeling in some of the most beautiful ocean space I’ve ever seen.
Rincon Public Beach
This beach is inside Rincon town. It has lots of restaurants and washroom facilities. There are also vendors offering hourly massages on the beach. Too many white people here for my liking acting like stupid tourists so I skipped this beach most days except to grab ice cream at the shop in the food court.
11. Sunset
Sunsets in Rincon never disappoint you. Maybe it’s the magic of watching the sun set behind the wide vast ocean or the colors that shimmer on the clouds. It might be cliche to add sunsets to the list of things to do in Rincon, but try and catch at least one sunset on the coast and you might agree with me.
12. Whale Cruise
The passage to the left of Puerto Rico falls in the migration zone for the whale going to the north Atlantic ocean during the months of January to March. This is the mating and birthing season for the whales and you can see tourists lining up with binoculars at Punta Higuera Lighthouse to try and catch a glimpse of a whale. If you prefer a closer sighting, companies like Taino Divers offer sunset cruises to get a close look at the whales. Since there are only 15 thousands of these majestic creatures left in the ocean this is one of the most rare things to do in Rincon, Puerto Rico that you might not be able to do anywhere close by.
13. Downtown
The downtown in Rincon has really grown from being a few tiny shops to lots of cool shops selling all kinds of knick knacks, ice cream, clothing and art. It is very cool to wander around town for a couple hours in the evening and then get a pizza at the pizza parlor. Some cool shops you might want to check are Caribbean Trading, Ocean State of Mind and Mango Beach Shop. The restaurants are all in the small town square so you can’t miss all the cool food they have to offer. Try going there on the weekend but not on Thursday which tends to get busy due to the Art Walk.
14. Sandy Beach Sea Glass
A really unique things to do in Rincon, Puerto Rico that isn’t found in many places is hunting for sea glass. Sea glass is when pieces of broken glass in the ocean gets rubbed by the water over the years and forms smooth tiny glass pebbles. The glass pebbles are really pretty and you can even try and identify where the glass came from. Since humankind has thankfully become more conscious of not throwing glass into the ocean over the years, sea glass has become more and more rare to find. The best time to find sea glass is during the rainy season at low tide. This is because all the debris left over from high tide stays on the beach. If you are into sea glassing then the best beach for this are the northern beaches of Rincon that face the ocean and tend to have more debris from the rain.
15. Playa Oeste Gallery
This beautiful gallery in Rincon showcases the heritage and art associated with the surfing culture of Puerto Rico. They have been in business for the last 19 years, supporting local artists through art forms such as woodwork, painting, sea glass jewelry that is intricately connected with the sea. This is a very interesting thing to do in Rincon if you are an art connoisseur and like to support the locals.
16. Cycle Tour
One of my most memorable days in Rincon was when I rented a road bike and rode all the way from Stella to Sandy Beach and back. Bar an incident where I lost control going downhill, it was a very fun biking experience that I will remember forever. Renting a bike and then exploring the surrounding area is one of the best ways to spend a day in Rincon. If you want to follow the route that I did, then just type Sandy Beach into Google Maps and follow the route for cars.
17. BONUS Technological Museum
The Boiling Nuclear Superheater (BONUS) reactor was one of the first nuclear reactors to be built in Latin America. It is now defunct and acts as a museum that aims to showcase the importance of Puerto Rico in developing energy infrastructure in the United States. The exhibit portrays the history of Puerto Rican culture, the colonization that followed and how the island was used to further the energy goals for the US. It is a very important exhibit if you want to understand the depth of the United States intrusion into the lives of the people on this island.
18. Villa Cofresi Pirate Drink
The pirate drink at Villa Cofresi will knock a grown man on his ass. An entire coconut is filled with coconut water and rum. I could barely finish even 14th of the drink before I gave up and ate my fries. Villa Cofresi also sits right next to the ocean so we watched the sunset and saw a couple propose while drinking the pirate. This is a fun thing to do in Rincon if you don’t have any plans for the evening. Follow this by a dinner in their restaurant and you will have successfully orchestrated the perfect romantic evening.
19. Local Food
It will not be a Puerto Rican holiday without some finger licking Puerto Rican food. Fortunately Rincon has local vendors with their food trucks almost at every corner. From pastillos filled with chicken or guava to plantain chips and their famous mayo, ketchup and salsa sauce you can try all Puerto Rican dishes here. Just venture out and walk along the main road and sooner than later you will stumble upon a group of food trucks waiting for you.
20. Gastropark@115
Gastropark@115 is a huge food court with lots of local vendors selling local and international fares. If you want to try lots of Puerto Rican food in one place then this is where you should come. Their cuisines include sushi, Italian, Mexican and Puerto Rican. This is the best place to have dinner if you are staying in Rincon.
Adventure Tours
Puerto Rico has some really cool adventure tours that take you around the island. If you are into hiking then visit the El Yunque Rainforest with insane waterfalls and hikes. Another really fun day trip is a Catamaran Cruise to Culebra island where you get to party and relax on the sea. And finally, come swim with turtles in San Juan Bay.
21. Mountain Bike Park
Sporting is a huge part of things to do in Rincon, Puerto Rico. There is a very cool small mountain biking course outside Rincon when you drive towards Stella. The compound also has an outdoor gym, a playground for kids and a small track for race car driving. If you want to do one of the harder mountain biking trails in the forest, this would be a good place to start learning how to do jumps.
22. Domes MTB Trail
Behind dome beach is a very cool mountain biking trail that we stupidly decided to take our road bikes on. The trails are super fun and zig zag through the hills right down to the beach. It is an intermediate trail approximately 4 miles in length end to end. If you love adrenaline then you cannot miss this thing to do in Rincon. You can rent mountain bikes from Rincon Mountain Bike Pro Shop.
23. Day Trips From Rincon
Camuy Caves
These caves are part of the third largest underground river system in the world. The river has carved out limestone caves and underwater rock ways. A small part of the cave system is now open to the public. It is super fun disappearing into the darkness and exploring this natural wonder.
Mayaguez
The city of Mayaguez is a much less travelled city in Puerto Rico because of the low publicity it has received but it a gem. It has the best skatepark in Puerto Rico and beaches that can rival any of those in Rincon or San Juan.
24. Restaurants in Rincon
These are some of the best restaurants in Rincon, Puerto Rico. If you are looking to go out and enjoy dinner then these 4 restaurants will not disappoint you.
- The Beach House
- Rincon Beer Company
- Tamboo Tavern
- Cafe 413
FAQs
Is Rincon worth visiting?
Absolutely! Rincon has so much to explore that it is truly a paradise. The beaches are gorgeous, the surf is excellent and the people are warm and welcoming. It is one of the best places to visit in Puerto Rico.
What is there to do in Rincon?
Rincon has many beaches, sports such as deep sea fishing, surfing, mountain biking and snorkeling. It also has lots of opportunities to chill, eat, drink and shop in peace.
How to get around town?
The town is very small so you can walk around. If you want to go a little further than I recommend renting a bike. If you are driving down from San Juan then the car you rent will also come in handy to visit all the beaches.
What is Rincon famous for?
Rincon is famous for the excellent surfing it has year round and the abundant marine life at Tres Palmas Marine Reserve.
Is Rincon safe for tourists?
Yes, Rincon is very safe for tourists and you can freely walk by yourself after dark. Since it is a small town there is not much crime.
Checkout Other Puerto Rico Posts
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Complete Guide to El Yunque Rainforest in Puerto Rico
