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trance A TR A V E L M AG F O R T H E YO UN G M I N D E D

A T R AV E L M AG F OR T H E YOU NG MI NDE D

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DES T INA T IO N // PUERTO RICO

IN THIS ISSUE we will be taking you to ...

puerto rico CONTENT discover puerto rico //

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exploring rincon beaches //

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FREE FALLIN’ AT gozalandia //

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ISLAND HOPPING ON A BUDGET //

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WEST COAST SWELL //

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THE TRAVELER SEES WHAT HE SEES & THE TOURIST SEES WHAT HE HAS COME TO SEE

DISCOVERING

PUERTO RICO

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ALWAYS ON ISLAND TIME

Take some time and travel to a tropical island.

Hire a cast of thousands to play friendly, welcoming people most of whom speak English (in addition to their native Spanish).

When you are looking for exotic locations, miles upon miles of white sand beaches, plus an unbelievable rain forest, surfing, and mountains, you come to Puerto Rico.

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Puerto Rico is a modern progressive and civilized vacation spot that maintains the charm and hospitality of days gone by. You will find everything that the Caribbean has to offer in this all around family destination and with it is a people whose warmth is equaled only by the sunshine that graces its shores.

Puerto Rico enjoys year round summer temperatures, an average annual temperature of 80°F. The peak tourist season is between December and April, but this has more to do with the climate in U.S. mainland than anything else. But for those of you who are trying to go on a surf trip and relax, The best time to avoid the crowds is the low season between May and November. So, bring your board and get ready to adventure.

Puerto Rico is one of the most laid-back, friendly, good-hearted corners of the Carribbean. You’ll meet local residents, visitors who bought second homes here after they “fell in love” with the area, the Caribbean and the world. It has long been a favorite getaway of those who want to sneak away from the city or the cold for a few days.

While the white sands and warm water is what first draws most people to Rincon, it’s the adventure beyond the shore that often keeps fellow travelers coming back year after year. Don’t forget to bring your camera because the picturesque towns and scenery dot the coastline and make for great day trips after you’ve met your quota of tanning time, exploring, surfing, and rum punches.

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BEACHES OF RINCON This is Puerto Rico, baby. There’s nothing quite like sprawling out on a huge beach blanket, feeling the soft, warm sand beneath you. Tilt your head back and let the wind caress your hair, while you listen to the birds sing their song to an accompaniment of thundering surf.

Throw in some margaritas or some fine island rum and have yourself a party.

Rincon is famous for its beaches, though mainly for the wild surf breaks that draw surfers from all around the world — primarily in the winter months. But one can also find some calmer waters and secluded stretches of sand. One thing you can get at most Rincon beaches is a great sunset view — that alone might be worth a visit. It doesn’t matter if you’re coming to Puerto Rico to take advantage of the exciting adventures that can be found here, like hiking in the rainforest or investigating the vast network of underground caves, Odds are that you will be spending plenty of time relaxing on one of the many gorgeous Puerto Rico beaches. The beaches are, after all, one of the main reasons so many guests flock to this tropical paradise. So, for that reason, here is a little more about the beautiful beaches of Rincon

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Steps Beach

Maria’s Beach

Steps Beach is one of the most unique and appropriately named beaches in all of Rincon. This picture-perfect beach gets it name from a small set of cement steps located just at the water’s edge, and provides some of the calmest waters during the summer season. For this reason, Steps Beach has some of the best snorkeling in Rincon Puerto Rico, with large reef formations and plenty of colorful schools of fish, both small and large, to see and swim with. Steps is also home to the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve, which was established in 2004 to protect that particular stretch of beach and sea.

Just past Steps Beach, you’ll find Maria’s, which is one of the most popular beaches among Rincon PR surfers. During the winter season, Maria’s Beach is the center of surfing activity for Rincon Puerto Rico, where the waves can reach twenty feet or more. When the water becomes calmer in the summer, Maria’s turns into a hot spot for vacationers, in large part because of Calypso, the restaurant and bar located in the Maria’s parking lot.

Maria’s is also in close proximity to the Rincon lighthouse and two other surf spots called Domes and Dogman’s, which makes it an easy favorite among surfers.

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Indicators Beach

Spanish Wall Beach

Just to the south of Lighthouse Park, this is one of the best places to park your car, climb down the incline and watch the surfing action during the winter season.

There are no hotels, restaurants, bars or public facilities, but the Lighthouse Park is just up the road, so there’s plenty of free parking available. During the low season, when the surf isn’t up, this beach is almost completely empty, and it’s a good choice if you want a private beach for a romantic stroll or complete relaxation. Indicators is a very rocky beach, so this is not a good choice for swimming.

This is Rincon’s “secret beach” that you can reach only by hiking from Domes Beach via a trail. Located at the very “corner” of Rincon (the westernmost tip), this is where the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea meet, so it has one of the best surf breaks — you’ll enjoy the action during the winter surfing season.

This is also a great area for collecting shells and “getting away from it all.” You can no longer walk all the way around the corner to the Fun Coast, so you’ll have to hike back the same way you came.

Sandy Beach

Domes Beach

One of the most swimmer-friendly beaches in Rincon Puerto Rico is Sandy Beach, mostly because the ocean floor consists primarily of sand at this particular beach, hence its namHe. Another perk about Sandy Beach is its close proximity to some of the most popular bars and restaurants in Rincon PR, including Tamboo, Casa Verde and Casa Isleña. This makes Sandy Beach not only a fun place to visit during the day, but also one of the best locations to enjoy the one-of-a-kind Rincon PR nightlife.

This is one of the most famous surfing beaches in the world. It’s named after the dome of the old nuclear power plant. The plant was decommissioned and cleaned out decades ago, so don’t worry about radiation emanating from the dome. It’s currently being converted into a Science Center and Museum. To get to Domes Beach, drive past the Lighthouse Park and look for the whale-shaped beach marker. This is also a great place for whale watching in winter, and it’s almost completely empty in summer if you want to have a beach all to yourself.

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JUST LIVING THAT ISLAND LIFE ISLAND HOPPING ON A BUDGET

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LA PARGUERA If you are willing to drive to the southern coast of Puerto Rico, definitely take plan a trip to beautiful La Parguera. It is a small fishing village located in the southwestern Puerto Rico and is part of the town of Lajas. During the summer time is a mecca for many islanders with diverse water sports. It is also home of the best diving and snorkeling in Puerto Rico.

Abundant marine life is diverse where you may see manatees, dolphins, moray eels, barracudas or sea turtles in addition to the numerous reef fish and creatures!

Here you are able to rent a small boat that can fit about 7 people (and its cheap- $20 a person) You are your own captain, so bring a good supply of food and drinks for a fun island hopping adventure

While in La Parguera you must visit the famous Phosphorescent Bay. The bioluminescence is produced by a permanent population of tiny microorganism called dinoflagellates.

These live animals produce a spark of chemical light when disturbed in the water. They can produce a striking effect – tiny green and white diamonds that can only be seen at night. Most tours are a quick boat ride in an out of the bay.

Paradise Scuba & Snorkeling Center offers you not only a chance to view the bioluminiscence from the boat but to actually swim in the water and see this unique phenomenon as it occurs. It is definitely an adventure to remember.

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FREE FALLING

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TAKE THE JUMP AT GOZALANDIA FALLS

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Gozalandia Waterfalls in San Sebastiån has become one of the most visited natural treasures in Puerto Rico. If you are going to visit the waterfalls and you’re not a local, it is important that you analyze the map well to get there without trouble, because, the path is not labeled and its location is a bit difficult.

Parking is $5 + tax = $5.35. Once you park, you will need to walk for about 5 minutes and then down through a steep stairs. But, it is a scenic walk so its worth the trek.

Once on the river you can take a dip in the large pool, jump into the water from some of its stones, enjoy a small underwater cave located on the right side of the waterfalls or simply enjoy a day of adventure on the river while you see young people jump from the heights into the water. There is also a rope swing for the daring. Make sure to pack plenty of beverages if you need the liquid courage to take the jump.

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IF IN DOUBT PADDLE OUT Welcome to the Surf Capital of the Caribbean!

Whether you are an experienced surfer or just starting out, a stand up paddleboarder, long board rider or big wave enthusiast, West Puerto Rico has a beach for you.

From Isabela and Aguadilla to Rincon, the beaches of the west coast hold so many different breaks, so many opportunities for a great day of surfing. Check out this website [www.surfingpuertorico.com] for your daily update of Puerto Rico surf forecasts and plan your Puerto Rico surf vacation by visiting our listings of where to surf, surfboard rentals and gear, surf lessons and surf schools, where to stay and even where to eat and drink when the day is done. There are also plenty of little local bars located withing a walking distance of each beach in case you want to celebrate a fun day of surfing. Pack up your camera and go-pro because the water is crystal clear for some great action shots.

Surf the West Coast of Puerto Rico and leave your wetsuit behind!

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Aguadilla is one of the major cities on the west coast of Puerto Rico. The Rafael Hernandez Airport (BQN) serves Orlando, Miami and Newark, NJ via Jet Blue, Spirit and United Airlines.

There is a Marriot Hotel, a golf course and plenty of great beaches for all levels of surfers. See our listings for surfboard rentals, surf instructors, vacation rentals and dining in Aguadilla.

Surfer’s Beach is good for all surfing levels. From Ramey Air Base on Rt. 107, turn on Cliff Road and pass Surf Zone, turn left at the metal gate at the end of the road, drive down the hill and at the and there is a parking lot. Consistent long rights and short left breaks. Breaks on Northwest or northeast swell and southeast wind. Reef bottom, gets a good crowd on the weekends.

Gas Chambers is for experienced surfers only. On the north side of the pier form Playa Crashboat. It doesn’t break very often, but heavy when it does.

Reef and rock bottom. Excellent tubes and power, big crowds on weekends.

Crashboat is good for all surfing levels. Popular, well know beach with easy access and signage off Rt. 107. Walk out on the jetty and jump off into the lineup on the left, fast and fun right break with a sandy bottom. Breaks best on west or northwest swell, with any wind.

Wilderness is best for experienced surfers. Off Rt. 107 near the golf course, a small access roads cuts through the golf course, follow it down to parking area. Breaks best on northwest or northeast swells and wind from east or northeast. Flat rock bottom, with fast and powerful rights and lefts.

Weekdays usually light traffic. Beautiful beach and surroundings, no facilities.

Rompeolas is on Rt. 111 at the Aguadilla harbor.

Sandy beach, can get dangerous on big days as point is behind the breakwater.

Rincon has been a well known surf spot since the 1968 Surfing Championships were held there. The town is situated on a corner with beaches facing both northwest and southwest. This topography gives Rincon surfers a pretty good chance of catching waves either on the north at Pool’s, Sandy Beach or Antonio’s or on the more southwest facing beaches, Tres Palmas, Maria’s and Domes.

There are plenty of Rincon vacation rentals, cheap guest houses, and a fun beachside nightlife.

Antonio’s has fun rights and lefts that break over a long stretch of reef. Onshore in the prevailing afternoon trade winds, so get there early, but plenty of room. Not known as a really hollow wave, Antonio’s breaks best on a Northwest or northeast swell and winds from the south, which produces very fun, workable rights that peel down the beach.

Pool’s is a few scattered reef breaks that can be fun. Pools Beach is the first spot you hit heading south as you round the Puntas corner of Rincon.

Its protected from the Northeast Trade Winds, but needs a good Northwest swell to really break, in-fact, the more west in the swell the better as the break is tucked into the corner. Best for experienced surfers, can be a heavy wave.

Maria’s is all surfing levels. From Rincon, take Rt.413 north and go left at El Faro (Rt. 4413), 1/4 mile, parking down hill on left near Calypso Restaurant. Very popular spot, long rights can get massive. Breaks best with northwest swell and east or northeast winds. Reef, rock bottom.

Tres Palmas is very experienced surfers only.

Off Rt 413, dirt road at Km. 1.6 through pasture with cows. The Caribbean’s most famous and dependable big wave spot, Tres Palmas is a legendary right-hand reef break that needs a big swell to start showing. Generally, it doesn’t start breaking until its double-overhead.

A TRAVEL MAG FOR THE Y

OUNG MINDE D