Here are Details About Our Surfing Beaches
On The Puerto Rico Surfing Waves

Shacks Surfing Beach

Orientation: the long stretch of Atlantic coast from Arecibo in the northwest to Rincón, the town at the western most tip of the island where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean, is home to an incredible variety of beaches. About halfway between these two points are the spectacular white sand dunes of Isabela.

Among the favorite beaches in Isabela is Shacks, which is just down the way from us, by a couple hundred yards to the right.

It has an international reputation as one of the premier windsurfing spots in the world - not just Caribbean surfing or Puerto Rico surfing and is often compared with Maui. Despite its world wide reputation, Shacks is never crowded. It's true.

A little further along are these surfing breaches in addition to Shacks:
Jobos, Surfer Beach, Table Top, Secret Spot, Middles.

Jobos Surfing Beach:

Long right with some occasional lefts. Sand bottom inside. Beware of localism.

Middles

Right reef break. Can get VERY hollow and good but it only occurs a few times a year with many factors necessary to occur. Most of the time it will be sloppy Jobos being a better choice then.

Shore Island

One of the best shore breaks around, good for bodyboarding, mostly sand bottom, watch out for the nasty, occasional backwash. Can get REALLY hollow sometimes.(I found the picture in the netbb website)."

:: courtesy of geocities writer of the area to whom we are indebted: http://www.geocities.com/Pipeline/Dropzone/8964/pr.html

And Surfing Beaches To Our Left

Down the beach the other way - to our left and around the headlands are another set of Caribbean surfing beaches - among the area's most challenging - Aguadilla's most popular surfing beaches include Crash Boat, with crystal clear waters, Gas Chambers, and Wilderness. Ususllay we will suggest accessing these beaches with your car or the resort's pick-up truck.

These Aguadilla surfing beaches host a variety of amateur and professional level surfing events every year. They have also hosted a variety of championships including the ISA world championships in 1968 and 1988. Famous surfing spots in Aguadilla include, "Surfer's Beach", "The Table", "Gas Chambers", "Las Ruinas", "Crash Boat", and "Survivor".

Thanks to and courtesy of : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aguadilla

Again here are details from our surfing reporter for our North and Northwest Surfing Beaches of Puerto Rico: this is his excellent Caribbean surfing website for our guests' reference. Please take a moment to contact this fine reporter for good analysis and wisdom.. http://www.geocities.com/Pipeline/Dropzone/8964/pr.html

"Here's some info, on type of break, location, and other things. Some of them also include pics of the spots. This are not the only breaks, their are over 60 breaks in Puerto Rico, but I won't add all of them to preserve the secrecy of some spots. Anyway I'll keep adding some other spots in the future so keep in touch.

Gas Chambers

Definitely the most famous wave on the island, maybe even in the entire Caribbean. Hollowest right around. Requires a very big swell. Breaks, perhaps 4 times a year. Usually crowded when it breaks though. Very shallow at the peak. The backwash is a menace sometimes.

Wilderness

One of the longest waves in the island. There is a paddling channel on the left of the parking lot. Good around 3 - 15 ft. faces. Can be much bigger than it looks from shoreline. Also watch for some really nasty clean up sets starting a few feet overhead.

Surfers Beach

One of the most consistent spots in west coast. Blows out easily. Next to this spot is Tabletops, with good fast rights but beware of rocks.

Pressure Point

Good reef break. Nice barreling wave, similar to wishing well.

Wishing Well

Fast tube. Good maybe at least over 4 foot face. Under 4 feet it's just to shallow with corals, rocks and sea urchins awaiting on the bottom."

[ All courtesy of geocities writer of the area to whom we are indebted: http://www.geocities.com/Pipeline/Dropzone/8964/pr.html

General Surfing Details About Aguadilla Surf Breaks and Isabela Surf Breaks - the valued alternative to Rincon Surfing

[ This again is excerpted with thanks form Puerto Rico surfing articles - courtesy of geocities writer of the area to whom we are indebted: http://www.geocities.com/Pipeline/Dropzone/8964/pr.html

Tropical storms and winter low pressure areas provide good quality waves almost year round. The main surfing season for our Caribbean surfing starts in October and ends in mid-April. The month of May still brings some occasional swell, but not as consistent and good as the normal season period.

On June 1st, hurricane season starts, till November, so basically there is a chance of scoring some waves all year round, although hurricane swells are more inconsistent and less predictable.

As for equipment for surfing in Puerto Rico, the air temperature usually does not go under 70 around the coast, and the water temperature is always around 74-80. If you still want to check out the weather then click here >. Anyway you won't need a full body suit, but a spring suit or lycra would be helpful to prevent nipple rash and sea lice stinging, or to protect against the wind on those windy days.

Finally, there are a few surfing tips you should always remember at Aguadilla and Isabela.

First foreigners are used to having surfers dominated lineups, not here. Usually here it's a bodyboarder dominated lineup. Respect the spongers and don't drop on them, it will save you a lot of trouble. . . .

And last but not least, always respect the environment and don't leave trash anywhere.

Dangers

Although most breaks are reef type, Puerto Rico is a relatively safe place for surfing. The usual first aid stuff will do, specially bandaids for small cuts.

But remember, Reef wise the danger increases exponentially with size, specially on low tide.

Rips

Another big issue --one that's most dangerous for inexperienced surfers ---is rip tides, which get more dangerous with size. These two are the most serious dangers in the island.

Some places to watch for rips are: Jobos, Wilderness, Marias, and Surfers Beach, but in general be wary of it everywhere specially if face heights are above 8ft.

The Atlantic ocean has plenty of sharks, but there has been no reports of shark attacks around Puerto Rico coasts.

:: weather forecast out of San Juan http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/ifps/sju/GFE/Marine.html

:: the Navy's wave watch http://www.geocities.com/pramek/weather.html

Inland White Water

For those days that the waves on our Caribbean shores are too big or too small, just inland we have two challenging rivers for body - surfing and some safe rope work to get into the gorges. Canyoneering is just an hour and quarter distant into the karst limestone ravines that carve out waterways for the tropical forests on top.

No one is, as of now, hauling in white water kayaks to run the rivers. No doubt those Puerto Rico white water treks will be coming soon. We will keep our guests is the loop, of course.

:: see and read more about Puerto Rico inland white water >
:: and more canyoneering adventures here >

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