A Guide to Shacks Beach, Puerto Rico

By: Thiago Santiago, October 2025

Surfer off Shacks Beach. Credit: Abnel Gonzalez from NY, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0> via Wikimedia Commons

A Haven for Water Sports

Villa Montana Beach Resort sits right beside the sea, on a pristine, secluded beach situated along the beautiful north west coast of Puerto Rico, close to the picturesque town of Isabela. Our beautiful location is surrounded by some of the island’s best beaches for water-sports. 

So whether you want to try your hand at surfing, kayaking, wakeboarding, scuba diving or snorkeling, the wide selection of beaches close to Villa Montana Beach Resort have something to offer every type of sea sport lover, from beginner to professional.

Puerto Rico’s warm, tropical climate makes it an all-year paradise for anyone who loves being close to the ocean. Beaches are never off-limits here and the west of the island features a wide selection, each offering something different for visitors: from lazy days by the sea to diving beneath it to explore the coral reef.

In this series of articles we’ll introduce you to a selection of our favorite beaches, all within easy traveling distance of Villa Montana. First up, let us introduce you to one of the best places in the area for diving, Shacks Beach.

About Shacks Beach

Located on Puerto Rico’s west coast, close to Villa Montana Beach Resort, Shacks Beach is located in the municipality of Isabela. Its coral reef and diverse sea life have made it a popular destination for diving and snorkeling. It also attracts surfers, windsurfers and kite boarders but overall, outside its dedicated water-sports fans,  “Shacks” remains one of Puerto Rico’s best kept secrets. The area around the beach remains relatively undeveloped, particularly when compared to beaches closer to San Juan, around 78 miles to the east. In fact Shacks Beach retains a natural beauty that sadly many other coastal resorts seem to have lost. 

A cluster of houses line a short stretch of this eight mile length of white coral sand, which winds around the coast from Playa Jobos on the east, through Bajuras to the dramatically named Survival Beach, five miles to the west, where the sands abruptly end in front of a towering cliff. Although you might see beach-walkers, sunbathers or even a few riders on horseback on Shacks Beach, on quieter weekdays it’s quite possible here to imagine you’re a castaway on a deserted tropical island. 

Shacks Beach is the kind of place which those in the know return to year after year. But whilst it’s beautiful next to the sea here, its real attraction lies beneath those beautiful blue waves. 

Snorkeling at Shacks Beach

Sailing, surfing, windsurfing, kiteboarding and swimming are all popular pastimes at Shacks. But what this particular Puerto Rico beach is famous for is snorkeling and scuba-diving. 

Shacks is an incredible place to snorkel, when the weather is good and the sea is clear. A reef extends to the beach and just off the beach, the Blue Hole features one of the largest areas of healthy hard coral in Puerto Rico. The hypnotic turquoise waters feature underwater caves, tunnels, sea fans swaying in the current and the active reef is teeming with sea life. Shoals of fish play hide and seek between the coral and numerous sea turtles consider the Blue Hole their home.

The Blue Hole is stunning when viewed from above but incredible when experienced from below the waves. This natural seawater pool is a natural underwater playground for fish and divers alike. Encircled by a ridge in the reef, it features crystal clear water, accessible to a depth of around 300 meters. 

If you aren’t an experienced swimmer it’s best to snorkel around the shallower areas of reef, when it’s low tide at Shacks and the tidal currents aren’t as strong. The underwater caves are best left to more experienced divers but there’s still plenty of sea life closer to the shore. Pick a sunny day (there are plenty to choose from) and wear water shoes that cover your feet, as sea urchins are native to these waters and we wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself by stepping on one. 

Getting to Shacks Beach

Shacks Beach is just a short walk or 2 minute drive from Villa Montana Beach Resort. 

The most popular part of the beach for snorkeling is close to the small, free, Shacks Beach Parking Lot, where you’ll find parking blocks set into the grass. There is parking available on the street nearby too. To the left of the parking lot is the street which leads down to the beach.

Though there are a few beach villas nearby, Shacks doesn’t have any shops or other amenities, so it’s a great idea to pack the things you’ll need into a light backpack before heading out. It’s definitely worth it.

Planning Your Trip To Shacks Beach

If you need any assistance with planning your visit to Shacks, or any of the other beaches in and around Isabela, just speak to the friendly team at Villa Montana Beach Resort. We’d be happy to help you to plan your stay in this beautiful corner of Puerto Rico. Guests can rent free snorkeling equipment for the day or can pre-book a guided scuba diving experience. 

For those who prefer their fun next to the sea, our guests can also enjoy complimentary use of our beach cruiser bicycles or pre-book a two hour horseback tour of the beautiful beaches around the hotel. 

Villa Montana Beach Resort. has been rated one of the best Puerto Rico beachfront hotels, winning the coveted Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award 2024. So you can be assured of a warm welcome and great service throughout your stay with us.

Did you find our guide to Shacks Beach useful? If so, check out our Visitor Guide to Jobos Beach .

We hop to see you soon at Villa Montana Beach Resort, here in Puerto Rico!