Best Family Beaches in Puerto Rico
It’s not exactly a secret that Puerto Rico brims with gorgeous beaches and a coastline so beautiful you’ll have a hard time realizing you’re still standing in North America. Even though every single beach in Puerto Rico is an absolute treat to visit for a family vacation, there are a few that stand out from the crowds due to either their beauty or the experience they provide visitors. These ones get our vote for the best family beaches in Puerto Rico.
*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something we have recommended. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!
Table of Contents
The Most Beautiful Family Beaches in Puerto Rico
If you are currently in the planning stages of your Puerto Rico itinerary and you want to make sure you visit the best it has to offer when it comes to paradise-like beaches, here is the ultimate list of the best family beaches in Puerto Rico you absolutely have to check out during your visit to this Caribbean gem!
Since it’s an island, Puerto Rico is blessed with miles of coastline and some of the top beaches in the world. Visitors can access the best Puerto Rico beaches because they are all open to the public. That’s right, none of Puerto Rico’s beaches are private!
This means that local families and tourists alike can spend time splashing in the turquoise waters, building sand castles, and having picnics wherever they choose!
1. Isla Verde
If your idea of a perfect Caribbean beach is a very long stretch of white sand framed by palm trees, Isla Verde beach is the one for you. This beach is very popular with travelers and a lot of the Puerto Rico family resorts are nearby. Most people visit it almost immediately upon arrival, as it is very close to the airport.
Isla Verde has received awards for being one of the best urban beach experiences in the Caribbean. This is because of its wide array of food options, fun activities, and delightful water sports, which include parasailing, jet-skiing, kite surfing, and so much more!
2. Playa Buye
Buyé Beach is a bit of a hidden jewel in Cabo Rojo on Puerto Rico’s west coast. It is the ideal escape if you’re looking for a low-key and secluded beach experience on this small island.
With stunning blue waters and perfect golden sand, Playa Buyé is the ideal place for a day that includes both relaxing at the beach as well as adventures out in nature. Buye Beach is home to abundant mangroves full of wildlife, a hiking trail that leads to a secret beach, and easy snorkeling right from the sand.
Buyé has chairs and umbrellas to rent, a bar/restaurant, and restrooms. We recommend bringing water, food, and whatever you might need to spend the day here with your family.
3. Jobos
Sitting on the nearby town of Isabela, Jobos beach is another favorite for visitors and locals alike. Those looking for a lively nightlife will find it in Jobos. Take your kids to the beach during the day and escape to the bars for a date night.
Mornings in Jobos are dreamy too, of course. Go for a short walk along its oceanside boardwalk and enjoy expansive views of the ocean.
Strolling along the Paseo Lineal trail, which leads right to the beach, is also quite popular, as is Jobo’s enormous array of watersports. Main attractions include snorkeling, surfing, and paddleboarding.
4. La Playuela
You might be misled by the name Playuela, which roughly translates into “the ordinary beach”. However, this beach is part of Cabo Rojo’s natural reserve and of the prettiest ones in all of Puerto Rico.
This is one of the best places for a quiet escape on a beach backdropped by nature. With breathtaking ocean views and lots of natural goodness to explore at your will, this beach is wonderful for the whole family.
5. Playa Crash Boat
Located on the western side of the main island, Playa Crash Boat is another very popular Puerto Rico beach. It’s an absolute must-visit to witness spectacular sunsets at its pier. Swimming in its crystal clear waters is dreamy, with surfing being very popular during the summer.
Crash Boat also features a fun atmosphere during the day, with music, kiosks, and food stands along the pier.
6. Playa Flamenco
Located on Culebra island, just 17 miles east of the main island in Puerto Rico. Flamenco Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire world. It’s a popular beach, but a day trip to this Caribbean gem is a non-negotiable on any Puerto Rico family vacation!
In addition to its soft white sand and sparkling blue waters characteristic of all tropical islands in the Caribbean Sea, Playa Flamenco has a lot more to offer, especially if your family loves outdoor activities.
Culebra is surrounded by more than 20 cays and islets that harbor spectacular marine life. Snorkeling here is an absolute delight.
If hiking is your jam, you’ll find plenty of trails here! Most are surrounded by lush forests at the island’s national wildlife refuge, too. We are sure you will find plenty of things to do in Culebra!
7. Combate Beach
Set inside Boquerón National State Forest in Cabo Rojo, Combate Beach offers beautiful natural beauty and some of the best sunsets in Puerto Rico.
This is a favorite beach among local Puerto Ricans and tourists. With its sparkling waters and large-scale reefs surrounding it, it turns the shores into a great destination for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts.
Be sure to jump off the pier… it’s a thing there, almost like a rite of passage!
8. La Posita
If you are searching for a calm beach with gentle waves and shallow waters, La Posita beach in Loiza is it! It’s tranquil and a mere 30-minute drive from Old San Juan. Due to the fact that long breakwaters stop the waves from crashing directly into the shore, La Posita is a great spot for swimming.
This is a great beach destination to visit with kids. In fact, the name La Posita means “puddle” or “small pool”, referring to its water being similar to that of a pool. The miles of white-sand beaches are also great for building sand castles with young children.
9. Cayo Icacos
Boasting the clearest waters on Puerto Rico’s northeast coast, Cayo Icacos, or Icacos Island, is one of the most gorgeous cays in La Cordillera Nature Reserve.
Home to a vast array of wildlife, Icacos’s unspoiled waters make snorkeling here a dream. Plus, its practically untouched sand is a paradise for sunbathing your worries away. However, keep in mind that Icacos is a tiny island with no facilities. So, come prepared with everything you may need during your visit or book a tour!
10. Playa Tortuga
Set on the island of Culebrita, Tortuga Beach is a paradise come true! It has beautiful soft white sand, clear waters perfect for swimming, and awe-inspiring panoramic views. As the name suggests, Tortuga island is a favorite spot for sea turtles. So, expect to have a ton of close encounters with them during your visit!
As if that weren’t enough, Tortuga Beach also has a few hiking trails. Some will lead you to other nearby beaches, tidal pools, and great viewpoints.
11. El Escambrón
Perfect for those traveling with kids or visitors simply looking for a day spent relaxing that doesn’t involve escaping San Juan altogether. This Blue Flag beach is probably the most beautiful beach in the San Juan area.
Even though a metropolitan beach may not sound great for snorkeling, El Escambrón is bound to prove you wrong. There are beautiful coral reefs that are perfect for a day underwater in search of colors and marine life.
12. Domes Beach
Located right between the 100-year-old Punta Higüero lighthouse and Puerto Rico’s former nuclear reactor, Domes Beach is home to bright golden sand and azure waters. While it’s not perfect for swimming due to strong waves in the area, it makes for the perfect place to go surfing or do some serious whale-watching during the winter months.
13. Sun Bay Beach
Set on the dreamy Vieques Island just 8 miles from the mainland, Sun Bay Beach offers some of the best viewpoints in the surrounding bay. It is a super secluded experience that’s pretty much a rarity in Puerto Rico (seriously, you may just have to share the beach with wild horses rather than people!).
While swimming or snorkeling isn’t the best at Sun Bay Beach, the privacy it provides makes up for that. Especially if what you’re after is a serene beach you can quietly relax at. Sun Bay Beach also provides quite a few facilities, making a visit here a pretty effortless experience.
P.S. Vieques Island is famed for its bioluminescent bay, Mosquito Bay. This means the water “glows” when plankton and algae in the bay are pushed by the movement of the ocean’s waves.
14. Luquillo Beach
Running for almost an entire mile, Luquillo Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Puerto Rico. Likeiwse, because of its proximity to San Juan, it makes for a perfect day trip out of the city or a relaxing spot to visit after exploring El Yunque National Forest.
Due to its shallow and calm waters, swimming in Luquillo Beach is super safe. Plus, the on-site kiosks serving fresh seafood and local dishes make it a great spot to sample Puerto Rico’s best food while relaxing beachside. It’s easily one of the best family beaches in Puerto Rico.
Hopefully, this curated list of the best family beaches in Puerto Rico helped you plan the perfect beach getaway. Whether you’re looking for a lively beach to visit with your friends, a more tranquil one to enjoy with your family, or a secluded spot to escape from the busy city. Puerto Rico has you covered.
