These 7 Caribbean Islands Have Surprisingly Great Surfing, From Barbados to The Bahamas to a Secret Spot in Martinique
Rincón, Puerto Rico
Boards are strapped to roofs. Surf shops line the roads. Barefoot riders walk between cafés and beaches, discussing wind direction, swell period and which break is working.
Rincón is the closest thing the Caribbean has to a classic international surf town.
The community sits on Puerto Rico’s northwest corner, where Atlantic swells meet the Mona Passage and produce a dense collection of breaks. The town became famous after hosting the 1968 World Surfing Championship, an event that introduced international competitors to Puerto Rico’s winter waves and helped create the surf culture that still defines Rincón.
The best-known spots include Domes, named for the former nuclear facility dome beside the beach; Maria’s, a reef break with long right-hand rides; and Tres Palmas, where major winter swells can produce some of the largest surf in the region.
The variety is part of the appeal. Experienced surfers can chase powerful reef breaks, while newcomers can find lessons and softer waves at beaches such as Sandy Beach and Little Malibu, depending on conditions.
Is Rincón Worth Visiting If You Don’t Surf?
Absolutely. Rincón has grown into one of Puerto Rico’s most compelling beach escapes, with independent inns, cocktail bars, seafood restaurants and some of the island’s best sunsets.
You can stay at a small hotel near the water, visit the Punta Higüero Lighthouse, snorkel at Steps Beach or drive south for fresh fish in the seaside village of Joyuda. The town’s weekly art market brings together local food, jewelry and crafts, while the surrounding hills are dotted with vacation homes and intimate guesthouses.
Rincón works because surfing remains part of everyday life rather than a packaged attraction. The town has changed considerably since the 1960s, but it still revolves around the ocean. When a strong north swell arrives, everyone knows.
