destination: Puerto Rico

puerto del mar condos was an awesome spot on the cliff overlooking crashboat beach where ive stayed in the past. its right in aguadilla. short drive to tons of decent spots. easy day trip to rincon

 

Sounds like you're hitting this during your Christmas break. I did the same thing a couple years ago and decided next time, I'd go right after the break. All the PR kids are in the water at the same time as you're gonna be there. If you're flexible on your dates try to miss that window of time... if not you'll still have a great time.

We stayed at the Rincon Inn (rinconinn.com) and it is bare bones but cheap. No great views or anything but there is a restraunt right there too. Beware, the liquor is cheaper than the beer so it makes for a bigger hangover, you don't want to miss too many morning sessions.

 

Depends on your airline. We bought boards on consignment from one of the shops down there close to surfer's beach. They had a pretty good selection. We had decent luck with it. I brought mine back. A couple guys got money back and my brother and one friend didn't get anything back.

Personally, I have more boards now and a little more money (wait, enough money to ship the boards but not enough to take the trip???) so i would probably take a couple down with me as long as the airline fees weren't crazy.

 

sounds like your going for a week. most shops in rincon rent boards for about $125 a week and have a bunch of logs, fishes and shortboards in decent shape. A lot of traveling surfers sell off boards.

Good luck finding an airline that isnt at least $200 round trip. Southwest is going to be flying there, but not sure if they are yet. If so, they MIGHT be $100 R/T.

 

Anyone made the drive from San Juan to Aguadilla or Rincon? Me and the wife are looking into taking a trip in Nov. Tickets are a lot cheaper to SJ. Is it worth the drive or should I just shell out a little more to fly into aguadilla? Any hotels close to breaks that anyone has stayed at? Def going to get some surf but want to make sure the wife has a good time too.

 

I'm actually in the middle of planning a trip now... it looks like its around 400 to fly continental into san juan for me and a little more expensive if i wanna make the straight shot into aguadilla. I'll probably end up going in through san juan then making the drive west. Im going on new years eve for a week. I'm planning on staying in casa cerde I believe, which is also very cheap. But yeah, let me know if you guys have any ideas on cheaper flights. I think casa verde is a good place to stay though from what i hear.

 

takes less than two hours and is mostly on a good divided highway. The last 30 minutes from Aquadilla to Rincon is a pretty 2 lane..countryside and small towns. Ive stayed at casa verde...ok place with low priced rooms and a decent little outdoor bar/restaurant. its on the north side of rincon and its a bit of a hike over to the Marias/Domes west side

 

not to hijack this thread, but are there any good lefts on the west side of PR? Everywhere i've looked seems to be point break rights, which are great and all, but my friends and I are looking for a nice left if possible.

 

Another quick question I had to add on was about car rentals. Me and my buddies (3 other guys) need a car to get from San Juan to Aguadilla, but none of us are close to 25. We are all 21. So I'm assuming there is a way to get around this, but should I call in advance or should I try and figure it out when i get there... I just don't want to be stuck in San Juan......

 

where is the best left in aguadilla?

 

you need to holler at S-T-R-E-T-C-H he is repping from the shores of Aquadilla right here on swellinfo.

 

The drive from San Juan to Rincon is more like 3 hours by the time all is said and done, no biggie though. I have been doing that drive for years but jetblue now flys from Orlando to Aguadilla. Im on the gulf beaches so either way I have to drive minimum 2 hours and I would just rather drive in PR instead of the dreaded I4. Anyway you can find an occasional left at wilderness in Aguadilla, and the left off the rocks at sandys beach in Rincon is fun if its not too windy. Keep in mind if you are in between frontal swells in Rincon you WILL be driving up to Aguadilla or Isabela to catch waves, it does go flat if the swell is not NW or N but there is almost always trade swell on the North coast which is about 45 minutes. Another inside tip is that when it goes flat in Rincon and you have to drive N, check wilderness no matter what the report says. No disrespect Swellinfo but when you say 1-2 at wildo, its usually head high. I dont think they take into account the swell wrap because I trusted that forecast a few times, brought my dive gear instead and got to wildo and it was head high. I had to hightail it back and get my board. I never like to leave my board unattended in the car as thats a sure bet on getting it stolen. Smash and grab is common so dont leave your goods in plain sight. Oh i forgot about the left at dogmans/pistons right down from marias, its fun but usually a shorter ride but you can get barreled there. Your best bet is to realize that you are going to surf a lot of rights because they are so much longer so I consider it a great time to work on my backhand. Have fun, hit me up if you want to know more, been there 15 times and my wife is from there so I know it pretty well.

 

^^ don't forget that dogmans has teeth. Be careful on that wave the reef looks like a meat grinder under that take off and again in the inside section.

I found lefts a plenty in the sandy's / parking lots / pools area. Mostly sand bottoms and rock piles up there. But yeah, if you are willing to surf on your backhand you will do a lot more surfing and a lot less searching.

 

Good tips Lee, sorry for bustin your balls the other day, glad you are back.

 

you might get some good advice out of me in the travel threads, but in the mid-atlantic side I just poke people with sticks. Your ball busting was probably warranted.

 

Dually noted, the mid-atlantic threads get a bit chippy at times, so i get it HAHA, travel threads more helpful. I'm a goofy footer so the lefts you speak of are much appreciated, and pretty sweet that it's sand bottom mostly. I'm probably going to give Maria's a look too, but we'll see how things unfold (30 days till wedding and counting)

 

just remember respect goes a long way!!if u think ur going to surf alone,with nobody around,u need to stop sniffing glue.puerto rico has many surfers and they are the locals.u people are bennies to them,and they dont like u crowding up their spots.just think of it like this.100 australians come down to jersey,and surf manasquan and tear it a new as$hole.they surf better,there cooler in all aspects.so just go down and treat them with respect.pr is a good surfspot low on the budget.i dont know about any hotels,i have many friends down there who dont surf and i stay with them.rincon and aguidilla are the 2 main spots.dont be a kook,dropping in on someone on their own turf is bad for your well being.treat them with respect and youll have a good time.if u go down there and talk shyt like ur better,like 90% of people on this forum,i promise u,u will get beat the fuk up!!!!!!

 

^ True words. I don't drop in on anyone, whether at home or traveling, just the way I learned. I have seen a guy get his ass kicked IN THE WATER at domes. He was dropping in on people and the locals had enough. They took off his leash, pushed his board out to sea and beat his ass down right then and there. Sure I won't get as many waves as the locals, but hey, they earned the right to the heirarchy. This last Easter I was the first one out at marias on an overhead swell and I got every wave I wanted. I would take the right off the exposed rock, rip it all the way in and paddle right back out past everyone back to the takeoff spot. First time in 10 years of surfing there that I wasnt challenged for the spot, maybe because I got there first but there are plenty of waves for everyone. They take their surf seriously down there, especially at domes and marias. Give respect, get respect!