Yes, it’s true we live in a city of sun, sand and palm trees, and while you may believe that Miami is the end all be all, ask any surfer and they’ll tell you that when it comes to catching some waves this place is severely lacking. Well, bust out the sex wax and prepare to get super stoked, dude. This week’s Road Trip is (almost) all about you. Almost, because aside from the mondo waves, Rincón, Puerto Rico is an excellent getaway for the whole family and it’s just a short economical plane ride from the Ft. Lauderdale Airport.
No Spanish? No problem. In Rincón most people are from the States and only speak English. And why is a plane trip a Road Trip? Because if you get in your car and drive an hour or so to Ft. Lauderdale, the plane tickets are much, much cheaper. We’ve seen them as low as $180 roundtrip, about what you’d spend on gas to visit Orlando.
Ok, wave watchers, this is it, the big time. The first thing you need to do once you’re settled in is to hit up the local chapter of the International Surfrider Foundation. They meet the first Thursday of every month at 7:30pm, so plan accordingly. Here you can get expert advice on how to hang ten and not break your neck on the coral reef that surrounds the tiny surfing community.
Although, pretty much anywhere in Rincón is great for waves that break anywhere from 2 to 25 feet, one of the most well known surf spots on the island is Tres Palmas. Other favorite beaches to ride waves at are Marias, Domes, and Sandy Beach, all conveniently located in Rincón.
For the family looking for a weekend getaway with the kids, the island of enchantment offers many fun activities for the whole family. Aside from the obvious water sports, it just so happens that Rincon is right on the migratory routes of the humpback whales. For a modest all-inclusive (yes, drinks too) rate of $40 you can visit Katarina Sail Charters and set sail on a sunset whale-watching adventure. Peak season is Febuary to March.
Only a two-hour ride from Rincón is the 465-year-old neighborhood of Old San Juan that is littered with carefully restored 16th- and 17th-century Spanish colonial buildings. The most impressive building in Old San Juan has to be El Morro. A fort, it is literally a maze of tunnels, dungeons, barracks, outposts and ramps overlooking the Caribbean.
Surfrider Foundation: (Rincón Chapter) Centro de Envejecientes de Rincón (across from the State Police Station and Municipal Assembly; 800-743-7873; surfrider.org.
El Morro: San Cristobal and Norzagaray Street, San Juan; 787 729-6960; El Morro.com.
Katarina Sail Charters: Rincon; 787-823-SAIL; Katarina Sail Charters.com.
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