Best Things to do in Rincon, Puerto Rico
Updated: Apr 23, 2022
Rincon is located on the West side of Puerto Rico where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean Sea about 2 1/2 hours from San Juan and is a beautiful little beach town. Rincon has many different types of beaches because of its unique location so it’s the perfect beachy getaway.
If you’re looking for a laid-back beach town that still has plenty to see and do, Rincon is for you. It is also one of the best day trips from San Juan for some amazing snorkeling!
After two visits to Rincon (and four to Puerto Rico), I am really getting a feel for this incredible island! Rincon has quickly become one of my absolute favorite towns in Puerto Rico for so many reasons – amazing beaches, laid-back surfer style, and a multitude of things to do.
On my first trip to Rincon, I had the chance to stay at Hotel Villa Cofresi and just loved it. I knew I wanted to come back to Rincon on a trip again and am so glad we got to spend more time in this town! Here are some of the best things to do in Rincon, Puerto Rico.
1. Tres Palmas Nature Reserve
One of the things that Rincon is best known for is the snorkeling and scuba diving you can find there. I always like to bring my own snorkel gear and find spots to easily snorkel on my own – it saves a ton of money! But, if you don’t have snorkel gear, Rincon Diving, has $20 rentals and scuba diving trips. They were also nice enough to provide floaties for us!
Tres Palmas Nature Reserve has amazing snorkeling right off the beach! We parked at Black Eagle Beach Marina for free. You’ll simply enter at the boating dock, swim around to the right of the rocks and find the reefs that are part of the nature reserve there. We saw so many colorful fish. It was a beautiful beach with tons of local restaurants to enjoy too!
2. Downtown Rincon
I absolutely adore downtown Rincon! The surfer culture extends into town with tons of amazing local art, boutiques, and restaurants to try. We spent an hour walking from shop to shop and bought a few really unique and beautiful things to take home with us. Every shop was so cute and had unique handmade items.
3. Rincon Beer Company
In downtown Rincon, you’ll find one of my favorite restaurants and spots for a good beer. Rincon Beer Company serves up awesome food (loved the fish tacos) and beers from around Puerto Rico including their own. They have a really nice outdoor space and QR code menus to help you order quickly and easily.
Some of their beers are actually ginger beers as well (non-alcoholic), which I loved since I didn’t want to feel really bloated on a beach after eating.
4. Domes Beach
Domes Beach is probably the most famous beach in Rincon. It’s located near the dome of an old nuclear reactor (don’t worry, it’s not active) and is one of the most popular beaches for surfing in Rincon. There’s a really amazing space above the beach too perfect for watching the surfers at the lighthouse listed below.
Parking here is pretty easy as there is a big parking lot and you’ll find a lot of locals and tourists here alike. People surf here well past sunset even though the beach technically closes at 6 pm. We stayed until about 7 pm and had no issues.
5. Faro Punta Higueras (Lighthouse)
This is a historic lighthouse located in Rincón, Puerto Rico. The original building was built in 1892 by the Spanish government and was rebuilt in 1922 by the United States Coast Guard after an earthquake damaged it. It’s still a working lighthouse to this day that is turned on each night. We were unable to enter the lighthouse while visiting in 2021.
The park where this lighthouse is is also an excellent spot for whale watching in the winter!
6. Ola Sunset Cafe
Right next to Faro Punta Higueras is Ola Sunset Cafe named after its amazing sunsets, this spot serves up a really good Pina Colada and views you’ll absolutely love. They serve some street food and small dishes, but I’d recommend going somewhere before or after for dinner so you’re not stuck snacking all evening.
7. Daily Dose PR
This cute VW Van turned coffee stand has amazing lattes, local pastries, and takes credit cards. They can be found daily right near Hotel Villa Cofresi and it’s an easy stop in the morning before the beach.
8. Hotel Villa Cofresi
My absolute favorite hotel in Rincon is Hotel Villa Cofresi. Even if you decide not to stay here, you’ll want to stop by for the Pirate’s Special (a rum/coconut drink served in a coconut) and an amazing sunset.
I could not recommend this hotel more for your stay. They have a pool, private beach, great food, and spacious rooms. They were remodeled in 2018 and have a beautiful property. Definitely, an amazing place to stay!
9. GastroPark @115
This is the perfect spot to grab a casual bite to eat in Rincon. Food trucks with amazing local food are easy to find here and I had fun while visiting getting something from each of the different stands. Their covered space makes it easy to visit no matter the weather.
There are so many amazing things to do in Rincon, Puerto Rico I know you’ll have a relaxing, fun time while here. Could not recommend this beach town more!
