Where to Stay in Rincon (Best Places & Areas)

4 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Rincon

Rincon is on the western side of Puerto Rico, about a three-hour drive from San Juan, and is divided into ten different neighborhoods you can see here. The city is a popular destination for whale watching, surfing, horseback riding, snorkeling, and beach bumming. There are four main neighborhoods on the coast that are ideal for staying in the city. Let’s review them one by one:

Puntas

👉 Best Area For Sightseeing | ✨ Best Puntas Hotels: Casa Verde Hotel • Lazy Parrot Inn and Mini Resort • Casa Isleña

Puntas is one of the coastal neighborhoods of Rincon and is great for sightseeing, surfing, and whale watching. Puntas is home to the Punta Higuero Lighthouse, and what used to be a nuclear plant.

Puntas is also home to some of the most popular Puerto Rico beaches on the entire island: Domes Beach, Maria’s Beach, and Sandy Beach. You will also find some of the top rated hotels in the city.

👉 New to Rincon? Don’t miss my guide to the best things to do in the beautiful city of Rincon!

Pros of Staying in Puntas:

• Close to beaches
• Top rated Rincon hotels
• Lots of restaurants
• Best place to see whales
• Surf shops
• Close to Aguada

Con of Staying in Puntas:

• Restaurants can be pricey
• Beaches have strong currents

Rincón Pueblo

👉 Best Area For Walking | ✨ Best Rincón Pueblo Hotels: Que Chévere

Rincón Pueblo offers visitors that cozy town center feeling along with a great location next to one of the main beaches in Rincón. Rincón Pueblo also features restaurants, art galleries, boutiques, and bars, which means you don’t need to rent a car to enjoy the area.

Within walking distance of the town center, you’ll find Rincón Public Beach, with facilities like free parking, showers, bathrooms, and companies to rent watersports equipment.

Pros of Staying in Rincón Pueblo:

• Walkable area
• Lots of restaurants 
• Local activities every Thursday
• Close to the beach

Con of Staying in Rincón Pueblo:

• Restaurants can be expensive
• Traffic

Barrio Pueblo

👉 Best Area For Beachfront Hotels and Apartment Rentals | ✨ Best Barrio Pueblo Hotels: Coconut Palms Inn • Rincon Of The Seas Grand Caribbean Hotel • Villa Cofresí

Although Rincón features dozens of hotels and apartment rentals, in Barrio Pueblo you’ll find a variety of them a few steps from the beach. This area also is home to restaurants like Gastropark 115, a food truck park with shows and live music. You will also find apartments in this neighborhood for less than $200 a night.

Pros of Staying in Barrio Pueblo:

• Variety of hotels and apartment rentals
• Beachfront location
• Lots of restaurants
• Close to the center of the city

Con of Staying in Barrio Pueblo:

• Hotels can be pricey

Barrero

👉 Best Area For Relaxing | ✨ Best Barrero Hotels: LemonTree Oceanfront Cottages • Rincon Beach Resort

While Rincón is one of the most beautiful cities in the west, it gets crowded, especially during the weekends. If you want to stay in a more private area of Rincón, Barrero is an ideal location. In Barrero, you can find apartment rentals for less than $150 a night, with amazing views of the beach.

You also choose to stay in Rincon Beach Resort, which is officially on Añasco but it’s a three-minute drive from Barrero, to enjoy both cities.

Pros of Staying in Barrero:

• Relaxing ambiance
• Great sunsets
• Cheaper apartment rentals

Cons of Staying in Barrero:

• Far from main beaches
• Not many restaurants 

Tips for Staying in Rincón

Travel in the Low Season

From August to November it’s the low season for visiting Puerto Rico. But that means you can get the best hotel deals and explore the city without the crowds. Although some beaches like Playa Domes might have strong currents, you can always enjoy Rincon’s Public Beach and Steps Beach water ponds.

And then, Opt for Free Cancellation

September, October, and November are low-season months because of the hurricane season in Puerto Rico. If you’re visiting Rincon, book your lodging with a platform that features free cancellation. That way, in case of an emergency, you can cancel without losing your money. 

📚 Bookmark for Later: Is Puerto Rico safe right now?

Stay in Town

Rincon’s town center is within walking distance of the beach. If you want to avoid renting a car in the city, but still want to experience multiple restaurants and the warm beaches of the west, opt for staying in Rincón Pueblo.

👉 Planning More Puerto Rico Adventures? Don’t miss my list of the 41 best places to go in Puerto Rico.

Or Rent a Car

If you want more flexibility to move between the different attractions of Rincón, then rent a car. Some coastal streets in Rincón are slim and lack traffic lights, but overall it’s safe to drive around the city. Use Discover Cars to get a great deal with your rental car. 

Read my guide to renting a car in Puerto Rico to learn more about how to get a rental the smart way in Puerto Rico.

Check Out Apartment and Guest Houses

There are plenty of hotels in Rincon, including some really cheap hotels, but if you find the average nightly price doesn’t fit your budget, look for additional options for your stay, like an apartment rental or a guest house. 

You can browse apartment rentals on VRBO and rentals on Booking, and often find deals for less than $70 the night.

Look for All-Included Stays

One of the best ways to save money in Rincón is by booking hotels and apartment rentals that include extra amenities in the price per night. Things like free breakfast, free on-site parking, wifi, snorkeling gear, and bathroom amenities can help you to keep your budget.

🧳 Always Forget to Pack Something? Then don’t miss my Puerto Rico packing checklist for a list of all the things you need to bring to Puerto Rico.

Check the Facilities

If you don’t plan to move around a lot, look for a nice hotel that is both on the beachfront and that features facilities like an outdoor pool, a gym, a restaurant, a game room, or a casino. This way you’ll have options to have fun even while staying in the hotel surrounding area.

Read Previous Guest Reviews

Whether you’re using a booking platform or booking directly with the hotel, do research on the place you’re choosing for your stay in Rincón (or any hotel in Puerto Rico, for that matter). Small details like the lack of ocean views can ruin your vacation if you were expecting otherwise.

How to Get to Rincon

If you are one of the many travelers who will visit Rincón from San Juan, check out my detailed guide on getting from San Juan to Rincon for a breakdown of exactly how to plan your transportation.

FAQs About Where to Stay in Rincón

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That’s it for my guide to where to stay in Rincón. Before you go, bookmark all our Rincon travel guides, and especially be sure to check out the top activities to enjoy in Rincon.