19 Best Things to Do in Rincon (Fun Activities & Top Sites)

Whether you want to spend the day surfing, swimming, shopping, or hiking, there are some awesome things to do in Rincon on your vacation.

Rincon is famous for having the best beaches to surf in Puerto Rico and the entire Caribbean, but even if you’re not a surfer, there are other great things you can do in this city located on the west coast. 

I’m a Puerto Rico local who has written an entire ebook on Puerto Rico. To help you have the time of your life, I’ve summed up the best things to do in Rincon so you don’t miss a bit of the fun. Oh, and be sure to bookmark my guide to staying in Rincon if you need a hotel!

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19 Best Things to Do in Rincon

Desecheo Island

Go scuba diving at one of the best underwater spots in Puerto Rico.

📍 Google Maps | 👉 Browse Viator’s Top Scuba Diving Tours

Desecheo Island is a small uninhabited island you can see from Rincon. This island is a popular destination for scuba diving in Puerto Rico because of its crystal clear waters and virgin coral reefs.

Currently, only the company Taino Divers offers scuba diving tours to Isla Desecheo.

👉 Looking for more great things to do? Check out my guide to the top activities in Puerto Rico.

Deep Sea Fishing

Try your hand at catching some fish on an awesome Rincon excursion.

The union of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean makes the waters of the west ideal for fishing. Multiple companies offer boat trips for fishing enthusiasts with the option to do deep-sea fishing, live bait fishing, and kite fishing, making Rincon the perfect day trip for fish lovers.

Snorkeling

Not a scuba diver? No problem. View the marine life on a snorkeling tour instead.

👉 Book a Rincon Snorkeling Tour

One of the best things to do in Rincon is to go snorkeling on one of the beautiful beaches in Rincon. While not all the beaches are suitable for snorkeling, especially during the winter, snorkel enthusiasts can’t miss the chance to practice the water sport at Steps Beach.

If you don’t feel confident doing it alone, you can book this guided snorkeling tour to enjoy a safe experience.

Horseback Riding

Experience Rincon’s beaches via a horseback riding tour.

There are multiple ways you can enjoy the beaches of Rincon, and one of them is while riding a horse! Riding a horse on a beach during the sunset is one of the things you can scratch from your bucket list while visiting this city. There are different guided horseback riding tours you can take, so you’ll surely find one that fits your needs.

Punta Higüera Lighthouse

Visit this still-working lighthouse that was built in 1922.

📍 Google Maps | Entrance: free 

There are more than a dozen lighthouses left behind by the Spaniards around Puerto Rico. Punta Higüera Lighthouse in Rincon is one of them, and it sports a height of 70 feet. This lighthouse started its service in 1922 and although it’s automated, it works up to today.

If short on time, take this amazing tour through the west of Puerto Rico so you get to visit Domes Beach and Punta Higüera Lighthouse along with other destinations on the west coast of the island.

👉 Read Next: Best Things to Do in Aguada

Rincon’s Art Walk

Catch this awesome art festival every Thursday in Rincon.

📍 Google Maps | Entrance: free 

One of the things Puerto Ricans are best known for is for always finding an occasion to get together and celebrate with good music and food. That’s the experience you can enjoy every Thursday evening in Rincon’s Art Walk, where you’ll find local crafts, food, and music all while enjoying a tropical vibe atmosphere.

Steps Beach

Reach the steps and check out the natural pools at this stunning beach.

📍 Google Maps | Entrance: free 

Steps Beach is one of the most beautiful and iconic beaches of Rincon and its name comes from the concrete steps on the shore. Besides its famous steps, this beach is home to natural pools and beautiful scenery. During the winter, waves can reach over 20 feet, which makes it ideal for surfing too.

👉 Local Tip: Steps Beach is perfect for sunbathing, and snorkeling in Tres Palmas Reserve. Check out the Aqua Marina Beach Club to stay a few steps away from this beach.

Domes Beach

An awesome beach for surfing in Puerto Rico that also hosts festivals.

📍 Google Maps | Entrance: free 

Domes Beach is one of Rincon’s top beaches for surfing. Located a few minutes away from the lighthouse, this beach gets its name from the dome that was once a nuclear facility right behind it.

The beach sports excellent waves for surfing, areas for camping, and a swing. This beach is also home to multiple surfing festivals during the winter.

🛎️ Local Tip: Rincon is the best place to stay in Puerto Rico if you’re a beach lover. You can read my complete guide to where to stay in Puerto Rico to see what other places are great for staying in this tropical paradise.

Sunset

Watch the sunset from one of the best viewpoints in Puerto Rico.

📍 Google Maps | Entrance: free

Rincon is famous for its colorful and breathtaking sunsets and it’s something you can’t miss if you’re in the city. There are multiple spots from where you can enjoy the sunset, but one of the best is the viewpoint in front of The Beach House in Rincon.

📚 Related Reading: Rincon is one of the top places you need to visit during your vacation in Puerto Rico. Read the complete guide to find out about the other places you can’t miss.

Walk Above the Sea

Check out the wooden staircase that descends into the sea below.

📍 Google Maps | Entrance: free

Right in front of La Cueva del Burro in Rincon, you’ll find a wooden stair that descends to the below waters and rock formations. While you travel down the road, you should keep your eyes open or you might miss it. Make a stop not only to take a picture but to enjoy the view as if you’re walking on top of the water.

Whale Watching

Bring your binoculars and spot some whales from January to March.

📍 Google Maps | Entrance: free 

If you love whales, then you’ll be glad to know you can see them from Rincon. Every winter season, from January to March, humpback whales frequent the southwest coasts and locals gather along different viewpoints to take a peek at them. Punta Higüera Lighthouse serves as a whale-watching park.

🚗 How to Get There: If you’re arriving at San Juan airport, you should rent a car if you’re planning to tour around the island. You can use Discover Cars to find the best price for your rental car and if you have any worries about driving by yourself in Puerto Rico, read my guide to driving on the island.

Cafe 413

Enjoy a local coffee at this excellent Rincon cafe.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (939) 697-8188 | Hours: 8 am – 4 pm daily

If you haven’t tasted a good Puerto Rican coffee yet, then I recommend you stop at Cafe 413 in Rincon’s Town Center. This casual restaurant sports both a bar and a coffee shop, and you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or brunch. The coffee here is to die for, or if you’re more of a tea person, don’t miss the Chai Latte.

Surfing Class

Learn how to surf in Rincon.

If you’re a surfing enthusiast, but you don’t know how to surf yet, then you can start by taking your first class in Rincon. Since the city is the capital for surfing on the island, you will find multiple surfing schools that provide guided lessons regardless of your age, weight, or gender.

See our guide to surfing in Puerto Rico for more.

Shop in the Town Center

Set your inner shopaholic free at the many stores in Rincon’s town center.

Rincon sports a colorful town center with souvenir shops, art galleries, bakeries, bars, and small boutiques. Set your shopaholic free and go store hopping around the plaza. You can also grab a quick lunch at the area, or enjoy a nice coffee while sitting on the benches.

🛎️ Need a hotel?Villa Cofresiis a great hotel to stay in close to the town center and has top bars, restaurants, and festivities within walking distance.

Sandy Beach

Hunt for sea glass on this Rincon beach.

Sandy Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Rincon, both for its waters and the beach bars around it, but craft makers and souvenir lovers will find it perfect for hunting Sea Glass or small “frosted” crystals on the shore. 

Local Gallery

Purchase local crafts, paintings, and other artwork at one of Rincon’s galleries.

Besides its wonderful beaches, Rincon also sports different galleries visitors can enjoy, including The Uncharted Studio and F Javier Gil Gallery pictured above. Besides admiring the local art, you can also buy local crafts and paintings.

Rincon Public Beach

Have a swim at this beach with turquoise waters.

📍 Google Maps | Entrance: free 

If you´re looking for a beach with facilities where you can spend your day swimming, then head over to Rincon’s Public Beach. This beach with turquoise waters is where the locals go to relax, snorkel, and kayak. It sports free parking, showers, bathrooms, and even gazebos you can rent for any type of activity. 

👉 Are you a beach lover? Don’t miss the guide to the top beaches in Puerto Rico.

Spanish Wall Beach

Hike to this superb “hidden” beach in Rincon.

📍 Google Maps | Entrance: free 

Spanish Wall Beach is one of the secret beaches from Rincon even when it’s reachable from Domes Beach. The beach gets its name from the historic Spanish wall ruins that used to be the railroad. You can access the trail from Domes Beach, you can also reach Pools Beach and Sandy Beach along the coast.

Gastropark@115

Enjoy dinner at this awesome food truck.

📍 Google Maps | Hours: 12 – 10 pm Thurs to Sun, Closed from Mon to Wed 

Foodies will not lack options in Rincon, especially in Rincon’s Gastropark@115. This food truck park sports food for all different tastes and it’s open until late so you can visit when you’re hungry for a night snack. They also host live music during some days of the month.