Puerto Rico Snorkeling Guide – 2024
Best Snorkeling Beaches, Tours, Excursions & Private Charters

Puerto Rico Things to Do ⎮ Puerto Rico Snorkeling Tours & Best Places to Snorkel

While most reefs are dying across the Caribbean, Puerto Rico still has healthy coral reefs with colorful and abundant sea life.  This guide covers the best snorkeling experiences organized by town to make your planning search easier.  Whether you’re a seasoned snorkeler seeking adventure or a beginner exploring with children, get ready for an unforgettable snorkeling experience in Puerto Rico.  At the end of the page, we have included a map to get acquainted with the island so you can get a view of the best places to snorkel, then you can plan where to stay if you want a vacation filled with great snorkeling experiences.  

Content on Page – Puerto Rico Snorkeling Guide

The idyllic offshore haven of Culebra is the best snorkeling destination in Puerto Rico and among the best in the Caribbean.  Over the years, a unique blend of factors, including decades of Navy possession, restrained development, and stringent protection laws, has played a pivotal role in maintaining the coral reefs in pristine condition.  

From the main island of Culebra to the tiny island of Culebrita and the surrounding offshore cays, the archipelago offers weeks’ worth of unparalleled snorkeling experiences in some of Puerto Rico’s clearest waters.  In Culebra, shallow waters grace the beaches, providing an ideal setting for younger snorkelers to partake in the enchanting underwater spectacle, making Culebra a haven for all seeking a magical marine experience. 

Best Places to Go Snorkeling in Culebra Puerto Rico

Carlos Rosario Reef

Carlos Rosario is one of the most precious beaches in Puerto Rico, besides the beauty underneath the surface, with the added pleasure of snorkeling with a handful of people, most likely from your snorkeling excursion.  The reef is expansive you could spend hours leisurely snorkeling.  The reef is teeming with fish, colorful coral and many sea fans, you may also spot sea turtles that love these waters.  Carlos Rosario is part of Cayo Luis Pena Natural Reserve, keeping the reef protected from the damage of development, and overfishing.  Please help protect the reefs, by never touching, stepping on,  feeding fish, or leaving trash at the beach.  

The best snorkeling tours/charters go to Carlos Rosario as part of the itinerary, weather permitting.  Reserve a spot, there are only a few boats that offer snorkeling excursions to Culebra.

More Snorkeling Spots in Culebra

• Tamarindo Beach
• Flamenco Beach
• Melones Beach
• Punta Soldado 

The beaches of Vieques will inspire awe from the moment they come into view. The lush, rugged, and blissfully natural landscape is breathtaking, setting the stage for the crystal-clear waters that span an endless spectrum of blues and jewel-toned emerald greens, enticing you for a refreshing swim and explore underneath, unveiling a serene and magical world.   Here, sea turtles and octopuses gracefully navigate their way alongside parrotfish, eagle rays, angel fish, and an array of other captivating marine life.

Despite the challenges Vieques faced due to the navy’s presence, many reefs have rebounded, boasting health, vibrancy, and a flourishing ecosystem.  No rivers are flowing into the beaches of Vieques, so the waters are very clear, and the visibility is great even on a cloudy day.

Best Places to Go Snorkeling in Vieques

Punta Arenas Beach

Best Places to Go Snorkeling in Rincon Puerto Rico

Steps Beach / Tres Palmas Reserve

On days when the waves subside and the sea adopts a serene demeanor, venture towards The Tres Palmas Marine Reserve (Steps Beach), a premier snorkeling destination on the tranquil west coast of the island.  This stretch of coastline grants easy access to the marine reserve, inviting you to meander above one of the Caribbean’s largest Elk Horn Coral gardens.  Immerse yourself in the wonders of a vibrant reef adorned with beautiful rocks, living coral, graceful sea turtles, schools of enchanting Blue Tang, and a kaleidoscope of colorful Angelfish.

Tip for a Safe Snorkeling Experience at Steps Beach:  Even during seemingly calm waters, unexpected waves can surprise you, potentially leading to a painful crash against the coral wall—an unfortunate scenario witnessed on numerous occasions.  While many beaches allow for independent snorkeling, we strongly recommend a guided snorkeling tour led by an experienced guide familiar with the water.  This not only enhances safety but also enriches your overall experience, ensuring you explore the marine wonders with confidence and expertise of a local.

Best Places to Go Snorkeling in Aguadilla Puerto Rico

Crash Boat Beach

Beneath the unassuming facade of that weathered pier lies a snorkeler’s paradise, unveiling one of the best and most easily accessible spots adorned with a vibrant artificial reef bustling with colorful fish and coral.  Despite its unassuming appearance, Crash Boat transforms into a family-friendly haven.  This beach is designed for family enjoyment, even extending the snorkeling experience to toddlers.  The north side of the pier, closest to the beach, boasts shallow spots ideal for the littlest adventurers when the tide is low and the waters are calm.  While winter ushers in rough waters and attracts surfers from late spring to late fall, Crash Boat emerges as an ideal snorkeling haven during summers.  The water, boasting remarkable clarity and maintaining a pleasant temperature of 82 degrees, beckons enthusiasts to explore its underwater wonders.

Playa Peña Blanca

Best Places to Go Snorkeling in Guanica Puerto Rico

Gilligan’s Island – Best Place to Snorkel for Families with Children

Gilligan’s Island, officially named Cayo Aurora in the town of Guanica, has secured its place as one of our top recommendations for snorkeling, particularly for families with children. This pristine island resembles a colossal, crystal-clear pool featuring shallow waters tailor-made for young snorkelers.  Children can comfortably sit in two feet of water, where playful schools of tiny fish circle around their feet.  While the underwater landscape may not showcase an extensive variety of coral, Gilligan’s Island offers enchanting playground for fish at the roots of mangrove trees, you can snorkel all around the island through the channel effortlessly with a gentle current.  Gilligan’s Island is a haven where families can create cherished memories of aquatic exploration and marine wonders. 

Caracoles Cay

La Parguera Nature Reserve may be the highlight of your south coast adventure; made up of mangrove islands, coral reefs, natural pools, salt marshes, and petite cays, creating a haven of clear waters that serve as underwater playgrounds.  Here, encounters with dolphins, turtles, barracudas, and even manatees are not uncommon.  Among the favored spots are the popular mangrove cays, Caracoles, and Mata La Gata, nestled conveniently next to each other, making a dual visit a delightful morning adventure. Your tour guides will expertly lead you to additional snorkeling sites within La Parguera, revealing the hidden treasures beneath the surface.  After a day of snorkeling, swimming, and exploring, the quaint fishing village surrounding the reserve welcomes you with various restaurants.  Here, you can savor the delights of fresh fish and indulge in traditional Puerto Rican fritters, putting the perfect finishing touch on an enriching day of coastal exploration.  It doesn’t end at sunset, after dinner head back to the water on a bioluminescent bay tour.  La Parguera is the only bioluminescent bay where you can swim, so prepare for an exciting experience.

Mona Island often called “The Galapagos of the Caribbean”, a nature reserve uninhabited by humans but home to iguanas, healthy coral reefs with the riches underwater world. Getting here is a fun expedition not for the faint of heart, you may face pretty high waves on the way there, but you must book a charter boat to get you there. Once you get there, you can snorkel crystal waters, swim with turtles, and most likely be the only ones there.

We are currently updating the charters available to Mona Island. 

How to use tours by region guides – We have divided tours to save you a lot of time when searching for a snorkeling tour.  For example, if you’re staying in San Juan, use the San Juan / North Coast snorkeling page; the tours listed are local (meet in San Juan), or offer transportation from San Juan to other good snorkeling places around the island.

• San Juan, Isla Verde / North Coast – Snorkeling Tours – San Juan Beaches, Culebra, Icacos Cay & Vieques
• East Coast Snorkeling Tours – Fajardo Beaches & Reefs, Icacos Cay Culebra, Vieques & Piñeros Cay
• West Coast Snorkeling Tours – Aguadilla, Rincon, Gilligan’s Island
• South Coast Snorkeling Tours – Lajas & Gilligan’s Island