The Ultimate Local Guide to Visit Aguadilla Puerto Rico
Aguadilla has become one of my favorite towns on the western coast of Puerto Rico. Whether you’re planning your next road trip or a relaxing vacation, Aguadilla deserves a spot at the top of your list of places to visit in Puerto Rico.
Why is Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, my favorite town? Just like Rincón, it’s a town known for its surfing seasons, beautiful beaches, and its laid-back vibes which makes it a hotspot for a small getaway. Here is where you can be in the city and connect with nature at the same time.
Aguadilla is also a culinary haven as it has a wide variety of food places to try. From Japanese food to Venezuelan Arepas to Puerto Rican chocolate truffles, your cravings will be satisfied here.
HOW TO GET TO AGUADILLA, PUERTO RICO?
There are two ways to get to Aguadilla
– Booking your trip with a destination to Rafael Hernandez International Airport (BQN). This is the second largest airport in Puerto Rico and is located in Aguadilla. Airlines like JetBlue, Frontier, and United provide destinations to this area of Puerto Rico.
– If you arrived at San Juan Airport (SJU), you’ll want to rent a car and plan your road trip to Aguadilla. From San Juan to Aguadilla, it’s a 2-2.5-hour drive.
The perks of traveling to Puerto Rico: you can get anywhere in less than three hours.
OUR AIRBNB EXPERIENCE:
Out of all the Airbnb experiences we’ve had, we always go back to our favorite stay: Lair of the Octopus.
It’s one of those Airbnb stays where you feel inspired to transform your home into an oasis getaway. The attention to detail, the colorful murals, and all the amazing amenities will make you want to stay at this Airbnb forever. They also host unique experiences such as coconut candle making workshops, tote bag paint-and-sips, crafternoons, junk journaling, and more. Planning a private event? They have you covered there as well, offering intimate gatherings like micro weddings, birthdays, baby showers, proposals, and bridal showers.
On top of being the most aesthetic Pinterest-looking Airbnb, it’s close by to all the hot spots you want to visit in Aguadilla in under 15 minutes. Crash Boat is 5 minutes away; Peña Blanca and Punta Borinquen are approximately 10 minutes and the parking for Survival Beach is around 15 minutes from the Airbnb.
To book this stay, click here
Beaches in Aguadilla Puerto Rico to Visit:
Peña Blanca
It’s my favorite beach I’ve ever gone to! Peña Blanca is a beach tucked into a rocky cliff on the coastal corners of Aguadilla. In the Summer the tide is low and thus, has a shoreline where you can relax + sunbather in this hidden gem on the west coast. The last time I went to this spot was in the Winter; the tides were high, so there was no shoreline. Below you’ll see the difference:
The place already has concrete stairs that lead you to the beach when the sand is visible in the summer. In addition, you have Playuela at a 3-5 minute walking distance.
Playa Punta Borinquen
On your way to Playa Punta Borinquen, you’ll pass by the airport and a golf course. Then, you’ll go down a steep hill until you see a bit of sand on the road. From there, you can park at the free parking they have available and the views are incredible. It’s one of those beaches you’ll see on Instagram and ask “Where is this magical place?”
In this area, you can walk down to see the ruins of a lighthouse, an abandoned building filled with beautiful murals, and on the far east of the beach, you can find caves. I find this beach to be the perfect spot to watch the sunset and unwind
Survival Beach
Calling out all my hike lovers and outdoorsy people, this one is for you! This beach is known for its rock formations on the shore and its cave-like landscape. From afar the rocks look like they’re floating on the water.
To get to Survival Beach, it’s a 25-minute hike so wear the appropriate shoes and bring some snacks for your adventure. A snack that I highly suggest for a trail on a hot tropical day is Power Cookies . They’re locally made in Aguadilla + perfect for that boost of energy when hiking to your destination.
The trail is fairly easy to follow, and a lot of locals do this hike frequently so there’s always a light flow of people hiking the trail. Once you finish your hike to Survival, you deserve to take a dip at this beach as a reward!
Rompeolas Beach
Located in the city center of Aguadilla, this beach is one of the most accessible ones in the area. Why? Because if you get hungry, you have multiple restaurants and bars within walking distance. We recommend Lucas and Ellas or Peña Blanca Restaurant.
You may see a lot of people snorkeling, bringing their families for BBQs, or picking up rare sea shells or sea glass.
Crash Boat
One of the most popular beaches on the West Coast is Crash Boat! Its turquoise waters lure people from all over Puerto Rico (and globally, too) to take a refreshing swim on a hot day. It’s also perfect to go sunbathing, snorkeling with the fish, and taking a dive on the pier.
Due to its popularity, it can get crowded easily. If you’re staying during the week, there’s a little bit of crowd (especially in the sunset hour). However, if you’re planning to go during the weekend, I highly suggest going before 10 am as the parking can get a bit tricky! But once your toes are touching the sand, you don’t ever want to leave.
Places to See in Aguadilla:
Playuela
If you went to Aguadilla and didn’t visit Playuela, did you really visit Aguadilla? Playuela is a vital ecosystem in the west part of Puerto Rico. Sharing over 4,000 feet of land, Playuela is home to more than 500 species of flora and fauna. It’s a great place to go camping and the iconic palm trees make it perfect to showcase your tropical vacation.
There are multiple ways to get to Playuela. You can walk from Peña Blanca or if you have a sturdier car like a Jeep or any car that’s 4×4, you can drive the dirt roads that’ll lead you to Playuela.
Ruinas Del Faro de Punta Borinquen
If you’re looking for a special place to take pictures of your trip, this landmark is a must-stop spot. Ruinas Del Faro de Punta Borinquen translates to the Ruins of Punta Borinquen’s Lighthouse. The remnants of this lighthouse go back to the 18th century when the Spaniards built lighthouses on different coastlines in Puerto Rico.
Murals at Punta Borinquen
Located next to the lighthouse remnants of Punta Borinquen, this is another pit stop if you’re on the hunt for travel pictures. This abandoned building has served as a blank canvas for artists to express their creativity in murals. On every corner, you’ll see different artworks and graffiti while having the beautiful beach scenery in the background.
Aguadilla Sign
We’re all suckers when it comes to taking a picture of the name of a city. Hence, this colorful Aguadilla sign should be on your bucket list too! It’s conveniently located next to Rompeolas Beach too, so if you want to show off your tropical tan, it better make it on the Aguadilla sign picture.
Colored Houses
Once you are in the city center of Aguadilla, your attention will gravitate to the colorful houses that are located on a hill. If you went to the murals at Punta Borinquen, wait until you get to this bright-colored neighborhood. This mural project can also be seen in Yauco (a municipality on the southern coast of PR), designed to brighten up our local neighborhoods and celebrate local artists.
WHERE TO EAT IN AGUADILLA:
If you book your stay at Lair of the Octopus, they give you a discount card from their local favorite food places at 10% off! Luckily for you, I’ve listed below the amazing restaurants you can go while using their discount card. Even if you don’t get to stay with Lair of the Octopus, these restaurants are a must-stop + 100% totally worth the hype:
Poke + Bar by the Reef
Poke Bowls are, essentially, Hawaiian bowls filled with sushi rice, protein (mainly fish like tuna or salmon), avocado, sauce, and fresh vegetables on top. Think of it as a deconstructed sushi but 10x better! I ordered a Poke Bowl filled with spicy crab, avocado, cucumber, edamame beans, and scallions with spicy mayo on top. Kef ordered another bowl with sushi rice, smoked salmon, sweet plantain, and scallions!
The Reef
If you’re looking for a laid-back surf and turf bite, The Reef is your place. It’s the perfect place to grab lunch after the beach or enjoy dinner and a cocktail. Their menu has a little bit of everything from fresh seafood to juicy burgers. Whether you’re stopping in for a quick cocktail or a full meal, The Reef delivers that easygoing island vibe. And don’t skip out on the gelato or affogato.
Magdalene’s Pizza
This small local pizza shop cooks its pizza in a wood-fire oven which provides a nice and smokey flavor to the dough. They’re open from Thursday to Sunday so if you’re staying over the weekend in Aguadilla and you’re craving pizza, order their Carbonara Pizza. You’ll thank me later!
Arepas To Go
Karina Special (Vegan): Reina Pepiada
If you’re on a budget but want something filling, allow me to introduce you to Venezuelan Arepas! It is no secret that my love for arepas has me in a chokehold. This street food is a traditional South American food made with ground maize dough. One of the most popular orders is the Karina Special (black beans, white cheese, avocado, spinach, and sweet plantains) and the Reina Pepiada (a type of chicken salad with avocado). They also offer different sauces so you can try them out!
Zippops
If you’re a fan of popsicles and coconut flavored desserts. You HAVE to try their coconut-pineapple popsicle. Unlike other popsicles places in Puerto Rico, these ones tend to melt slower and coconut popsicles is a very creamy compared to water-based fruit popsicles. Kef ordered the strawberry lemonade and it had a slice of green lime in the popsicle. Perfect to treat yourself after a day at the beach!
Taquisimo
Taco lovers, this one’s for you. Taquísimo serves flavorful street-style tacos that are simple, fresh, and ridiculously satisfying. From juicy carne to perfectly seasoned chicken and crispy toppings, every bite tastes like comfort food with a Puerto Rican twist. Pair your tacos with their yucca fries and you’ve got yourself the perfect casual lunch spot after exploring Aguadilla.
Crumb
Let’s not leave out this sweet spot. From homemade ice cream to soft pastries and beautifully crafted baked goods, everything looks almost too pretty to eat. Almost. Their desserts are rich without being overly sweet, and they’re perfect alongside an afternoon coffee break. Whether you stop by for a quick treat or take a few goodies back to your Lair suite, Crumb is definitely worth adding to your Aguadilla food list.
Now that I’ve given you a long list of things to do in Aguadilla, do you know why I love this town so much? You have the best of both worlds from the beautiful beach scenery to amazing food experiences. It’s a necessary tropical getaway if you’re looking to escape from the city noise and connect with nature.
I’ve included below 5 places to visit in Aguadilla that went viral on Tiktok (because the places are too beautiful)!
Hope you enjoyed the Aguadilla Puerto Rico guide!
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@alanis.colina Reply to @lonlysaul30 estos 5 spots los puedes visitar en un día cómodo 🤍 perfecto para irte en tu próximo roadtrip! #puertorico🇵🇷 #aguadillapr🇵🇷 #placespuertorico #puertoricotravel ♬ Otro Atardecer - Bad Bunny & The Marías