Rincón at sunset - photo by Vanessa Jupe
As the sun sinks into the Caribbean Sea, a flash of green appears on the horizon and is gone. A brilliant sunset fills the sky with soft pastels that quickly darken to a deep orange. The heat of the day softens and the bars and restaurants around Rincón, Puerto Rico fill with locals and tourists alike, talking, eating, drinking, and generally celebrating la buena vida.
The surf season was in full swing on my most recent trip to Rincón. My fiancé and I filled our days by swimming in the ocean, picnicking on the beach, and bodyboarding 10+ foot swells. It was an incredible rush that eclipsed my childhood experiences attempting to boogie board in Texas’ Gulf of Mexico (which often ended with my sister, cousin and I lying in the mud rather than being whisked to shore). Near our apartment we were happy to discover a buzz of activity. Rincón is famous for being an ideal surfing location, and true to form, surfers gathered to spend the day on the ocean at Tres Palmas Beach. Beachgoers grabbed tasty bites to eat at one of the numerous small food stands selling frituras and horseback riding trips could be arranged nearby.
View of Desecheo Island - photo by Vanessa Jupe
The apartment we rented was at the top of a hill on the ground floor of a two story house, the rest of which was occupied by the owner. From our patio, we could see the ocean and beach below. The yard was filled with an array of fruit trees, including mango and banana plants. A swing hung beneath the largest tree in the yard and well maintained flower bushes surrounded the patio. It was here that we learned what the green flash actually is. As sunset approached we were relaxing on the patio, looking out over the ocean. The owner of the house leaned over his balcony and called down to us, telling us to keep our eyes opened for a green flash when the sun disappears into the ocean. The flash, he explained, occurs when the last rays of light penetrate the water, before sinking below the curvature of the earth.
One evening, we decided to go out for dinner at a tapas restaurant located at the hotel Casa Isleña. The dining area (which appeared to be entirely outdoors) was packed, so rather than wait for a table, we had a seat at the bar where the bar tender delighted us with her specialties: lemon rum spiked beer, margaritas, and (of course) Sangria. After dinner we wandered into a local bar that was featuring a reggae band. At the bar, we bumped into a few fellow New Yorkers who were celebrating a bachelor weekend in Puerto Rico. After dancing into the wee hours of the morning, we headed back to our room where the sounds of the ocean crashing in the distance lulled us to sleep.
The archipelago of Puerto Rico offers a wide variety of activities, including hiking, caving, and kayaking. It’s no wonder it’s one of my favorite vacation spots, and thanks to its proximity to New York, it’s perfect for even a weekend getaway. The flight time to Aguadilla or San Juan is roughly 3.5 hours and affordable fares can often be found on JetBlue Airways website. Stay tuned - in the near future I’ll be covering different areas of the island and other exciting activities!
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