Exploring Puerto Rico on a surfboard: Local athletes reveal best surf spots of the 2024 World Surfing Games hosts

Considering a trip to Puerto Rico? Miamar Soto knows exactly which three items you need to pack.

“A swimsuit, for sure. A camera because this place is so beautiful you just want to be taking pictures, and a surfboard,” the Puerto Rican national team surfer said.

It is hard to argue with her suggestions.

With warm water regardless of the season, a range of waves from beginner ripples to awe-inspiring barrels, and a friendly local vibe, Puerto Rico is among the best surfing destinations in the Caribbean.

Havanna Cabrero, daughter of national surf legend Carlos Cabrero, certainly thinks so.

“I’ve had the opportunity to travel to many different countries around the world and I have to say that Puerto Rico stands out because of its beautiful culture, food, our warm weather all year round,” she said. “And we have so many amazing waves that it’s just a perfect place to be.”

Olympics.com spoke to the country’s best surfers ahead of Arecibo hosting the 2024 ISA World Surfing Games to find out which waves they got their start on, their favourite spots, and what a visitor should do to get the ultimate Puerto Rican surfing experience.

• ISA World Surfing Games 2024: Preview, schedule, top surfers competing, and how to watch the final Paris 2024 qualifier live
• How to qualify for surfing at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system explained

A beginner’s guide to Puerto Rican waves

Havanna Cabrero and Ricardo Delgado did not have to go far from the urban bustle to learn how to surf. Both took up the sport in the nation's capital, San Juan, although on different beaches.

Cabrero started surfing in San Juan’s La Punta, which was across the street from her school.

“My dad used to run a surf camp in that beach so I used to spend a lot of time with my friends in the camp and I just have a lot of happy memories there,” Cabrero said. “My favourite memory from that wave has to be longboarding with all my friends on our soft tops and having a lot of party waves.”

Delgado caught his first waves just east of La Punta, at Pine Grove. This is a beach break with a sandy bottom, which makes it perfect for beginners.

Meanwhile, Soto went a bit further to Jobos Beach in Isabela. In addition to its easy, consistent waves and flat sandy bottom, Jobos is Soto's top pick for beginners because of the many surf classes on offer in this area and its unique vibe.

Drinking from coconuts and sampling local food are a must for any visitor, as is making new friends.

“The most special thing about here is the people,” Soto said. “It makes a big difference when you’re surrounded by happy people that just want to learn and get better. I feel like it pushes you and motivates you to be the best surfer you can be.”

Puerto Rico: The Hawaii of the Caribbean

The waves in Puerto Rico are not only for beginners. Some are so famously tough, they even earn nicknames.

For example, Margara – the strong barrelling reef break that is hosting the 2024 ISA World Surfing Games - has been dubbed the “Pipeline of Puerto Rico”.

“We have the saying here, ‘If you don’t make it here, you won’t make it at Pipeline in Hawaii’,” Delgado said. “It’s a really good proving grounds for us.”

Margara is found on the north coast of Puerto Rico, while the country’s other popular surfing destinations Isabela, Aguadilla and Rincon are on the west side.

These surf spots offer a variety of waves with the season stretching from August to March.

“In the beginning we have the hurricane season, which provides us with swells,” Delgado explained. “Then we have the wintertime which is when we have all that cold front coming from the United States, and then in the summertime we have really small wind waves.”

When Soto wanted to challenge herself, she started going to Aguadilla. Her favourite spot, however, is Middles Beach in Isabela – an exciting combination of powerful currents and rocky obstacles that cause the waves to break.

Cabrero is also a fan of Isabela, although she usually opts to surf at another beach.

“My favourite surfing spots in Puerto Rico have to be the right-hand pointbreaks,” she said. “Jobos, Isabela is one of them. It’s just a super fun and consistent wave so I love going over there.”

For Delgado, the north coast of the island is unparallel as a surfing destination.

“I’ve travelled around the world, surfing and competing, and I always come back, saying Puerto Rico is the best,” he said. “We have great weather, and this is what we say is the ‘Hawaii of the Caribbean’. We have a bunch of really world-class surfing waves around the whole north coast so when it’s good, it’s good.”

The ultimate surfing experience in Puerto Rico

Once your luggage is packed according to Soto’s recommendations, take a suggestion from Ricardo Delgado and fly straight to Aguadilla Airport.

From there, a 10 to 15-minute drive will get you to a variety of surf towns – Aguadilla, Isabela and Rincon. If you are ambitious, you can surf all three locations in one day.

Extending 179 kilometres from east to west, and 63 kilometres from north to south, Puerto Rico offers surfers the luxury of moving quickly between different waves.

This is something Soto and Delgado have perfected over the years of surfing at home, and recommend tourists to try as well.

“Puerto Rico is really small so one-hour drive, come here, there’s a bunch of waves, or two-hour drive and you’re in the west coast where there’s a bunch of really good waves as well,” Delgado said. “It’s pretty amazing, the variety we have and how close they are. We’re fortunate, for sure.”

And if you are looking for something more off the beaten path, Puerto Rico has plenty of hidden surfing gems as well.

While Delgado is adamant not to reveal his secret locations, he encouraged others to go out in search of their own hideouts.

“There’s so many waves in Puerto Rico,” Delgado said. “There’s a lot of waves that people don’t even look at that look good, so if you get lucky and go searching for one, you’ll probably be able to find one.”