Crash Boat Beach
A fun place to visit, on Puerto Rico's west coast
About
Crash Boat Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Puerto Rico. It is located on the west coast near the town of Aguadilla. The clear, turquoise water makes it an ideal place for swimming, snorkeling, and surfing. The wide, sandy beach is great for sunbathing, walking and people-watching.
Crash Boat Beach got it’s name from the high-speed rescue boats—known as "crash boats"—stationed there by the U.S. military during the 1940s and 1950s. These boats were deployed to rescue airmen who crashed into the sea while flying to and from the nearby Ramey Air Force Base
Things to Do
Fishing - toss a line into deeper water, from the pier. Fish like to hang out near the pilings.
Snorkeling - Bring your own gear, or rent from one of the local surf shops. Swim in from the beach, or jump in from the pier. Schools of Sargent Major fish are fun to swim through. Up the beach, to the left of the pier are the bones of an old ship. Easy to reach from the beach.
Swimming - walk in from the beach. Relatively shallow, and protected from strong currents.
Relax on the beach - Bring your own chair, or rent chairs and umbrellas from a vendor there. Some shady trees to sit under, if you get there early.
Visit the food trucks - to the right of the pier, there is a parking lot full of food trucks. They offer some tasty local foods like grilled skewers, emanadas, and fruit smoothies.
If You Go
Crash Boat Beach is a very popular beach, and it is most always crowded. If you are looking for a secluded, quiet beach, this is not it! Parking can be a problem. Best to go early, if you can. There is paid parking, as well as free parking on the street.
