Sucia Beach

Location: Cabo Rojo

Getting there: From San Juan, drive 2 hours 30 minutes southwest. You’ll drive south, across the island, then follow the south coast until you get to the southwesternmost tip of the island. This has to be the beach farthest from San Juan on the main island. You’ll enter the Cabo Rojo Wildlife Refuge and drive along marshland surrounded by an arid climate. You’ll pass salt fields and the road will turned from paved, to dirt with large potholes. The biggest obstacle is right at the beginning, next to the rusting bridge. If your car has enough clearance to make it past this point, you’ll be fine. There are different places to park, the closest to the beach is here. Take a short but hot walk along a dirt trail to arrive at the edge of the beach. Walk along the beach until you find some unoccupied shade to set up under.

Things to do: Relax in the shallows – In good conditions the water will be calm and clear. Hike – There are trails near the beach on the cliff where you’ll see a lighthouse. The view from the limestone cliffside is quite beautiful. There are a few different points of interest and no shade. Besides the lighthouse, the most popular is the natural rock bridge. The beach here is sometimes calm and may be worth visiting.

Heads up: Unfortunately, almost every time I have visited this beach, it has been absolutely loaded with seaweed. So much so that I didn’t bother getting in the water or even stepping foot on the beach. You always run the risk of finding a dirty beach (hence the name). I have visited this beach four times and only found clear water once. It can get very hot here. Bring plenty of water and an umbrella in case there is no shade available. If you plan on hiking, make sure to come prepared. If there is anywhere on Puerto Rico you are most likely to get heat stroke, it is here.