Las GolondrInas Beach

Location: Manatí

Getting there: From San Juan, drive 45 minutes west to Manatí. Park on the left side of the road about here. This road can get full on weekends, so arrive early. There is an old man who for years has guarded the cars on this road that is prone to break-ins. He works for tips. Walk towards the sand at the end of the road. The hike to get here from where you park is short and fun, but not an entirely obvious route. Stay right and navigate towards here with Google Maps.

Things to do: Enter the cave – If you want to go in the cave, I suggest you wear Tevas or something like them with a hard rubber sole. There are sea urchins in the shallow rock area that you have to cross to get into the cave. If the waves are not too big in the cave, you can enter and find a chest/neck deep sandy section against the far wall. Relax in the shallow water – Despite this beach being very small with very little sandy areas, there is still room for multiple people to hang out in the shallow water. There is some room near the mouth of the cave, some at the beach, and some in between the two. Just how much room there is depends on the tide and recent weather. Strong surf can move the sand around to cover more or less area. Explore – There is some hiking in the area, there is a lot of shells and coral on the beach, many hermit crabs all over the beach and the forested areas, and another cave (sort of) if you walk the length of the beach away from the cave with water.

Heads up: There are more than a couple winding trails through the area. Always pick the trail heading right, and use the google map pin to head in that direction and you’ll make it. There are a lot of cool beaches in this area but this is a cool spot I often take people to see, even if it’s a 30 minute stop.