Spot Guide Caribbean: Wingfoiling and windsurfing in Puerto Rico - the "Island of Enchantment"!

I had always wanted to visit Puerto Rico. But my 90-days-visa for the United States - which Puerto Rico is an "unincorporated territory" of - were always reserved for Maui, so the island remained on my waiting list. Then, almost overnight, I discovered that the World Wave Tour had added a stop… in Puerto Rico! This WWT event was the perfect excuse. I flew in full of curiosity, excitement, and all my toys—wind, wing, surfboard—utterly convinced I was landing in paradise.

• IWT X PWA World Cup Puerto Rico: Maria Andrés and Bernd Roediger triumph in the Caribbean

From the first stories they told me—transparent waves, temperate wind, and the most active local watersports scene—I understood that this island was a nature playground. A glance from the plane window as we approached San Juan confirmed it: the turquoise blues of the lagoons and reefs contrasted with the white beaches, and I could already picture myself flying at full speed over reefs, discovering new waves and beaches! Finally I was going to visit Shacks, home to world class windsurf events in the golden day of our sport!

The locals welcome guests before they even get on the water

Thanks to my friend Charlie (a local waterman from Shacks), I ended up staying at Michael Gutiérrez’s house in Isabela. I didn’t know him or anything about him, but one hug was enough to feel like family. Michael is living history: a pioneer of skate in Puerto Rico and California in the ’70s, a pioneer of Puerto Rican surf, and one of the first to windsurf on the island. His kitchen became the gathering spot for international riders, all of us circling around him, listening and sharing stories amid retro boards, rusty trophies, and black-and-white photos of a stylish barefoot Mike carving in a pool. Walking with him along the beach—“Look, we opened that wave in ’78…”—instantly welcomed us with the warmest smiles from locals. Sharing those moments defined my trip: a community that adopts you before you even hit the water—riders offering advice and cold coconut waters as if you were part of the gang.

On top of the local family, I was lucky to share moments with my sea family who were also traveling to Puerto Rico for the competition. Denise Blondet (Peru)—a whirlwind of energy that lifts everyone up; Taka (Japan), Russ and Bernd (Hawaii); and local Charlie—partners in every adventure, making each session even more special! With them, the days were filled with hidden waterfalls, endless rides, street dinners, foraging fruit from our neighbor and pro surfer Ahmed Pérez, and of course mastering the karaoke at Hobo’s! Every activity turned into fits of laughter!

Puerto Rico slid effortlessly into my list of favorite destinations. It's impossible not to fall for the mix of diverse spots—from world‑class reef waves to crystal lagoons—, the genuine hospitality of a community that embraces you without asking, the simple logistics of pristine roads and direct flights from Europe, the barefoot year-round climate, and, above all, knowing that hidden corners always remain to be explored. The "Island of Enchantment" is now unquestionably a Top 5 destination for me!

Surf spots in Puerto Rico

Northwest - Isabela, Rincón, Aguadilla

I spent my early weeks around Isabela, with its world‑class waves, pristine beaches, and cheerful chiringuitos. It's a quiet, pretty residential area with a surfer’s vibe in every corner. Within five minutes are Surfer’s Beach, Wilderness, Montones, Hobos, Rincón, la Pared and Shacks—names that ignite any water person imagination. Terraces and food trucks invite you to gather after sessions. It is, without question, an ideal base.

• Montones (1) gave us one of those magical wind foil sessions with light wind and long, slow waves. We were out with 5 and 6 m² wings and big foils, on a small beach pulsing with Caribbean vibes and laughter in the air. That day, Bernd “se curó”, as the Puerto Ricans say—and I’m dying to surf like him someday!
• Shacks (2) is a monster! Pure power and hollowness on a very shallow reef! More demanding, with a powerful main wave and a couple “mellower” sections around. You need some level to ride here, but if you’ve got it, you’ll be blown away! It is pure perfection! We got it big for the competition, with a more westerly wave direction that made it a bit too much closing out and the wind was a bit too inshore, so the challenge was big! Still during the event, some riders like Bernd Roediger and Takara made it look incredible!
• La Pared (3) is downwind from Shacks, reached by a dirt road that winds through lush nature. It offers a more forgiving wave than its neighbor, but still breaks hollow and beautifully! I found it a super fun spot, where we could enjoy light wind days when Shacks, just a bit upwind, was not windy enough. It has peeling parts and sections too, super fun for both open face carves an aerial game!
• Wilderness and Surfer's Beach (4) were my favorite spots for pure regular surf sessions—long beaches with multiple peaks, where I could spend hours in the water. The wind direction is slightly different in these breaks, so you can choose according to it and have an epic session in a long peeling perfect wall wave with sections to do aerials! I found these spots to be just perfection! Unfortunately I only got to surf them, but I could see the potential when the wind blows! Wilderness is a longer beach where the wave orientation varies a bit from one area to the other, so you have chances to chose how she on or off you want the ride to be! Pretty epic!
• The Bay of Aguadilla (5), right in front of the city, delivered on those days when no other spot had wind. It’s smooth and flat, no reefs or waves—just easy gliding. If you’re learning or just want a mellow ride with your windsurf-, wingfoil- or kite gear, this place is super safe and ideal for beginners.

North - Sarapa/Vega Baja

• We travelled sporadically to Sarapa, where, in Vega Baja (6) in the north-central zone, you will find the perfect Caribbean postcard: untouched nature, white sand, turquoise waters, palm trees, and several reefs and islets forming turquoise pools. The reefs are separated from the shore by a flat lagoon where you can build speed to jump! It truly is a natural amusement park! Just watch the tides for the shallow areas. Great for intermediate and advanced levels and to spend the day in an incredible beach! We had some WWT-heats in this spot, and when the wind was on, it was truly a game area! What a fun spot: not dangerous, with multiple reefs and a perfect wind/wave orientation for riding and jumping! This was no doubt my favorite spot to have fun! Easy to park, with plenty of trees to set up camp and spend an awesome day! Here we did the World Tour finals, and I won the event in that final heat, so it is also a special place for me!

The perfect Caribbean postcard: untouched nature, white sand, turquoise waters, palm trees and reefs!"

Northeast - San Juan (Punta Las Marías, Caballos)

• Punta Las Marías (7) is a marvel: enormous lagoon areas where you can ride like you want, enjoying Caribbean hues with a beautiful city backdrop and palms in the foreground. If you want waves, the reef lies further out—multiple lines with slightly different orientations so you can pick your preferred difficulty. It’s a spot for everyone, each navigating their own challenge level, with any watersport toy! I loved how the riders gathered at the beach and commented and shared their sessions!
• One of my best windsurfing sessions on the island took place in Caballos (8) guided by Nelson and Irene, the souls of Punta Las Marías. Caballos is a world‑class wave just off the coast—about 2 km from shore. A powerful wave adored by local surfers, and when it peaks, it’s a gift! I was lucky to windsurf it on a small day seeing its immense potential! It is fast, hollow, bending and accelerating as it goes! Pure adrenaline! Definitely one of my highlights in this trip. In Caballos, you can hear the hum of the wave before you even see it—a low, steady sound that gets under your skin and pulls you in. It's not just the power of the ocean; it's the rhythm of the place itself. On a break out far in the ocean, with beautiful San Juan right in front… Magical.

The wave in Caballos is fast, hollow, bending and accelerating as it goes"

South - La Parguera

• 9: Unfortunately no conditions, but lots of shallow lagoons and turquoise-coloured water - perfect for freeriding, freestyle, slalom, winging or kiting. Still on my bucket list!

Travel info Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is much larger than it looks on the map: nearly 9,000 km² of land and about 1,125 km of coastline packed with reefs, bays, points, and channels. Its rectangular shape (178 km × 65 km) means there’s almost always a working spot whenever the wind blows: alizés to the east, swells to the west, and endless combinations in between.

• Wind special: The trade wind zone

The dominant wind is the NE–E trade wind, especially reliable from December to September with averages of 15–25 knots. The season runs from November to August, with a peak of consistency from December to April. In autumn the breeze plays coy, but even then you can find 10–15 knot sessions. The wave season is from November to March, with regular Atlantic swell. Some beaches also pick up hurricane swells in summer (more sporadic and powerful).

A natural water park

The water holds a pleasant 26–29 °C year-round; I sailed in bikini or a lycra most of the time—pure pleasure! Those consistent temperatures, combined with reefs protecting whole bays, create a natural theme park for wing foil: from world‑class waves to mirror-flat water, and everything in between.

There are iconic spots for the predominant swell and wind directions, but I believe there's so much more to sail! Locals maintain such a strong favorite spot that they don’t feel the urgent need to explore. For an adventurous visitor, that means a nearly pristine map where every slight wind shift unveils a fresh frontier ready to be explored! That fascinates me!

The conditions during my stay weren’t “typical”—weather reports sometimes brought showers or capricious directions—but whenever the wind wavered, a mere half-hour drive would reveal a mirror-flat lagoon or a reef bursting to life. That improvised hunt turned the island into a continuous adventure playground.

Beyond the waves: Culture, cuisine, rainforest

When the forecast said “flat,” the B-plan was just as epic as plan A: wandering around Old San Juan among pastel balconies, perfectly maintained architecture, spotless tropical streets, terraces and timbales at sunset. Old San Juan stole my heart—unbelievably friendly people. Making friends was effortless, natural, fun. They gave tips on local tours, invited you to events, shared food! My experience with the people was absolutely unbeatable. What a marvel, Puerto Ricans—the way they welcome and embrace visitors!

If you’re drawn to mountains or forests, getting lost in the waterfalls of El Yunque, wandering beneath fern canopies, or exploring rivers deep in the island’s lush interior is just perfect. Puerto Rico offers all of that and more. At night, you can paddle in complete silence through some of the most breathtaking bioluminescent bays on Earth—an experience straight out of a dream.

The nearby islands of Culebra and Vieques are just a short and incredibly affordable ferry ride away. There, sea turtles roam the beaches, and secret spots wait to be discovered. On land, the flavors, the music, and that beautiful local accent wrap you in a warm, vibrant atmosphere that makes you feel instantly at home.

Info Puerto Rico

• Status: Non-incorporated US territory (VISA check required)
• Currency: US dollar (USD)
• Language: Spanish (main language), English
• Journey: Direct flights e.g. Madrid → San Juan (8h 40min), approx. 400-600 euros
• Wind season: December to April, 15-25 knots, mostly north-east to east
• Wave season: November to March
• Equipment: Wing 3-6 m², windsurf sail 3.7-5.0 m (depending on conditions)
• Water: 26-29 °C all year round
• Wetsuit: Lycra or bikini is usually sufficient, shorty recommended for early hours
• Mobility: Car hire approx. 25-35 USD/day; ferries to Vieques/Culebra from Ceiba
• Equipment hire: At Nelson & Irene (Punta Las Marías) - wings, foils, SUPs, surfboards (Instagram: @noidea7665)
• Costs: Empanadilla + coconut water 3-5 USD; petrol ~1 USD/l; rooms from 40 USD/night; food: 9-15 USD
• Do not forget: Impact waistcoat, leash, booties, helmet, reef-safe sun oil, pump...