Puerto Rico in the Caribbean has warm, clear, tropical waters. It is an ideal place to kayak and interact with wildlife. Kayaking is fun, burns a ton of calories, and is ecologically friendly to the ocean environment. Kayaking in Puerto Rico has a lot to offer beginners as well as experienced kayakers, from leisurely eco-tours to intense calorie-burning paddle workouts.
Visiting Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico consists of a main island where its capitol city, San Juan, is located. Surrounding the main island are numerous outlying islands including Vieques and Culebra. Since Puerto Rico is a U.S. commonwealth, U.S. citizens do not need passports to travel to Puerto Rico. A government-issued photo I.D. such as a driver's license is sufficient. Puerto Rico offers many locations to kayak and explore the islands.
Kayaking Tours in Puerto Rico
Tour operators in Puerto Rico are numerous; many operate from resort hotels and offer tours for all levels of kayakers. They will supply kayaks, life vests, a guide, and for longer tours, snacks or lunch. Kayaks are lightweight, single-hull boats with shallow V-shape bottoms. Their needlelike profile makes it easy to navigate turns. Kayaks are ideal for calm water, but they can capsize. Tour operators give lessons on how to right the kayaks if they turn over, which is not a big problem in warm water.
Mainland Puerto Rico
The mainland has many nature preserves, public beaches, and beaches fronting resort hotels. For example, Humacao Wildlife Refuge offers kayaking in mangrove swamps, where many birds and fish make their home. Near the ferry terminal of San Juan, the area called Fajardo has a lagoon where the algae are bio-luminescent, making the water appear to glow in the dark. Kayaking in Fajardo during the day gives spectacular views of El Yunque rain forest and the old lighthouse. Paddling in front of the hotels in San Juan is easy and a fun way to spend a couple of hours, and kayaks can be rented right on the beach.
Culebra Island
The island of Culebra is an eclectic, beautiful ecological treasure. Culebra has beachfront guesthouses, a marina and coves to explore by kayak. Kayak tour operators on Culebra will make sure to visit Tamarindo Beach, near Peña Marine Reserve. A paddle out to the reserve guarantees a visit from sea turtles. It is easy to hop off the kayak and swim or snorkel with the turtles and fish living there. Culebra is also where you can kayak off Flamenco Beach, rated one of the world's most beautiful beaches.
Vieques Island
Until recently, the island of Vieques was a U.S. Navy target-practice center. The Navy departed in 2003, and now it's a great place to kayak. Tour operators on Vieques offer recreational sightseeing and snorkeling from kayaks, and at least one does guided fishing tours for tarpon and bonefish. Vieques has mangrove swamps, clear Caribbean waters, fishing spots, and a bio-luminescent bay, Puerto Ferro. Sunset kayak tours in Puerto Ferro are amazing, with the glow of the algae competing with the glow of the sunset. Kayaks can be dropped off at your guesthouse or any beach for single or multiday rental.
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