Isla Verde
Since the first high-rise hotels opened here in the late 1950s and early 1960s, this strip of beachfront has provided US residents with a convenient getaway for gambling and sunbathing. Right next to the airport, much of IslaVerde conspicuously lacks any hint of Puerto Rican flavor. But the skyscraping hotels often offer good package deals, and Isla Verde remains a popular holiday resort town.
Piñones
Piñones is one of the most idyllic spots near the San Juan metropolitan area, blessed with more than five miles of gorgeous sand beaches and a seaside road that winds through thick palm groves, almond trees and an important wildlife area. Though only 15 minutes by car from downtown San Juan, it feels like a different world. Stop at a roadside shack for the chilled juice of coco frío straight from the coconut, or at one of the many food stalls and outdoor restaurants selling live oysters, clams and other seafood right next to the beach. From eastbound Hwy. 26 in Isla Verde, take the Carr. 187 exit just before reaching the international airport.
At the western end of Piñones, you’ll pass Punta Cangrejos, Punta Maldonado and the Laguna Torrecilla, a bioluminescent lagoon surrounded by mangrove and pine and a vital nesting ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. An excellent bike trail winds through the natural area and along a strand of beach. Soon you’ll reach “downtown” Piñones, a cluster of wooden restaurants and food stalls right on the beach.
With the Piñones State Forest on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, the ride along Carr. 187 is one of the most scenic in Puerto Rico. East of the restaurant area, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to exit the main road on the seaward side and drive along sandy paths next to the sea, where you can park and access nearly empty beaches. Carr. 187 finally veers away from the water at Punta Vacia Talega, a popular picnic spot for humans and birds alike, with great views and, for now, virgin landscape. Unfortunately for nature lovers, private developers who own much of the land here hope to turn this lovely point into a hotel-condo complex someday. Continuing on Carr. 187 will take you to Loíza Aldea.
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