Cruising Through the Caribbean – A Captivating Experience

The Caribbean is without doubt the most popular destination in the world for those who love cruising and Puerto Rico serves as one of the most popular stops for these cruise ships. San Juan has emerged as the second largest cruise port in the Western Hemisphere with the city playing host to over a million cruise ship passengers every year.

The northern coast has comparatively less cruising potential and has not much to offer in terms of tranquil beaches and good anchorages. A stopover at San Juan is great for its amazing restaurants, casinos and other exciting features that this cosmopolitan city has to offer to cruisers. The West Coast has comparatively some good cruising potential in Puerto Real and Boquerón. These are bays which are well protected and offer a relaxing atmosphere. However, the south coast is where cruisers head to because that’s where all the action is.

The La Parguera is famous for its Phosphorescent Bay and its enchanting mangroves. There are many other exciting places to explore on your cruising expedition such as the Guanica which offers excellent weather protection, the Guayanilla which has an oil refinery and the Ponce Bay
which has some good anchorages. The Caja de Muerto also known as the Coffin Island has one of the finest beaches in the south east of Puerto Rico is a good place to bide your time.

The Playa de Salinas is one of the best anchorages on the South Coast but there is no beach here which is a dampener. The Jobos Bay offers very good anchorages but lacks in other facilities. A private yacht club is located here and has a few draft vessels which offer excellent cruising experience. Inside this bay there is a well protected and rarely used hurricane hole near an area called the Black Sea or Mar Negro.

There are numerous canals and mangroves which add to the enchanting looks of the place. The el Bajo de Patillas is a small place which offers excellent anchorage and the area is well protected from the elements. Further down to the southeast coast of Puerto Rico, you can find the Palmas del Mar. It is a manmade bay with an entrance which has a well protected interior anchorage and marina. This is a popular spot in the Puerto Rico and east coast begins from here. Fajardo in the north is the boating capital of Puerto Rico. It has excellent facilities and is the best place to stop-over before proceeding to the Spanish Virgin Islands.