It's Time For Fun In The Sun

It's Time For Fun In The Sun

Now that summer is around the corner, I’m starting to miss the beach. And I don’t mean any beach, certainly not in the United States. I’m talking about a tropical beach, with white sand and coconut and sea-grape trees for shade. I’m talking about Balneario La Monserrate, better known as Luquillo Beach. It is located about 15 miles (45 minutes) east of San Juan. As a kid, I used to go there quite often (it was 30 minutes away from my house). It is a crescent of fine sand, with various types of mature trees. And behind this beach is the rain forest—it’s picture perfect.

The balneario (public beach resort) has been designated a “blue flag beach.” This means it meets very high standards (water quality, facilities, management, etc.). The beach itself is wide, so there is ample room to pick your favorite spot. If you are melanin challenged, you may look for a shady spot because you will burn in a New York minute. Luquillo Beach is very popular with locals and tourists alike, and it can get incredibly crowded. An alternative spot for snorkeling enthusiasts, Playa Azul (Blue Beach), is a few minutes away. La Pared (The Wall) and La Selva (The Jungle) offer good medium-range surfing waves, if you’re interested in that kind of action.

I haven’t been there in more than three years; so maybe it’s time to plan a short vacation.