Rincon, Puerto Rico Tourism Association Blog

If you are planning a trip to Rincon, Puerto Rico in March or April or are thinking of coming, there are plenty of things to do and see!  Of course March is prime time for good surf, waves have been great and very consistent all season, we are looking forward to more great Rincon surfing in March.

The whales are here!  If you enjoy seeing these amazing animals offshore, breaching and flipping their tails, Rincon has a few great spots to see them:  The El Faro (lighthouse) Park is an ideal location to relax and see the whales, offering beautiful views and comfortable benches.  Tamboo Bar and Grill has a large beachfront deck where whales can be seen while enjoying lunch or a cocktail, and of course most beaches have great views of the whales, but best to be  a bit higher.

 The Corona Pro at Domes beach is an annual surf contest held in Rincon at Domes or Marias Beach, held this year March 3-4, with some of the best surfers from the Caribbean and Florida competing.   Bring your beach chairs and find a spot early as it is a very popular event! 

There are also a number of festivals and events coming to Rincon in March and April.  The Ramas Music Festival is a second annual event with alternative rock and roll  and reggae music over two days, March 16-17, more info and tickets on their website, ramasfestival.com.   That same weekend is the Primavera Long Board Surf Contest and Spring Equinox Festival held at marias or Domes beach, more info at www.fspr.wildapricot.org/event-2456859

There is a great fundraiser on March 4th, the Rincon for SUDS (Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba) Fundraiser, held at the Shipwreck restaurant in Rincon.  This is the third annual event that helps fund scuba dives for disabled veterans.  There is live music, great food and a silent auctions, more info at their website, sudsdiving.org or contact Isela for tickets, 787-431-5513.

Also coming April 8th is the Rincon Beachboy Standup Paddleboard Race, a yearly event that is one of our favorite family events in Rincon!  Categories from kids to pro  with prize money,  live music and after event party, it is a great day to spend at the Hotel Villa Cofresi!.  More info on their website, rinconbeachboy.com.   Enjoy your Rincon vacation!

The Rincon International Film Festival is being held March 27-April 2nd.  This is the 10th Annual and promises to bring some amazing films with afternoon viewings and special comedy, documentary and horror night viewings all week long, more info and tickets at their website, rinconfilm.com.

See our Festival and Live Events Page and follow us on Facebook for updates to these and any other events or happenings in Rincon!

Every April, the town of Rincon, Puerto Rico winds down it's high tourist season with a flurry of events and festivals and this year is no exception!

First up on April 9th is the 8th Annual  Rincon Beachboy Standup Paddlebaord Race, one of Rincon truly memorable events for the whole family.  Each year hundreds of SUP racers gather at the Hotel Villa Cofresi for Standup Paddleboard races in a number of different categories, including, kids, amateur and pro distances.  Whether you are competing for the $10,000 in cash prizes or watching the race from the shore, the Rincon Beachboy is an afternoon full of excitement, fun and a great day for the whole family.  www.rinconbeachboy.com for more info.

This will be the 9th Annual Rincon International Film Festival, April 11-17.  This festival has grown each year with select films in Documentary, Drama, Horror and Comedy genres, as well as short and animated films.  Evening screenings are held throughout the week at various locations in Rincon, with daytime screenings all week at the Hotel Villa Cofresi.  The final night at the Rincon Beach Resort is a Special Screening and the awards.  Many nights sell out early so to make sure you get your seat, buy advance tickets online, www.rinconfilm.com.

And we cannot forget about the Rincon Festival de la Ballena, (Whale Festival) held each year at the El Faro Lighthouse park.  It is a two day event with local art, food kiosks and live music, held this year April 16-17.  Each year this is a very popular event for locals and tourists with great live music.

For updates on all Rincon Events and Festivals, see our website Upcoming Events Page and follow our Facebook page, enjoy your Rincon Vacation!

Island West Properties has been in business in Rincon since 1993.  Their office on Rt. 413 has been the starting point for so many property owners, residents and those curious about making the move to our beautiful town. 

Island West has been a member of the Tourism Association of Rincon since it's founding and continues to support the community, while offering professional and friendly real estate and property management services.  If you are interested in purchasing Rincon real estate or finding a Rincon vacation rental, Island West is always a good place to start!  www.island-west.com

Taino Divers has become a Rincon institution, offering snorkel, dive, Whale watching and charter tours all over the Western Coast of Puerto Rico including Desecheo Island. 

For inexperienced divers, they offer snorkeling or discovery dives and gear rental.  For the more experienced divers, "We offer PADI and SDI certification courses. From Open Water thru Dive Master. CPR, Medic First Aid and Emergency First Responder courses are also offered year round" 

Located at the Rincon marina next to Shipwreck restaurant, stop in or visit their website:  www.tainodivers.com or call 787-823-6429

Wellness vacations seem to be very popular right now and why not?  It seems we know more about how to be healthy than ever before.  Rincon, Puerto Rico offers a great destination for a Wellness Vacation.  Of course the town is know for being surrounded by beautiful beaches that offer great surfing, SUP, snorkeling and diving.  But Rincon also has a great mix of yoga studios, classes and workshops, local gyms and fitness centers, a spin studio, a yearly triathlon that draws hundreds of competitors from all over the world, mountain biking, a skate park, kayak tours, Zumba and Aerobics classes and a natural landscape that promotes being outdoors.

There are local caterers who cook using local or organic ingredients and the weekly farmers market in the Rincon downtown plaza offers Organic local foods from farm crops to artisenal products such as locally made honey and chocolate.

Book your Rincon Wellness Vacation today!

This is the 8th Annual Rincon International Film Festival, "the largest and most celebrated film festival in Puerto Rico!"

There are daytime and evening screening throughout Rincon venues, indoors and outdoors with special "themed" nights such as Comedy or Documentary, culminating in the "Best of the Festival" night April 19th.  

The mission as described on their website:  "To support and promote culture and the arts in Puerto Rico through the medium of film. The festival seeks to inspire student, future and current filmmakers in the art of filmmaking, and to enhance the movie viewing experience in Puerto Rico through creative, unique and entertaining events. With special award categories for Puerto Rican filmmakers and Spanish Language films as well as International and American Films. Rincón Puerto Rico is also a Surfer's paradise, so the festival also screens great surfing films..  "

Click here to see this years program of screenings.  To purchase tickets, daytime passes and full access passes, click here.  The Tourism Association of Rincon is a proud sponsor of the Rincon International Film Festival and is able to support this and other activities in Rincon through our membership fees.  Your support of Tourism Association members will help keep this and other unique Rincon Events going each year!

The Second Annual Legend Surf Classic Puerto Rico takes place from the 16th to the 19th of January 2015 in Rincon, Puerto Rico. This year’s event proudly features two of surfings greatest champions: Hawaii’s Fred Hemmings, the winner of the 1968 World Championship which was held in Rincon, Puerto Rico and Australia’s Nat Young, the 1966 World Champion and a finalist in the 1968 World Contest.

Introduced by Monty Smith in 2014, The Legend Surf Classic Puerto Rico has embraced its mission to “Promote and Celebrate the Surfing History and Culture of Puerto Rico.” This nonprofit event does so by recognizing the original surfers who started surfing in Puerto Rico and by recognizing surf legends from around the world who have had an impact on Puerto Rico’s surf culture.

The 1968 World Surfing Championship brought international recognition by surfers and beach lovers worldwide to the natural beauty and consistent winter surf of Puerto Rico and RIncon in particular. The 1968 World Surfing Championship proved to be the major catalyst in the economic development of the Northwest part of the Island that continues to this day. The 1968 World Championship is also the contest that put the short board revolution on center stage with the futuristic surfing of Wayne Lynch and Reno Abellira charging on an early Brewer mini gun and was won by Hemmings in a close decision over Midget Farrelly in excellent eight foot Rincon Point surf.

As participants in the historic 1968 contest, Hemmings and Young are very appropriate guests for this year’s event. In addition to winning his 1968 world title in Rincon, Hemmings has a strong resume of international contest victories in Hawaii and Peru. After retiring from competitive surfing, Hemmings continued to be a major influence in the sport as a professional surf contest promoter. In 1971, he created the Pipeline Masters. In 1976 he was the driving force in the formation of the International Professional Surfers (IPS), the first worldwide surfing circuit and predecessor to the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) tour. And, in 1983, he founded Hawaii’s Triple Crown of Surfing.

Young won his 1966 world title and in the process became one of the world’s leading proponents of short board surfing. After a hiatus from competitive surfing, Young reignited his competitive drive and reinvented his surfing during the early years of professional longboarding, winning world titles in 1986, 1988, 1989, and 1990. Smith, a legendary figure himself in the development of surfing in Puerto Rico, is dedicated to bringing surf legends from all over to participate.

In addition to Hemmings and Young, prominent East Coast Surf Legends Dick Catri, Jack “Murph the Surf” Murphy and Bill Yerkes among others will be in Rincon to celebrate the role surfing has played in contemporary Puerto Rican culture and in the development of the town of Rincon and surrounding area. Smith states that, “The Legend Surf Classic Puerto Rico will grow in size and scope each year in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the 1968 World Surfing Champioship and our hope is to inspire generations to come.”

The 2nd Legend Surf Classic Puerto Rico has a 4 day window for the two day contest and one day for a Paddle board event and expression sessions. The Contest entry fee is $70 per division with two divisions costing $100. Contestants will be invited to special Legend activities and each participant will receive great goodie bags worth $60 or more. Online contestant entry forms can be found at, EventBrite.com, and additional event information is available at http://www.legendsurfclassicpr.org/ For further information please contact Monty Smith info@legendsurfclassicpr.org Joe McGovern jmsurfphoto@aol.com submitted by Joe McGovern Stateside Director of Public Relations Legend Surf Classic Puerto Rico

The Tourism Association of Rincon is a proud sponsor of this event.  If you haven't already book your trip now to attend and celebrate the Legends of puerto Rican Surfing.  Find places to stay in Rincon here