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When most people visit Puerto Rico they usually start with the capital, and maybe make it to some other popular areas like Vieques, Ceiba, Ponce, or Rincon. But one of our favorite places on the whole island is one of the lesser known! Here are 5 reasons why you need to visit Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

Reason to Visit Aguadilla, Puerto Rico #1: The Beaches

It's no secret that the beaches are one of the many reasons to visit Puerto Rico, and Aguadilla is no exception! One of the reasons you need to visit Aguadilla is because of the gorgeous stretches of sand, and unique Puerto Rican beaches that it has to offer. Here are our two favorites:

Crash Boat Beach

This is one of the most unique spots on the island, and in our opinion, one of the top ten beaches in Puerto Rico.

But what makes Crash Boat Beach so special? There is a long pier that has several longer platforms jutting out of it. When the waves hit the pier, the water comes crashing down and splashing back up. The backsplash went up to even 30 feet!

Not only was this a sight to see, but there is plenty of room for those wanting to sunbathe and swim. Crash Boat beach features a number of vendors selling pinchos (shish kebabs), daquiris, and more! We came here in the afternoon, and found the beach to be most magical during golden hour and sunset.

Peña Blanca

This beach is just a tiny bit north of Crash Boat Beach, and is a little bit more off the beaten path.

Pull up and you will find a grass area with colorful art, surfers, and maybe even spot some professional photographers and videographers. Walk down the steps and you will find large rocks and a thin strip of sand to walk along to enjoy the surrounding landscapes.

We love this spot because it isn't crowded, and is extremely beautiful (especially from a drone's view!) Just keep in mind that if the tide is high, it won't be a place that you can lay out. But if the tide is low, there is much more beach area to enjoy.

Reason to Visit Aguadilla, Puerto Rico #2: The Art

While the beaches are gorgeous, the truly unique reason to visit Aguadilla, Puerto Rico is because of how vibrant and colorful it is! Here are some of our favorite must-visit spots in Aguadilla:

Casa de Colores

This is hands done one of the most colorful places in Puerto Rico, and in the world! We actually stumbled upon this by mistake, and couldn't have been happier that we ended up lost.

This once run down neighborhood has been completely redone by painting the buildings all in bright colors with fun designs. Talk about being one of the most Instagrammable spots in Puerto Rico!

The Abandoned Airplane

This is one of the most unique spots to check out in Puerto Rico! This abandoned plane has become not only a tourist attraction, but a piece of art. The airplane is painted colorfully inside and out.

The locals have kindly added a wooden ladder so that you can even climb right inside! It is located right on the side of the road, with parking on the lawn right next to it. It is free of charge to visit, and donations are welcome.

Bandera Reyes Magos

This piece of art is something to make all Puerto Ricans proud. The building has been painted in the form of a Puerto Rican flag, while featuring the Reyes Magos (Three Wise Men). Not only that, but it also has two swings attached! Making it extra Instagrammable, and fun to hang out at.

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This isn't the only cool thing to see here. This square has a gorgeous mural done representing what the neighborhood looked like before the storm. The artist "" not is truly talented, and is committed to bringing Aguadilla, Puerto Rico back to life after the devastating hurricane.

Reason to Visit Aguadilla, Puerto Rico #3: The History

Meeting young artist Jwan Perez was one of the best things that could have happened to us on our visit to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico! Not only did we get to experience the beauty of the city, but we learned so much about the history.

Hurricane Devastation in Aguadilla

Puerto Rico got hit pretty hard with the hurricane, devastating so many places on the island. Aguadilla did such a great job of keeping their spirits up, and not letting the hurricane destroy them as a community. Watching them rebuild the town is really inspirational, and makes us realize how lucky we are to have what we do.

The Museum of Art

Step back in time and check out the local museum of Aguadilla Puerto Rico. The building is over 100 years old, and features pieces of art even older than that! The museum is truly impressive, and lets you really get a feel about the history of Aguadilla.

Reason to Visit Aguadilla, Puerto Rico #4: The People

We LOVE the people in Puerto Rico! They are warm, friendly, and treat everyone with respect. This was no exception in Aguadilla. We truly met some of the sweetest, down-to-Earth people.

The locals would hang out in the plaza right next to the "Bandera de Reyes Magos", and it was evident how happy they were, despite not having much.

The guy cooking pinchos on his small grill, the old men hanging out around him, and the young artists, are just some of the examples of the great people we connected with in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

Reason to Visit Aguadilla, Puerto Rico #5: The Location

We loved to visit Aguadilla, Puerto Rico for so many reasons, but it is also so awesome that it has so many other great towns and activities around it! We highly recommend renting a car in Puerto Rico  so that you can experience all of the amazing places in the area.

Isabela

One of our favorite beaches in Puerto Rico in Puerto Rico is in Isabela called Playa Jobos. Just like Crash Boat Beach, you can admire the waves crashing down in front of you. Other cool spots include Tunel de Guateca, and Cara del Indio. 

Gozalandia Falls

These falls are located in San Sebastian, just 20-30 minutes from Aguadilla. Here you can jump, swing, and play in the two falls. Want to see other cool waterfalls in Purto Rico? Take a look at our guide of the best waterfalls in Puerto Rico.

Rincon

Rincon is just south of Aguadilla, and is one of the most popular beach area for tourists. It is also famous for a great amount of sea turtle activity!

Mayaguez

This is is biggest city on the West coast, and is located just a half hour from Aguadilla. Not only is is great to head to for shopping and restaurants, but they have the best bakery on the island!

Bonus: Did You Know You Could Fly to Aguadilla?

While most people fly into San Juan, there is also an airport right in Aguadilla! You can use Skyscanner to check the cheapest flights to Aguadilla by putting "from United States" and then "to Aguadilla" to see which are the best airports to fly from. Also, you can look at the calendar to find when the cheapest dates to fly are!

Now that we've told you all the reasons that you should visit Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, what are you waiting for? Puerto Rico is one of our favorite destinations to travel to right now during the pandemic, and here's why.

Want to travel to other places in Puerto Rico? We have a ton of other Puerto Rico travel guides to help you choose the best places to go.

Need help planning your trip? We create custom itineraries to fit your travel needs. We are dedicated to helping you explore more and spending less! Want to learn more? Take a look at our different travel planning packages.

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