Move Over San Juan! Lesser-Known Beach Town Named Puerto Rico’s Most Affordable Summer Getaway

It may be the time of year we flip through our passport pages seeing which stamps we've missed, but there's one island nation Americans can leave their prized travel doc at home.

Puerto Rico has long been a favored Caribbean destination to mix equal parts vibrant culture and stunning shores without breaking the bank.

As a popular tax haven and reliably affordable beach getaway, it's no surprise Puerto Rico was featured on GoBankingRates' summer insight of 5 Best Coastal Towns for a Cheap Vacation.

But it's not San Juan, Ponce, or Aguadilla that made the cut — it's a lesser-known surfer's paradise that's ready to relieve your bank account of typical summer splurges you'll almost always spend elsewhere.

This summer, leave your passport at home and wave goodbye to the crowds of Punta Cana, Cancun, and even San Juan, for the budget-friendly paradise of Rincon, Puerto Rico.

Swap The Bustle Of San Juan For Laid-Back Rincon

Ever been to San Juan? There's no doubt it's vibrant, cultural, historic, and offers beautiful beaches in and the city and the surrounding outskirts.

Though it may be the most popular gateway into Puerto Rico, there's no much more to see than the raging nightlife, timeless Old Town, and numerous historical landmarks speckled throughout San Juan.

One of the most overlooked destinations is Rincon, unless you're a “dude bro” slingin' shakas like your Johnny Tsunami.

In that case, you've probably heard of Rincon's legendary winter surf conditions, though summer sees calmer waters perfect for relaxing beach days.

Tucked away on the island's west coast, the town of Rincon lies in the municipality of the same name, dotted with little-known beach towns away from the action.

You'll find postcard shores under swaying palms, many free activities, affordable stays, and an array of wildlife and waterfall hikes in the lush jungles.

Surf & Turf: Experience Rincon's Aquatic Thrills

Rincon is the Caribbean's unofficial surfing capital, but the best times to shred waves are late winter through spring, although some small pockets still offer the right conditions year-round.

GoBankingRates highlighted these 3 free activities in Rincon:

• Snorkeling
• Waterfall hikes
• Surfing

Obviously, the activity itself is free but you'll need to rent appropriate equipment as needed or fork over some cash for lessons for first-time surfers, which are easy to find around Domes Beach.

We've covered surfing, but snorkeling is equally as awesome and you don't need lessons. Steps Beach is known for its vibrant coral reefs and plentiful aquatic life visible through crystal-clear waters.

Sea turtles are the most common animal to wow you, though you're all but guaranteed to see schools of colorful fish swim by too.

The most popular place to snorkel in Rincon is the vast Tres Palmas Marine Reserve, holding a near-perfect Google rating, where one visitor claimed “This place is a piece of heaven. Best time to get a nice parking spot is around 7-8am.”

But not all aquatic thrills lie along the coast. One of the most memorable experiences are scenic waterfall hikes. A trek to Rincon Falls takes about an hour and 15 minutes from Rincon Village.

Affordable Flights & Stays

Keep in mind Caribbean prices tend to increase during popular summer months as everyone and their mother scopes out paradisal beaches to unwind.

That being said, GoBankingRates are financial experts, so they wouldn't include a destination that doesn't belong on an ‘affordable' list.

One thing you won't have to do is take the 2-hour road trip from San Juan as you can fly in to nearby Aguadilla about a half-hour away.

GoBankingRates gave the example of $400 round-trips flights form New York, but a quick search on Kayak's Explore feature also shows the following deals for July 2025:

• $186 round-trip from Orlando
• $293 round-trip from Los Angeles
• $352 round-trip from Boston

As for hotels, this is likely to be your biggest splurge, but rates aren't unreasonable given it's a stunning Caribbean beach getaway.

These are Rincon's ‘best sellers' this summer according to TripAdvisor:

• Hotel Villa Cofresi
• Coconut Palms Inn
• Dos Angeles Del Mar Bed & Breakfast
• Rincon Plaza Hotel