Maria’s Beach is a world-class surfing beach.
The first-ever broadcast of a surfing competition took place here in 1968.
I have been surfing Maria’s since my high school years.
In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know about Maria’s Beach:
– What is Maria’s Beach?
– Why do they call it Maria’s Beach?
– Where is Maria’s Beach located?
– How do you get to Maria’s Beach in Puerto Rico?
– How much time do you need at Maria’s Beach?
– Do you have to pay to park at Maria’s Beach?
– Can you surf at Maria’s Beach?
– Can you visit Maria’s Beach without a tour?
– Is Maria’s Beach open to the public?
– Is Maria’s Beach worth visiting?
What is Maria’s Beach?
Maria’s is one of Puerto Rico’s best beaches for surfing.
But you don’t have to be a surfer to enjoy Maria’s.
The sunset at Maria’s Beach is one of the most beautiful in the World.
From May to August, Maria’s becomes a swimming and snorkeling beach as the surf season is over.
ABC Wide World of Sports covered the 1968 World Surfing Championship in Maria’s Beach, which at the time was the first time a surfing competition was ever broadcast.
Check out the 1968 World Surfing Championship footage below:
Why do they call it Maria’s Beach?
During the 1968 World Surfing Championship, they called the beach Rincón Point.
Doña Maria Garcia’s house was right on the beach.
Mrs. Garcia’s hospitality was legendary.
She let people camp on her property. Maria had a soda machine at her house, selling sodas to the surfers and the general public.
She even gave free coffee and toasts to surfers when they came out of the water.
As the surfers got to know and like Maria, they started to refer to the beach as Maria’s.
The name has stayed as a tribute to this woman that represented Puerto Ricans’ hospitality spirit.
Where is Maria’s Beach located?
You will find Maria’s Beach in the town of Rincón, on road 4413.
Maria’s is 97 miles west of San Juan.
If you come from San Juan, you will have to drive two hours and forty-five minutes to get to Maria’s.
Below is a Google Map that shows the location of Maria’s Beach:
How do you get to Maria’s Beach in Puerto Rico?
From San Juan, follow Highway 2 until you reach the town of Aguada. Turn right to Road 417, stay on it for 1.7 miles.
At the traffic light with a cemetery at your right, slightly turn left to Avenida Nativo Alers. After the children’s park, turn right and left onto Road 115. You will see a sign with a person swimming; turn left onto 115.
At kilometer 20.9, you will see a sign that reads Oeste 115 and Hacia 441; turn left to keep on road 115.
Keep on road 115 for four miles. You will see a sign crossing the street that reads, “Welcome to Rincón.”
After a couple of minutes, turn right onto road 413. After passing a gas station on kilometer 4.7, slightly turn left to stay on road 413.
Stay on road 413 for two miles and turn right at the The Beach House. Descend that road, and after you see a little league baseball park, you will be on road number 4413.
Right in front of you will be the famous Calypso Cafe.
At the right of Calypso; you will see a sign that reads “Welcome to Maria’s Beach.”
How much time do you need at Maria’s Beach?
If you are staying in San Juan, keep in mind that you will spend 6 hours on the road.
Maria’s is a beautiful beach; you might want to stay on it for at least a couple of hours.
You don’t have to be a surfer to enjoy Maria’s Beach.
Many people relax just by grabbing a drink in Calypso Cafe and watch the surfers catch the waves.
I strongly suggest that if you spend the day in Rincón, remain for the most beautiful sunset you will ever see.
Calypso’s has a balcony overlooking the beach. The place is perfect for enjoying the view.
Do you have to pay to park at Maria’s Beach?
You don’t have to pay to park at Maria’s Beach.
There is unpaved free parking right on the beach. But when it rains, that parking gets very muddy.
You must be careful. Avoid parking on the side of the road. The Rincón City Police will give you a one-hundred-dollar fine.
Can you surf at Maria’s Beach?
Maria’s Beach is perfect for surfing.
It is a shallow reef break with a long and hollow right wave. It is more suited for intermediate to expert surfers.
Photo Credit: @nikkicristy
The best thing about Maria’s is that the waves break relatively close to the shore, so you won’t have to paddle out that much.
Another plus of surfing in Maria’s is that you can take great photos catching waves with the Desecho Island on the back.
Can you visit Maria’s Beach without a tour?
You don’t need a tour to visit Maria’s.
Nevertheless, people who want to learn to surf can benefit from one of the many surf teachers in Rincón. They will even provide a surfboard.
Photo Credit: @lisastaryakphotography
The only precaution you need to take when visiting Maria’s is that you should know the rocks on the water are very slippery.
There are scuba diving shops that can arrange a diving tour in Maria’s when the waves are small.
Is Maria’s Beach open to the public?
Like all beaches in Puerto Rico, Maria’s is open to the public.
There is no fee to enter the beach, and as I mentioned before, there is free parking at Maria’s.
Photo Credit: @william_d723
Note that Maria’s gets crowded during the surf season (from November to March).
Fun fact: From January to March, Maria’s is a great place to see migrating humpback whales.
Is Maria’s Beach worth visiting?
Maria’s is worth visiting.
You can surf, swim, or sunbathe in this peace of paradise.
Photo Credit: @rav4_guezcoast
Many couples choose Maria’s as their wedding destination.
Just the sunset you will see in Maria’s is worth the trip from San Juan.
Final thoughts
If you visit Puerto Rico to enjoy the beaches, you can not leave without visiting Maria’s.
If you are a surfer, imagine you surfing the same beach that pros from around the World surfed in the first televised World Surfing Championship.
It will take you almost three hours to get to Maria’s Beach from San Juan. But I can assure you it is one hundred percent worth it.
The beautiful sunset, those great waves, and that slow-paced ocean vibe will make Maria’s one of your favorite beaches in Puerto Rico.
If you are looking for more beaches to visit, then check out our article about the 30 best beaches in Puerto Rico.
If you are a surfer, then check out our article about the 10 best surf spots in PR.
Finally, this beautiful island is more than just beaches; check out the 45 best things to do in Puerto Rico by Miguel Concepción.
Originally published on PuertoRico.com (2022-10-10); last updated 2026-01-03.