Peña Blanca Beach has crystal clear waters, magnificent views and great snorkeling.
This hard-to-get-to beach is worth visiting.
I have been swimming, snorkeling and surfing at Peña Blanca for over 30 years.
In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know to have an unforgettable day at Peña Blanca Beach:
– What is Peña Blanca Beach?
– Where is Peña Blanca Beach located?
– How do you get to Peña Blanca Beach in Puerto Rico?
– How much time do you need at Peña Blanca Beach?
– Do you have to pay to park at Peña Blanca Beach?
– Can you visit Peña Blanca Beach without a tour?
– Is Peña Blanca Beach open to the public?
– Is Peña Blanca worth visiting?
Peña Blanca, or Wishing Wells, is a secluded beach you must visit during your stay in Puerto Rico.
Peña Blanca means White Stone.
Below is a video from Peña Blanca beach:
The walls of white rock in front of the beach give a sense of privacy.
There was a deep water well in front of the beach, which is why English Speakers from the United States named the beach Wishing Wells.
Peña Blanca offers crystal clear water, beautiful views, and one of the best snorkeling spots in Puerto Rico.
Below is a Google Maps showing where Peña Blanca is located:
Peña Blanca is in the northwestern town of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. It is a two-hour drive from San Juan.
In sector Playuelas, you will find one of the most beautiful beaches in Puerto Rico.
The GPS will tell you to take road one hundred seven (107), turn left at el macetazo street, Zanzibar, etc.
The problem is that these secondary roads are not well labeled. Puertorico.com will help you to get to Peña Blanca and enjoy your day on this paradisiac beach.
Here are some photo instructions:
Coming from the South (Mayaguez or Ponce).
Reach kilometer 126.8 on road number 2; you will see a sign that reads Crash Boat Beach; keep on the left lane and take the exit to Pedro Albizu Campos Avenue, Road 107.
If you are coming from the North, keep left at kilometer.
Coming from the North, stay right at kilometer 125.6 and take the exit that reads “107 Norte, Punta Borinquen Aeropuerto Rafael Hernandez”.
Stay on road 107 for 3.4 kilometers, approximately seven minutes, until you reach a traffic light with a black building called Set The Bar and turn left.
Keep going down on Calle el Macetazo for a couple of minutes and then turn left to Calle Azores.
Turn right onto Calle Mancora.
Turn left toward Calle Zanzibar.
And turn right onto Calle Zanzibar.
This narrow street will take you to Peña Blanca. Keep going until you see a mural of a Puerto Rican flag.
Park your vehicle on the lot at your right.
If you come from San Juan, you will spend 4 hours on the road.
Remember that you can do different things in Peña Blanca.
You can sit there, enjoy the view, relax, read a book, take pictures, and not get in the water. You can swim and spend the day at the beach.
You can snorkel dive and meet some “Careys” Hawksbill Sea Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and other schools of fish.
Remember the fish in Finding Nemo that made impressions and gave directions? You can find those fish in Peña Blanca.
In the winter, if you are a surfer, you can surf the Wishing Well.
This beach has waves that are great for body boarding.
No matter what activity you choose to do in Peña Blanca, I believe you will stay there the whole day.
You don’t have to pay to park at Peña Blanca. But the parking space is minimal.
There are three to five parking spots. Many locals park on the side of the street, but the road is narrow, and the local police can give you a ticket.
You also risk that someone might break one of your vehicle’s windows. I think paying 5 dollars to park in the house’s parking lot near the beach and enjoy your day without worries is better.
To find a good parking spot, try to get there early. Peña Blanca gets crowded in the summer, and finding parking space is a nightmare.
Not to mention that it isn’t easy to drive on that narrow road with cars parked on the side of it.
You don’t need a tour or guide to visit Peña Blanca. But here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your trip.
Below is a video of a walk-through experience of Peña Beach in Aguadilla:
Yes, Peña Blanca is open to the public.
Access to the beach is free, but as I mentioned before, paying the parking fee to keep your vehicle safe is better.
In a word, Absolutely. Peña Blanca is worth the two-hour drive from San Juan.
It is also worth navigating the maze of little roads to get there.
And even when it’s crowded, Peña Blanca is worth it.
Put on your mask and your snorkel, enter that peaceful underwater world and see the fish, the turtles, the sea grass, and the reef.
Don’t want to get in the water? You can walk on Playuela’s trails from Peña Blanca and enjoy the coastline view.
And if you are a seasoned surfer, visit Peña Blanca during the surf season (late fall, winter, and early spring); you will not be disappointed.
Below is a video of people surfing at Peña Blanca beach:
If you visit Puerto Rico for the beaches, include Peña Blanca Beach on your to-do list.
You will have a great day swimming, snorkeling, or enjoying the view on this secluded yet sometimes crowded beach.
Puerto Rico has more to offer than just beautiful beaches; check out our article about the top 45 things to do in Puerto Rico.
Writer at PuertoRico.com. I was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. I’m passionate about Puerto Rican history and culture. I live on the west coast of Puerto Rico, and host an Airbnb for tourists. I also coordinate tours and concierge services for tourists. I authored “Eat Like A Local, Puerto Rico”, and have contributed to blogs and magazines with articles about discovering and enjoying what Puerto Rico has to offer.
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