Playa caracoles puerto rico: Playa Caracoles – A Cute, Cove Beach in Arecibo

Cayo Caracoles, Puerto Rico – 2022 Guide by Local

Loved by locals, popular for snorkeling and boaters, and just about 45 minutes from Ponce. Caracoles is one of the islands of La Parguera Nature Reserve off the town of Lajas.   From all the islands in La Parguera, this is the most popular for snorkeling.  The waters are like glass, crystal clear and calm, the earlier you get here in the day the better the conditions are.  When in Caracoles you’re always on the water, there is no beach, no sandy area to just sit with a chair, and no place to picnic.  The water surrounding the mangrove cay is shallow, even the kids can walk around on the water safely and swim along the mangrove channel.  

Getting to Caracoles

If you’re vacationing in San Juan / Metro Area you may rent a car and drive to Lajas or you may book a tour that takes care of all the details offering round-trip transportation (see tours below).  Once in Lajas, you may also rent a small boat or pay for a water taxi at the dock in La Parguera, which will give you the freedom to do some “island-hopping”.    After enjoying Cayo Caracoles, we encourage you to stay for dinner at one of the restaurants at the villa and enjoy the magic of the bioluminescent bay (see tours below), which brighter (under normal weather conditions), more relaxed, and without crowds when compared to Laguna Grande in Fajardo.

We recommend you spend the whole day enjoying La Parguera, especially the bioluminescent bay in Lajas (see tours below).

Best Times to Visit Caracoles, Lajas, Puerto Rico

As we mentioned in our travel seasons article, on the west coast high season is in the summers and holidays, during the winter weeks you may have this little paradise on the Caribbean Sea all to yourself.  During the summers, holidays and weekends you will find the most crowds.  Sometimes it gets unbearably crowded because boat owners love coming here to hang out.  If you love the party scene you’ll love it, if you don’t you’ll hate it.

Safety at Caracoles Island

Be sure to supervise children at all times, especially with boats on the water.  There ought to be more regulations with boats, terrible accidents have occurred.  We do not recommend visiting with small children in the busy summer season, skip it and go to Mata La Gata or Gilligan’s Island where the swimming area is protected.

Facilities at Caracoles

As mentioned earlier there is no beach, you’re always on the water. The whole island is made up of mangroves with no flat land.

You will need to bring everything you need.  I recommend you stick to sunblock, perhaps a sandwich you could get at a panaderia (local bakery) on your drive here and drinks.  Get a good breakfast, get here early and you can be back to the dock by early afternoon for a great lunch where there is plenty of restaurants with yummy traditional food.

Restrooms are on the neighbor island Mata La Gata (bring your own toilet paper, wet wipes, or hand sanitizers).  You will need a boat or kayak to get to Mata La Gata, we don’t recommend swimming to Mata La Gata since the open sea is coming in freely right in between the islands, surf and currents vary with the weather.   You may ask your tour operator to come and pick you up at a certain time and then go to Mata La Gata for the rest of the day where they have grills, and picnic tables.

Tours Visitors Love in Puerto Rico

Visit Cayo Caracoles on your trip to Lajas or Puerto Rico • Inspirock

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Tours to Cayo Caracoles

FROM
76 €
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La Parguera: Enjoy Great Adventure to Cayo Caracoles in Chiliboats
La Parguera: Enjoy Great Adventure to Cayo Caracoles in Chiliboats

Duration: 2 hours

Tours from 76 € ›

FROM
367 €
BOOK WITH VIATOR
Private Parguera Snorkeling, Sunset & Biobay Swim Boat Experience from San Juan
Private Parguera Snorkeling, Sunset & Biobay Swim Boat Experience from San Juan

Duration: 8 hours

Tours from 367 € ›

FROM
63 €
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Sunset and Biobay Swim Experiences
Sunset and Biobay Swim Experiences

Duration: 2 hours

Tours from 63 € ›

FROM
1. 254 €
BOOK WITH VIATOR
3 day Puerto Rico Private Bucketlist Experience
3 day Puerto Rico Private Bucketlist Experience

Duration: 3 days

Tours from 1.254 € ›

FROM
482 €
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Full-Day Private Cruise in Cayo Caracoles
Full-Day Private Cruise in Cayo Caracoles

Duration: 4 hours

Tours from 482 € ›

Cayo Caracoles reviews

Rate this attraction

TripAdvisor traveler rating

51 reviews

Google

• By daisya20

  I’ve been here in Lajas my second year I like it here because they have everything I want to see like the cayo caracoles ,today I’m going to see the other one and then I’m gonna go and see the… 

  I’ve been here in Lajas my second year I like it here because they have everything I want to see like the cayo caracoles ,today I’m going to see the other one and then I’m gonna go and see the. .. 
  more »

• By WanderlustAileen

  Cayo Caracoles is a mangrove patch off-shore from la Parguera in Lajas Puerto Rico. There are several boat rides that you can hire to get there. Be prepared to spend all the time on water because… 

  Cayo Caracoles is a mangrove patch off-shore from la Parguera in Lajas Puerto Rico. There are several boat rides that you can hire to get there. Be prepared to spend all the time on water because… 
  more »

• By Melycious10

  The water is clear and you can see fish great for snorkeling. I do recommend water shoes. The boat ride is short and only $10. On weekends it gets crowded I prefer going during week. Do take a cooler…. 
  more

  The water is clear and you can see fish great for snorkeling. I do recommend water shoes. The boat ride is short and only $10. On weekends it gets crowded I prefer going during week. Do take a cooler…. 
  more »

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Google

• By Miguel Opacic

  Ohhh if you go to Puerto Rico you need to go to Cayo Caracoles

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• By Jenni T

  AMAZING! 🤩 we rented jet skis at Pinos boats the instructor took us to Caracoles and we loved it! Beautiful place great vibes in there, excellent experience

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• By Tiffany Sanchez

  google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJ0ddkT2RIHYwRM5HvEaLP0SI”>LITERALLY THE BEST!!!
  I was super scared to be dropped off on this island so early and told “I’ll be back at 5pm” haha! Honestly it was so worth the experience!! There was music, pinchos, great people, and a hammock! If you’re visiting Puerto Rico I highly encourage visiting Caracoles!!

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• By Arturo Madrid

  Don’t go without a boat! If you don’t have a boat, go to mata la gata by ferry $10 each person with gina & johnnys boats, which is right next to this island. You could be there all day they pick you up at 4 or earlier if youblike.

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• By Nelly Nazario

  Awesome place. You have to go if you want to be in a paradise place.

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