Mar Chiquita Beach

Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico

---

Mar Chiquita (meaning "Little Sea") is a unique and picturesque beach located in Manatí on Puerto Rico's north coast, about 45 minutes west of San Juan, featuring the island's largest natural pool formed in a small oval-shaped cove protected from the rough Atlantic Ocean by large natural limestone rock walls.

This picture-perfect beach is an oval-shaped, golden-sand cove where ocean water enters through a small opening (about 80 feet wide) in the rocky barrier, creating calm, shallow turquoise waters ideal for swimming when conditions are right, though it's not always good for swimming due to strong waves and undertow depending on ocean conditions.

The beach is free to visit with free parking on a packed-sand lot, has no restrooms or showers, and features no lifeguards on duty, so visitors must swim at their own risk and pay close attention to currents and ocean conditions. Activities include relaxing in the natural pool, snorkeling when water is calm (you might see fish, and occasionally baby squid or barracuda), surfing when medium-to-large surf creates surfable waves, and climbing the safe rocks on the left side to watch spectacular waves crash over the rocks (on days with very large surf, 10+ foot waves can blast over the rock wall).

The beach is popular with both locals and tourists, especially on weekends and in summer, with food kiosks and trucks open on weekends serving authentic Puerto Rican fritters and refreshing drinks, and chair and umbrella rentals available. Important safety warnings include wearing shoes as the rocks are very sharp and contain sea urchins, avoiding climbing the dangerous rocks on the right side during big surf (waves can wash people off), not snorkeling through the channel unless water is totally calm and you're a confident swimmer, and being especially careful with small children due to the large waves and strong undertow.