Things to do in Rincón
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Punta Higüero Lighthouse
Nicknamed El Faro, the Punta Higüero Lighthouse dates from 1892 and rises almost 100ft above the terrain. It was restored in 1922 after being severely damaged by a tsunami set off by the devastating 1918 earthquake. The 26,000-candlepower light has been automated since 1933 and still helps ships navigate the Pasaje de la Mona. The lighthouse park is a popular attraction in Rincón.
There are picnic tables, the odd food kiosk and a small museum inside the lighthouse building that displays artifacts from shipwrecks and relays anecdotes from the area's maritime history. The principal reason to come here, however, is for the view. Five great surf breaks are nearby, and somet…
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Calypso Tropical Café
Wall-to-wall suntans, svelte girls in bikini tops, bare-chested blokes nursing cold beers, and syncopated reggae music drifting out beneath the sun-dappled palm trees; the Calypso is everything you’d expect a beachside surfers’ bar to be – and perhaps a little more. All that’s missing is a prepsychedelic-era Brian Wilson propping up the jukebox (then again, Brian never could surf). On the ocean side of the leafy road to the lighthouse, Calypso hosts the oldest pub scene in Rincón and regularly books live bands to cover rock, reggae and calypso classics. Not surprisingly, it’s a microcosm of the region at large and the place to go to find out about surf gossip,…
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Museum
Contrary to popular opinion, Rincón’s history didn’t begin in 1968 with the World Surfing Championships. Proof lies in this tiny museum, which harbors articles salvaged from shipwrecks and testimonies on the area’s social history. Like a lot of the municipal museums on the island, the Centro Cultural is open irregularly and is dependent on the state of the current municipal budget and volunteerism. Enquire first at the Tourist Information Center; staff there should be able to enlighten you as to current opening times and/or the possibility of a private viewing.
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Centro Cultural Museum
Contrary to popular opinion, Rincón's history didn't begin in 1968 with the World Surfing Championships, and the proof lies in the tiny Centro Cultural Museum, which harbors articles salvaged from shipwrecks and testimonies on the area's social history. Like a lot of the municipal museums on the island, the Centro Cultural is open irregularly and is dependent on the state of the current municipal budget and volunteerism.
Enquire first at the Tourist Information Center; staff there should be able to enlighten you as to current opening times and/or the possibility of a private viewing.
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Smilin’ Joe’s
Wonderfully creative food is par for the course at this happening restaurant situated in the Lazy Parrot Inn. Try the sesame-ginger churrasco steak or the mango-glazed chicken breast and choose something full-bodied from the comprehensive wine list. Then there’s the guesthouse itself, which provides a strangely romantic setting (considering all the parrot paraphernalia) with its cleverly lit swimming pool and strategically positioned Rum Shack bar, which lives by its rather Hemingway-esque motto ‘Conserve water – drink rum.’
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Pancho Villa
If you have long grown bored of lukewarm enchiladas or unpalatable refried beans, this modest place in Rincón’s main square could quite easily reignite your taste buds for all things Mexican. Though the decor’s nothing fancy and the service only so-so, the Rancho Villa delivers the goods where it matters: the food’s damn tasty. Try the house burrito or the crispy chimichanga washed down with a salt-laced margarita and beware the rose-toting mariachis on Friday nights.
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West Coast Surf Shop
Downtown on the Plaza de Recreo you will find the West Coast Surf Shop, a cool and funky place with some excellent graphics and big-screen TV images. Aside from selling all the appropriate gear, the owners have great local knowledge and can organize lessons for any standard or age at short notice. Hot Wavz Surf Shop is on the lighthouse road and can rent you a surfboard to fit conditions for $20 to $25; boogie boards cost about $15.
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Taíno Divers
Located inside the little marina on the north side of town, Taíno Divers is probably the best outfit on the west coast. Guides are responsible, professional and very environmentally aware. They do almost daily runs to Desecheo (8am to 2pm) and shorter trips to nearby reefs (8am to noon). Snorkel trips, one-tank dives, whale-watching and sunset cruises are also available, as well as chartered deep-sea fishing trips.
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Natural High
Glowingly healthy and unadulterated enough to suit even the strictest vegans, Natural High is – much to the surprise of visiting carnivores – also rather tasty. Mixing good old-fashioned home cooking with an unusual blend of raw, organic ingredients, the dishes here are as delicious as they are different. Try the crunchy fresh salads or the fruit-infused smoothies and save the muesli-munching for another day.
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Banana Dang
Set up in 2007 by two committed coffee and banana addicts from LA, Banana Dang comes pretty close to delivering the best shots of caffeine on the island. Next door to the Lazy Parrot Inn in the hills above Rincón, it’s well worth stopping off here to – in the words of the owners – think, drink and link (yes, there are computer terminals and wi-fi access). The banana smoothies are pretty memorable too.
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Antojos
In Spanish antojos means ‘cravings’ and you can satisfy a few at this local bar and restaurant situated on Hwy 115 south of the town. The specialty is fish served up with comida criolla side dishes, such as rice, beans and fried plantains. It’s nothing fancy, but after a day of catching the waves it will replenish a hearty surfer’s appetite.
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Rock Bottom Bar & Grill
Rock Bottom is a ‘tree-house’ style bar situated next to the Casa Verde Guesthouse in the Sandy Beach neighborhood. It has ladies nights, surf videos, tasty bar snacks (buffalo wings and mozzarella sticks) and a novel, less tacky version of karaoke which it calls the ‘Acoustic Jam.’ Swap your surfboard for a guitar and become the next Brian Wilson.
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Tamboo Tavern
You don’t have to be a surfer to hang out at Tamboo, but it helps. This is actually the patio bar of the Beside the Pointe guesthouse, but it doubles up as a great place for burgers, relaxation and a congenial après-surf scene. You may not always get live music here, but the sound system is pretty good and the twilight beach panorama something to behold.
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El Flamboyán
With its faded Che Guevara posters and vaguely bucolic setting overlooking the surf break at Pools, the Flamboyán is definitely old-school Rincón. This is where you come for comida criolla and inexpensive fish and chicken dishes and to converse with weather-beaten expats about the days before the dudes with money crashed in.
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Makaira Charters
Captain Pepi Alfonso is a licensed US Coast Guard who runs Makaira Charters. He does deep-sea fishing charters for up to six people and can sometimes split charters if your party is smaller. Drinks are included, but bring your own food – no bananas (an old fishing superstition) !
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Ann Wigmore Institute
You’ll find this retreat and spa 4 miles northeast of central Rincón on Hwy 115 (on the way to Aguadilla). Clients are drawn here for wheat-grass therapy, ‘internal cleansing’ and lots of organic gardening.
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Rincón Balneario
There's a safe and newly renovated Rincón Balneario, where there's beach swimming, restrooms, showers, some temporary food shacks and a new mall which contains the tourist office, harbor restaurant and lookout tower.
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Libanesa Bakery
There’s quite a smattering of bakeries in Rincón, but first prize for freshness and variety has to go to this Lebanese-run place that guards the entrance to the small downtown core.
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Museum
The small museum displays artifacts from shipwrecks and relays anecdotes from the area’s maritime history. The principal reason to come here, however, is for the view.
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Artistic Invisions
This gallery displays and sells the work of local artists, including paintings, mosaics and sea glass. You can even get your favorite piece reproduced on a mug or T-shirt.
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Hot Wavz Surf Shop
Hot Wavz Surf Shop is on the lighthouse road and can rent you a surfboard to fit conditions for around US$20 to around US$25; boogie boards cost about $15.
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Lazy Parrot Tropical Gift Shop
In the Lazy Parrot Inn, this shop is a must-stop for parrot-heads. You will also see Lisl Voigt’s handmade sea-glass jewelry here.
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Rincón Cash & Carry
Self-caterers will find Rincón Cash & Carry in the center of town, right across from the Plaza de Recreo.
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El Palacio Chino
This local Chinese restaurant doesn’t look much but commands a loyal local following. Sweet-and-sour chicken costs $5.
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Capital Water Sports
You can rent kayaks from Capital Water Sports for approximately $25 an hour for use around the balneario.
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