Top Local and not-so-local Things to Do in Isabela, Puerto Rico

Last Updated on February 17, 2024 by PowersToTravel

Before you continue on, check out my new article How Best to Spend a Week in Isabela Puerto Rico, if you are looking for our Very-Top places and how to efficiently combine them into a great week.

Continue reading here to learn about ALL the activities in the area…

Local Things to Do and Places to Go (within 30 min of Haudimar Beach Apartments near Jobos Beach)

Jobos Beach Isabela Puerto Rico near Haudimar Beach Apts
Jobos Beach

If you read this on your phone, you’ll be able to click in on each of the activities below to go to Google Map directions.

Let me credit one of our favorite resources for Puerto Rico activities, Puerto Rico Day Trips   Not only do the authors describe many exciting activities, they give the reader the important details such as where to park, and exactly how the adventure will unfold.  They have also been working to keep their website up to date with the latest post-hurricane and post-earthquake access and availability.  On our original trip to Puerto Rico I used them extensively.

Map of Isabela and Aguadilla Things to Do

Bikes (regular, not e-Bikes)

Electric Bikes and Scooters

  • Ride is located near the Middles beach area and rents electric bikes and scooters which can be used to ride the entire xx mile distance of the Paseo Tablado (boardwalk) and the Bike Path. They are located on the beach road (Rt 466) where the road bulges wide.  See ridespr.com  Click here for map/directions

Bowling

  • Aguadilla Bowling Center in Aguadilla (20 min). See their  Facebook page. They have laser tag, bumper-cars, and an arcade in addition to bowling.  They serve food and alcohol.  It’s a very popular local location.   Click here for map/directions

Casino

Golf

Grocery Store

Horseback Riding

Jet Ski-ing

  • Aguadilla Watersports in Aguadilla offers Jet Ski tours and rentals. They are located in Aguadilla Pueblo at Rompeolas Beach. See https://aguadillawatersports.com/. Click here for map/directions.
  • Ocean Watersports is also located in Aguadilla at Rompeolas Beach. They offer Jet Ski rentals. Click here for their website. Click here for map/directions
  • Crashboat Beach has Jet Ski and banana boat rides. I can’t seem to find the company name, but they always seem to be there. It could be they are one of the two companies above.
  • Not at Jobos – the north coast waves are too rough for these kinds of watersports, so you need to go to Aguadilla and the west coast (not far).

Laundromat

Mini-Golf

Mini-mart

  • Gulf Bajuras Convenience Store right at the Haudimar Beach Apartments entrance.  They have everything from snorkel gear to milk to hardware supply.    Click here for map/directions

Movies

Nature and Hiking

  • Paseo Lineal – Biking / Walking Trail along the ocean / Rt 466. To reach the trail, you must walk the beach eastwards from Haudimar Beach Apartments until Jobos Beach, then you join the trail called the Paseo Tablado de Isabela (boardwalk) at the eastern end of Jobos beach.  The boardwalk turns into a cycling/walking path at the IslaBela condominiums.  The boardwalk/path is 6 miles or so, and mostly level.  If you are biking, you’ll have to ride the road 4466 eastwards from the condo to Jobos Beach to join the trail.  Click here for map/directions
  • Tunnel at Guajataca (25 min.) Nice walk through an abandoned train tunnel to a beach beyond.  Beautifully painted walls suitable for great selfies and vacation pictures to send home.   See http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/quebradillas/  Click here for map/directions
  • Hike to Survival Beach – (15 min) a not-so-easy hike along the hillside above rocks and beaches to an isolated beach.  The first section of the hike can be done regardless of tide level, as it is on the hillside.  The trail is up and down and filled with roots and trees to hug.  But then the trail dips down onto the sand among large boulders and that stretch requires a falling or low tide.   The final third of the hike involves climbing up large rocks over a hillside and then down to the isolated Survival Beach.  I’ve gone several times as it is a beautiful hike, however I’ve never done that final third.  I’ve always relaxed on the boulder beach and said to myself, “What can be more beautiful than this spot, and is it worth twisting my ankle or knee to climb over the rocks?”  Click here for the map/directions to the parking lot at Surfer’s Beach at which to begin the hike.  Click here for info from Puerto Rico Day Trips.   Hike leads from the far northeast corner of the parking lot.
  • Lighthouse Ruins aka Las Ruinas del Faro – A beautiful view west from the ruins of a lighthouse.  The site is a popular one for prom photos, etc.  No hiking required, but dirt road driving required. The potholes are ginormous! We usually park a little short of the lighthouse near the old Army base buildings and walk the rest of the way. You can walk south from the ruins along a sandy 4-wheel-drive road which parallels the seacoast.  The tropical views are delicious; much of the walk is shaded and very easy.  The name of the beach is “Wilderness Beach”, and you might be surprised at the amount of traffic on this terrible road, depending on the day. That’s because there is a famous surfer’s beach at the end of it. No swimming beach though. There are even some great photo opportunities as someone has put up a romantic swing from a palm tree in a very beautiful location.  Someone also has painted a building/shed with colorful local scenes.   Click here for info from Puerto Rico Day Trips.  Click here for the map/directions

Snorkeling

Swimming

  • Jobos Beach is just a short walk eastward on the beach.  Jobos is primarily a surfing beach. It’s also great for hanging around the shallows, and eating.  Swim only where others are swimming.  (Don’t confuse surfers with swimmers.  Surfers go out much further of course and have surf boards!  Stay with the rest of the swimmers!)  There can be a very strong outbound current near the rocks on the east side.  Pay attention to the maritime alerts on weather.com and do not swim when they are posting warnings. There are drownings here every year, no lie. Click here for map/directions
  • Shacks Beach is to the west. A submerged reef creates a more calm area for swimming and snorkeling.   Low tide is NOT a good time to swim there as you could get scraped by the reef.   Surf can be strong at the barrier reef area during high tide.  Mid-tide is best.  Click here for map/directions
  • Crash Boat Beach, in Aguadilla, is the favorite family beach in the area among locals.  Click here for map/directions

Restaurants and Bars (many)

  • The Grill Burger Planet & More at Food Truck Park International – My absolute favorite place for pinchos! He used to be called El Pinchoteo and be located at the Jobos Food Stop – now he has a bigger truck and also does burgers and partners with a friend who also does pasta. My husband was checking the reviews for good burgers and bumped into the Grill Burger Planet with great reviews and so we went. The burgers are FANTASTIC, and that’s when we realized the owner was our old friend from Pinchoteo! You just gotta go. Click here for map/directions.
  • Food Truck Park International – located on Rt 110 in Aguadilla, getting close to the Econo. It has a wide variety of international foods (Japanese, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Burgers, Italian, Pizza…) and plenty of shaded tables in front of each truck, with plenty of parking. Food Truck parks are a real staple here, and you just have to find your favorite food truck, and park, with the right variety for the whole family! This one is ours. Click here for map/directions.
  • Jobos Food Stop – right above the condo.  
  • Villa Pesquera kiosks – (about 10-15 min depending on Jobos traffic) at the easternmost end of the Isabela beaches, right below the town. Head east on Rt 466 from the condo and take the very sharp left turn just as the road starts to climb up to the town of Isabela.  There’s a colorful sign for “Villa Pesquera” at the corner where you turn.   Lots of local food choices.  Isabela Click here for map/directions
  • Family Food Trucks at junction of Rt 4466 and Rt 110 (at the top of the hill heading to Aguadilla).  (< 4 min away) Click here for map/directions
  • Palmas Café – (< 4 min away) surprisingly good (and inexpensive!) gourmet meals, at the junction of Rt 4466 and Rt 110 in Aguadilla. Click here for map/directions
  • Golden Crown – (< 6 min away) Awesome plentiful Chinese food.   Aguadilla.  Click here for map/directions
  • Eclipse – 3 min away at the Villa Montana Resort near Shacks beach. Gourmet (expensive) delicious food served on their terrace by the sea.  At the manned security entrance just tell the guard you are going to the restaurant.  Reservations are recommended. Click here for map/directions
  • Tuluum Restaurante and Tequila Bar – (< 6 min away) Great Mexican food.  Many of their menu items are offered “Puerto Rican style” and “Tex-Mex style”.  I ordered Fish Tacos, without tomatoes and without avocado, and the chef said, “In that case, try them our Tex-Mex style – with sour cream, cheese and special sauce.”  What a treat!    Here’s a link to their Facebook page, which contains a menu: https://www.facebook.com/Tuluum/  Aguadilla.  Click here for map/directions
  • Junior’s Pizza – the absolute BEST New York style pizza.  Click here for map/directions
  • Cinco – on Rt 110 in Aguadilla heading towards the airport.  Puerto Rico food with a flair.  A bit more expensive than other places, but worth it!  I love the Mongolian Tower!  Click here for map/directions.
  • Monsoon – on Rt. 110 in Aguadilla heading towards the airport. Nice meats and really tasty food. Eat indoors and outdoors. Plentiful food. Click here for map/directions.
  • Uma’s – Our favorite restaurant at Jobos.  I particularly like the Hawaiian Shrimp and Rice.  They have an extensive blackboard menu with Puerto Rican favorites such as Mofongo, so it’s a great place to take first time guests too. Click here for map/directions.

Shopping

Unique Photo Opportunities

  • Monumento al Cacique Mabodamaca, at the junction of Rt 2 Westbound and Rt 113. It is called “Cara de Indio” on Google maps.
    • Coming from the East: it is at the turnoff of Rt 113 from Rt 2, very soon after Rt 2 descends from the steep hill/river valley at Guajataca.
    • Coming from Isabela (this condo), go into Isabela, then out of Isabela eastbound on Rt 113. After a very windy stretch, the road ends on Rt 2.  The monument is right there.
    • Click here for map/directions
  • Mirador de Guajataca (overlook) in Guajataca (20 min) on Rt 2 Westbound just before the steep hill/river valley. See http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/quebradillas/  Click here for map/directions
  • Mirador de Aguadilla (overlook) (20 min away) in Aguadilla on Rt 2 Westbound on the steep downhill after the mall.  If we are heading to Mayaguez or Rincon we often stop at Firehouse Subs and then get back onto Rt 2 West / South and stop there for our lunch (eating in our car for the view)  Beautiful views.  Click here for map/directions
  • Tunnel at Guajataca (25 min.) Nice walk through an abandoned train tunnel to a beach beyond.  Beautifully painted walls suitable for great selfies and vacation pictures to send home.   See http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/quebradillas/  Click here for map/directions

Not-so-Local Things to Do and Places to Go (> 30 min away from Haudimar Beach Apartments, Isabela)

ATV rental

Caving adventures

Nature and Hikes

  • Bosque estatal de Guajataca (40 min) See http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/guajataca-forest-cave/ Click here for map/directions
  • Gozalandia Waterfall at San Sebastian (1 hr) See http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/gozalandia-falls/ Click here for map/directions  They charge $10 for parking.  Bring your bathing suit and towel!  You can swim in two different pools fed by two beautiful waterfalls.  Be prepared – the water is cold!  Also beware of any Puerto Rican adventure that involves a river – heavy rainfall in the mountains above and to the east can cause rapid dangerous flood conditions. It’s called “Cascada Gozalandia” on Google Maps.
  • Los Morillos Lighthouse at the point at Cabo Rojo (1:50) is a simply stunning location on the southwest corner of the island. This area is very different from the rest of the island, it being very dry.
    • There used to be road access all the way to the parking lot, from which it was about a .4-mile walk on a rutted road up to the lighthouse and views.
    • Now the road has been closed since Fiona, so you must park at the blocked gate (just north of the place marked “Puente Antiguo” on Google maps) and walk 1.7 miles up to the lighthouse.
    • As you stand facing the water in front of the lighthouse, if you turn to the right, you’ll see a path heading along (but not too close to) the cliff-top. Continue walking on that path. There are beautiful views of the sea and a stone arch over the water. Eventually you’ll join back with the road to the parking lot.
    • Be very careful and do not approach the edge. Erosion has undercut the rock and what appears to be stable from your viewpoint is not necessarily so. Many people have fallen to their death here.
    • Click here for map/directions
El Faro Los Morillos, Cabo Rojo, PR
Faro Los Morillos, Cabo Rojo
  • Seafood Restaurants at Joyuda – There are great restaurants all over the island, however we love to combine a trip to Los Morillos lighthouse with a stop in Joyuda (just south of Mayaguez on the coast). There are a number of nice restaurants perched at the water’s edge offering great seafood to eat, huge tarpon (fish) to feed, and great views. Our favorites are El Gato Negro and El Bohio. Click here for map/directions. We often go to Los Morillos first, in the morning, so as not to become too overheated on the long open walk, and then stop in Joyuda for lunch.

Zip-lining

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