Puerto Rico attracts many visitors worldwide for its wonderful waves for surfing, lush green tropical foliage, and, of course, its sandy beaches. The simple beauty of those beaches is easy to take for granted, but it is through various natural occurrences that those beaches – and their unique qualities – came to be. Natural processes continue to shape and develop Puerto Rico’s shores, and bring with them all sorts of unique finds from seaglass to driftwood. In turn, many artisans in Puerto Rico use those found items on the beach to make a variety of arts and crafts. Visiting Puerto Rico’s beaches is a truly unique experience.
Where Does Puerto Rico’s Sand Come From?
Puerto Rico’s sand is composed of small sediments from different sources. According to the USDA Caribbean Climate Hub, the sand of Puerto Rico’s beaches comes from offshore sands, the erosion of land, which is transported by rivers to the shore, and biogenic materials (like coral fragments and shells). Puerto Rico’s beaches vary significantly from each other, providing unique beach experiences across the island.
Because the sand of different beaches comes from diverse sources, Puerto Rico has some fascinating kinds of beaches, particularly black sand beaches. Two popular black sand beaches are Black Sand Beach (Playa Negra) in Vieques, a small island off Puerto Rico’s east coast, and Playa Los Bohios in Maunabo, which is on the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico.
What Can You Find On the Shore?
The same natural events that bring sand to Puerto Rico’s beaches also bring various other objects, which can be a fun adventure to find. The best time to search the shores is during low tide, when more of the beach is exposed. Some of the most interesting items to discover on the shore are seaglass, driftwood and seashells.
Seaglass is the term used to describe small pieces of tumbled glass that wash ashore. The remnants of jars, bottles and other glass objects that made their way into the ocean, seaglass comes in different shapes, sizes and colors. According to Puerto Rico Day Trips, you can find a variety of seaglass right in Rincon. The beaches in the southern part of Rincon and further north (like Sandy Beach) tend to have more seaglass.
Driftwood can also be found on Puerto Rico’s beaches and varies in type of wood, size and appearance. Flat pieces of driftwood are often used by artisans as the canvas for paintings, and more three-dimensional, complex pieces of driftwood are often considered a decorative element of their own.
Seashells are not as common a find on Puerto Rico’s beaches as they are elsewhere, but they can still be discovered around the island. The northern coast of Puerto Rico, especially in Isabela, is a great place to look for seashells.
Supporting Artisans in Puerto Rico
Throughout Puerto Rico, artisans utilize found items at the beach, like seaglass and driftwood, to create unique products. Seaglass is commonly made into jewelry pieces like necklaces and earrings. Driftwood is frequently used as the canvas for scenic paintings, often of the beach, which are sold in sizes from magnets to wall hangings. Many artisans sell their products through local gift shops, at pop-up markets held at places like El Faro de Rincon, and at the Rincon Art Walk, which is held every Thursday evening.
Puerto Rico’s beaches are much more than just a relaxing retreat. You can enjoy everything the beach has to offer and stay in luxury accommodations when you book your stay with Maria’s. When you’re ready to stay with us, booking is done through Twin Palms, Maria’s rental, and onsite management. Please visit our booking page on this website to view the availability of Maria’s and fill out our convenient contact form. If you have any additional questions regarding Maria’s, you may call Elizabeth at 787-685-6648 (español: Cristina at 787-449-3673).
My husband and I had our wedding and reception at Maria’s. We rented the property for three days/nights. We wanted to make our destination wedding as accessible as possible for our family and friends. Maria’s was the perfect place. Twelve of our closest friends and family shared the house. I was so impressed that Maria’s had everything we needed, even little things like laundry detergent.