The 16 Best Things to Do in Cabo Rojo
👉 Jump to: Best Things | Outdoors | Off The Water
With an incredibly diverse ecosystem and stunning landscapes, nature lovers of all kinds will find a ton of great things to do in Cabo Rojo.
Located on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico, Cabo Rojo features one of the most naturally scenic landscapes in the country with clear beaches, excellent hikes, and breathtaking sunsets.
As a local Puerto Rican, I can guarantee that this idyllic beach town deserves some time in your vacation schedule. To help you plan your trip, I’ve put together a list of the 15 best things to do in Cabo Rojo. I’ve also got a guide to where to stay, if you need help finding the best hotel!
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16 Best Things to Do in Cabo Rojo
La Playuela Beach
Escape to a gorgeous hidden beach.
Considered one of the top beaches in Puerto Rico, Playuela is located within the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge. This clear, white sand beach offers a relaxing atmosphere surrounded by cliffs, foliage, and turquoise waters.
If you love beaches, be sure to check out my guide to all the beautiful beaches in Cabo Rojo.
👉 Local Tip: Often, you’ll find the gate closed even during open hours. If you come across a closed gate, you can park on the street in front of the gate and hike to the beach.
Los Morrillos Lighthouse
Admire a historical lighthouse built under Spanish rule.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 851-1025 ext. 4700 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5:30 pm Wed-Sun
Los Morrillos Lighthouse, built in 1882, stands over limestone cliffs at the southernmost point of Cabo Rojo, marking the southeast entrance from the Caribbean Sea into the Atlantic Ocean.
While the lighthouse itself is closed, the out-of-this-world scenery from the top of the cliffs, with its amazing reddish cliffs and bright turquoise waters, attracts visitors from all over the world.
Though the road to the lighthouse is a bit bumpy and difficult, both nature lovers and photographers alike will love every step of this easy, 1.5-mile hiking trail in Puerto Rico.
Combate Beach
Watch the sunset from a calm beach.
With characteristically calm waves, Combate Beach is one of the best places in Puerto Rico to watch the sunset. The beach is strategically close to restaurants, beach bars, and shops.
During the weekend, the beach gets crowded, but if you walk west of the beach, you’ll enjoy a calmer atmosphere. This is also a popular boating and jet skiing spot.
Playa Buyé
Swim at a paradisiacal beach.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: $5 or free on-street parking
Easily one of the best beaches on the west coast (and my favorite in Puerto Rico!), Playa Buyé shore gets bathed by the Caribbean Sea. This long and spacious beach is perfect for hiking or sunbathing, and it boasts facilities like parking, bathrooms, and showers.
👉 Local Tip: Always bring some cash to pay for the parking if you’re visiting a beach and occasionally, to pay for the restrooms (such as with beaches like Buyé Beach and Seven Seas in Fajardo).
Boquerón Beach
Party and eat with locals on this popular beach.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 851-1940 | Hours: 7:30 am – 7 pm daily | Entrance: $4
Boquerón beach is famous among Puerto Ricans for its lively atmosphere of music, beach volleyball, water sports, and food kiosks. But the scenery of this beach won’t disappoint beach lovers, as the sand is white and the waters are clear.
👉 Local Tip: Visit during the spring and the summer to find better beach tides. Read more on my guide to the best season to visit Puerto Rico.
Joyuda
Explore this colorful beachside village.
📍 Google Maps | 👉 Book a Joyuda Tour on Viator
Joyuda is one of the best beach towns to visit in Cabo Rojo. This beachside neighborhood features beautiful apartment rentals, clear beaches for snorkeling, and picturesque sunsets with Cayo Ratones as part of the landscape. If you’re a foodie, then you can’t miss the delicious seafood in this part of town.
Cueva Jagüey
Jump into the water and access this mesmerizing cave hidden on Cabo Rojo’s coast.
Cueva Jagüey is one of Cabo Rojo’s best natural attracttions. Located within the Cabo Rojo Wildlife Refuge, this cave’s top opening filters light into its interior, creating a photo-worthy space.
Visitors can access the cave only through the rock formations on its side, which form natural steps. Regardless, you will have to jump in the water to get inside.
The cave is not deep, and you will only spend a few minutes here, but the magical space and the resulting photos will be a highlight of your vacation.
👉 Local Tip: Do not attempt to access the cave if the tide is high. Currents might drag you out to sea. Wear shoes to enter the cave. Do not attempt to enter through the top.
Best Outdoors
Punta Guaniquilla Nature Reserve
Wander through a nature reserve with mangroves, lagoons, and caves.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +1 787 722 5834 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 12 pm Sat-Sun
Punta Guaniquilla Nature Reserve is one of Cabo Rojo’s best-kept gems, even though it’s right next to the infamous Buyé Beach.
During the rainy season, the Punta Guaniquilla lagoon floods the area and makes it possible to kayak around unique-looking rock formations. During the dry season, you’ll find dry trails and areas to walk around the lagoon.
The nature reserve houses fifteen endemic bird species and receives a few more migratory species during the winter. You can adventure into the Pirata Cofresí cave or visit the site’s hidden beaches. I’d recommend visiting in the afternoon to appreciate the landscape during the golden hour.
👉 Local Tip: You can visit the nature reserve daily outside official hours. Even if the main gate is closed, you can access it through the pedestrian gate. Keep in mind the hike is not optimal if you have knee problems.
Cabo Rojo Wildlife Refuge
Spend hours exploring the nature of a reserve.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (305) 587-7856 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 4 pm Mon-Fri, 7:30 am – 2 pm Sat
Home to multiple attractions and outdoor activities, the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge is the top destination in Cabo Rojo for eco-travelers.
Visitors can easily spend days discovering the natural wonders of this nature reserve while birdwatching, hiking, cycling, or swimming.
👉 Local Tip: When you visit the refuge, don’t miss the natural rock bridge close to the lighthouse. If you’re short on time, this Bioluminescent Bay and Cabo Rojo tour takes you both to the rock bridge in the refuge and the Bioluminescent bay in Lajas.
The Boqueron Wildlife Refuge
Hike, bike, or hunt in this beautiful reserve.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 851-4795 | Hours: 6:30 am – 3 pm Mon-Fri, Closed Sat-Sun
Besides the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge, Cabo Rojo also features the Boqueron Wildlife Refuge, a nature reserve ideal for nature walks, birdwatching, and relaxation.
The refuge is part Bosque Estatal de Boquerón, which spans over 5,000 acres with ecosystems like mangroves and coastal forests.
Immerse yourself in it through its multiple hiking and biking trails and keep your eyes open for the over 60 species commonly sighted in the area. The refuge also allows for hunting activities with prior permission.
🛎️ Need a Hotel? If you want to enjoy Cabo Rojo, book a night in Combate Beach Resort – it’s right inside the wildlife reserve and close to the salt flats, Playa Sucia, and Los Morrillos Lighthouse.
Cabo Rojo Salt Flats
Take a picture with this natural wonder.
📍 Google Maps | 👉 Book a Salt Flats Tour on Viator
One of the most photographed and best Puerto Rico activities, the Cabo Rojo Salt Flats are an attraction that nature lovers can’t miss.
Also known as the Pink Salt Lakes and Las Salinas, these salt flats are a pinkish color that visitors can appreciate from the top of an observation tower.
Even if the visitor center is closed, travelers can take a self-guided tour through the salt flats.
👉 Local Tip: The Cabo Rojo Salt Flats are still recovering after Hurricane Fiona hit the west coast in 2022. They often change in appearance depending on the recent amount of rain, and the hour of the day.
Isla de Ratones
Snorkel in shallow and clear waters.
This small cay right across from Joyuda is a popular snorkeling destination. Cayo Ratones features shallow, clear waters that are perfect for a day trip from Cabo Rojo. You can take a private boat tour or rent a kayak to get there, but you should bring snacks as there aren’t any facilities on the island.
Best Off The Water
Plaza de Recreo
Mingle with locals at the town square.
The town square of Cabo Rojo hosts the San Miguel Arcángel historical church, which dates back to 1773. Besides the church, it also has food kiosks and an open auditorium where international visitors can catch local festivities in the city.
Santuario Schoenstatt
Visit the German church on the island.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 851-5368 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 6 pm daily
Santuario Schoenstatt is one of three churches in Puerto Rico that replicate the Church of the Apostolic Movement of Schoenstatt in Germany. This peculiar church in Cabo Rojo sits on a hill and, besides being a curious sight for tourists, features surrounding gardens that are great for a walk.
🚗 How to Get There: The easiest way to get to all of Cabo Rojo’s attractions from San Juan is by renting a car. Use Discover Cars to find the best deals on car rentals in Puerto Rico and to explore the island at your own pace. For more, see my guide on how to go from San Juan to Cabo Rojo.
Túnel Guaniquilla
Hike to a historic tunnel.
The Guaniquilla Tunnel dates back to 1908 and offers a glimpse of Puerto Rico’s past railway history. Similar to the Guajataca Tunnel in Isabela, this tunnel was built as part of the train rails of a sugarcane railway system that surrounded Puerto Rico through the coastal towns.
To reach the tunnel, you have to hike around 10 minutes from Route 307. Wear long pants and comfortable shoes since the terrain is overgrown with vegetation, and it can get muddy on rainy days.
👉 Read Next: 33 Best Things to Do in Saint Thomas, USVI
Muelle de la Libertad
Discover the attractions surrounding this iconic dock.
📍 Google Maps | 👉 Book a Boqueron Tour on Viator
Located on the coast of the Boquerón neighborhood, Muelle de la Libertad is a picture-perfect dock with the Puerto Rican flag painted on it. Other nearby attractions include a beach swing and murals.
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Thanks for reading my picks for the best things to do in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico! Whether you’re looking to visit its Caribbean beaches or discover historic places, this city on the west side of the island has it all. Before you go, check out this epic list of the best Puerto Rico hotels!
recommendations for accommodations in this area for a family?