Snorkeling Playa Cerro Gordo

Playa Cerro Gordo

General Description:  Moderate swim from the beach to the snorkeling area.  Bars and restaurants at the west end of the beach.  Cerro Gordo Beach and Natural Area offer family camping and recreational activities.

Degree of Difficulty: Moderate

Grid Coordinates: 18° 28.923', -66° 20.400'

Maps:  USGS TPR0071, Vega Alta, PR 

Finding the Beach:   From San Juan take coastal highway 22 west; to the Highway 2 at the Vega Baja exit about 10 miles.  Turn left onto highway 2; go under the overpass.  Turn left again on PR-690 past the on ramp heading back to San Juan.  Follow PR-690 north 6 miles to Playa Cerro Gordo.  From Dorado take PR - 693 west 4 miles to PR-690.  Turn right follow 690 north for 1 1/2 miles.

Once arriving at Playa Cerro Gordo at Carretera #690, in Cerro Gordo, Puerto Rico.  The Cerro Gordo Beach Complex entrance will be located on the right. 

Beach Overview:   Playa Cerro Gordo and Parque Nacional de Cerro Gordo are a wonderful combination of a Beach and National Park in Puerto Rico.  It offers beautiful scenery, snorkeling and beach activity.  My son and I took a day trip here.  We loved the family atmosphere and beach.  Right outside the official beach is Calle Principal with small local restaurants and bars. A person can watch the horses tied up along the avenue as you quench a thirst and fill a hunger after a long swim.   This is beach is away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist areas of Dorado.   It is a great place to relax and enjoy Puerto Rico the way the locals do.

To enter the official beach and park area stop at the manned gated entrance.   Pay then drive to the paved parking lot near the beach.  Hours of Operation: Monday to Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (May 15th to August 15th) 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.(August 16th to May 14th). Drive by the 100 yard past the entrance 690 will end at the Ocean.  You can turn right onto Calle Principal, park here to avoid the $3 entrance fee.

Entrance to Cerro Gordo Beach Park

Fees: Motorcycles $2.00, Autos $ 3.00, Mini-van $ 4.00, Autobuses $ 5.00

Camping areas:  Fees $13.00 per night.  Attractions and Services: Showers.

Telephone for more information: (787) 883-2730

Fan Coral 

Snorkeling Instructions:   The best place to start snorkeling is on the east side of the beach.   Enter the water just before the stream entering the bay swim 300 meters, toward the Island and inlet just past the eastern peninsula.   The best place is on the leeward side of the island and the inlet about 50 meters from shore. 

There will be an underwater rock and coral outcrop that you can snorkel around.  It will contain numerous coral species and many schools of fish.  Beware watch for the Lionfish in the between the rocks. 

View of Playa Cerro Gordo