Crash Boat Beach or Playa Crash Boat is a beach located in the northwestern Puerto Rican municipality of Aguadilla. It occupies the site of a former military port used to rescue downed air crews from Ramey Air Force Base and still retains some remains of pier infrastructure. The beach is primarily accessed by taking PR-107 to a spur signed, PR-458.
These remains have become a popular location for fishing and for jumping into the clear waters. Crash Boat also has two large sand beach areas for general bathing.
Video Crash Boat Beach
Getting There
The closest passenger airport to Crash Boat is Rafael Hernández Airport(BQN) only 4 miles(6 km) away. From Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport(SJU) in Carolina, it takes about 1 hour & 30 minutes (85 miles) to get to this beach. The easiest way is using the Highway PR-22/Expreso Jose de Diego towards the west for about 52 miles. Then stay straight to go onto PR-2 Highway for about 26 miles until you reach PR-107 which will be on your right. Once in PR-107 drive for about 1.2 miles when you will reach PR-458 on your left. PR-458 will take you directly towards Crash Boat Parking as it is a dead end road. There is plenty of parking and the beach is easy to find.
Maps Crash Boat Beach
Facilities
There are two parking lots; the first one seen requires a fee and the other lot is a smaller one which is free but usually crowded. There are snack stands that sell Pinchos, Hot Dogs, Piña Colada, Bacalaítos, among other delicious snacking options. Also there are many lively bars that sell both local beer (try Medalla Light) and international beers. The pier (off which you can swim) and a swathe of ocher sand are a must for sun bathers and swimmers enjoying tropical clear waters. The beach has bathroom and changing facilities.
What can be done
Possibilities include:
- Swimming areas designated with buoys. Also some swimmers jumps of the pier which is safe. Still, beware of low tides that may change water depth in order to prevent injuries.
- Sun Bathing: Excellent conditions year round but beware of the tropical sun as exposure without proper sunblock may create uncomfortable situations such as sunburns and moderate to extreme itching when healing.
- Surfing: Good for all surfing levels. This Beach is known for being a surfing and body-boarding spot even though it is not an extremely consistent surf spot compared to the surrounding area. It requires a large swell to wrap around into the Aguadilla Bay area. On good surf days the crowds may be huge. Breaks best on west or northwest swell, with any wind.
- Scuba and Snorkeling: There are lots of fish around the pier pillars with average depths of 30 feet. It has low currents (1 knot) and has good visibility (10-30 meters) which make it ideal for all divers.
- Paddle boarding: this activity which has grown in recent years can be practiced here. There are rental stands where the proper equipment can be leased.
- Jet skiing and other motor boats: May be rented for use.
- Sand: Lots of palm trees for shade while playing with the sand.
- Sunset: Enjoy sitting and relaxing with the view of the blue sky and the crystal clear waters and wait for the sun to set down. Bring a book or mp3 to listen to music.
- Walking: As the beach is surrounded by beautiful mountains that offer a glorious view of the pristine shoreline and beautiful vegetation which can be explored by means of adventurous walking trails.
- Shells: The beach also offers an abundance of pretty, colorful, Mediterranean-style seashells.
Name Origin
There are different stories as to how the beach got its unusual name of "Crash boat". One is that Crash boat got its name from a particularly large boat which crashed into the cement pier before turning south and running aground on the beach. Another relates to the use of the beach by the military during WWII, with the dock being built to accommodate the Crash Rescue Boats Squadron, referred to simply as Crash boat and the name remained. This "Crash Rescue Boats Squadron from the Air Force used to keep rescue boats here to pick up crews from the Strategic Air Command's bombers that didn't make the runway in the nearby Ramey Air Force Base." The irony of Crash Boat Beach is that the pier / dock was originally built with fuel pipe that pumped aircraft grade fuel for Ramey AFB. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had different plans for this spot. Local currents dropped tons of sand into the beach and pier area making it impossible to dock a boat at the pier. Instead, the sand created a great surf spot.
See also
- Flamenco Beach
- La Pocita de Isabela
- Jobos Beach
- Puerto Rico Tourism Company
References
External links
- TripAdvisor
- Three Best Beaches - Puerto Rico: Aguadilla Beaches at The Best Beaches of the World
- Descubra Puerto Rico More Crash Boat Pictures
- OpenStreet Map
- Weather Channel Forecast Aguadilla Weather
Source of article : Wikipedia
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