Mar Bella Beach

View of Mar Bella or Puerto Nuevo Beach in Vega Baja.

Mar Bella Beach (Spanish: Playa Mar Bella), colloquially known as Puerto Nuevo Beach (Spanish: Playa de Puerto Nuevo), is a beach in the municipality of Vega Baja in the north coast of Puerto Rico. The beach is often referred to as Puerto Nuevo Beach because it is located in the Puerto Nuevo barrio of Vega Baja; it is also referred to as the Balneario de Vega Baja or Balneario de Puerto Nuevo.[1] The beach is located approximately 45 minutes west of San Juan, making it popular with both locals and visitors.[2]

The beach is surrounded by natural limestone seawalls that protect it from the often violent swells of the Atlantic Ocean. These rocks form a natural shallow pool with calm waters that is perfect for families and children. Larger waves do occasionally reach this shallow pool during stormy weather leaving tide pools behind. The western side of the beach is located away from the limestone rocks and while considered more dangerous it can be ideal for surfing.[3]

The beach has recreational facilities such as picnic tables, bathrooms, showers, playgrounds and food kiosks. There are active guards on duty during daylight hours. The balneario and the water quality on the beach are also monitored by the Board of Environmental Quality (Spanish: Junta de Calidad Ambiental) and since 2018 it has been designated as a Blue Flag beach.[3]

Panoramic view of the shallow pool in the eastern side of the beach.
  • Scene at the eastern end of the beach.
    Scene at the eastern end of the beach.
  • View of the Atlantic coast from Mar Bella Beach.
    View of the Atlantic coast from Mar Bella Beach.
  • Tide pools located along the limestone rock formations.
    Tide pools located along the limestone rock formations.
  • Aerial view of the beach and the natural limestone wavebreaks.
    Aerial view of the beach and the natural limestone wavebreaks.
  • Waves crashing through the limestone rocks during stormy weather.
    Waves crashing through the limestone rocks during stormy weather.

References

  1. ^ "Playa Puerto Nuevo Vega Baja". Municipio Autónomo de Vega Baja (in Spanish). 2014-04-04. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  2. ^ "Playa Puerto Nuevo – Another Beautiful Beach". www.puertoricodaytrips.com. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  3. ^ a b "Show site". Blue Flag. Retrieved 2021-10-04.

18°29′33″N 66°23′50″W / 18.49250°N 66.39722°W / 18.49250; -66.39722