| Country | Currency | Safety |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Pesos | Organized crime, Banditos, Driving at Night |
| U. S. | U.S. Dollars | Violent crime, theft. |
| Costa Rica | Colones | Theft, use caution at night, driving hazards. |
| Barbados | Barbadian Dollars |
Safe, but getting more dangerous. |
| Dominican Republic |
Dominican Pesos |
Caution at night. Driving hazards. |
| Puerto Rico | U.S. Dollars | Violent crime, theft. |
| Place | Wetsuit | Wave Size |
|---|---|---|
| Baja | Full, Booties, Trunks | waist high to giant |
| California | Spring, Full, Booties |
waist high to giant |
| Florida | Trunks, Spring, Full |
waist high to overhead |
| Costa Rica | Trunks | waist high to double overhead |
| Barbados | Trunks, Top | waist high to double overhead |
| Dominican Republic |
Trunks, Top | waist high to triple overhead |
| Puerto Rico | Trunks | waist high to giant |
Puerto Rico is one of the most popular surf destinations for U.S. East Coast surfers. The waves can get big and hollow, the water is warm, the waves tend to break over reef, the locals can be aggressive and protective, and flights from Florida are inexpensive. Also, because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, U.S. citizens do not need a passport. For these reasons surfing Puerto Rico is often referred to as the East Coast’s version of the winter pilgrimage to the North Shore of O’ahu.
Puerto Rico has plenty of places to stay, eat, and there are surf stores. The infrastructure resembles America and there are plenty of conveniences. Renting a car is often the best option for getting around.
The surf can be very large and dangerous. Sometimes it is bigger and more powerful than it looks. Know your limits, respect the locals, and you should be ok here.