Why you must visit Playa de Jobos, Isabela’s best beach!
Jobos Beach, or Playa de Jobos in Spanish, is a famous beach in the city of Isabela, located on the northwest corner of Puerto Rico.
Being on the north side of Puerto Rico puts this beach on the Atlantic Ocean, and although it is very popular, it is also a rather dangerous beach due to its dangerous currents and rising tides. Unfortunately, there have been drownings here in the past.
Very important for the non-swimmers; there are no lifeguards on duty at this beach.
Playa de Jobos
What to know
The surrounding area has a solid tropical, laid-back feel yet features a lively scene. Full of shops, tourists, and locals basking in the region’s charm. You’ll find a few gift shops here and there; the same goes for restaurants, open-air bars, and even an art gallery.
If you’re hungry, check out Uma’s or Los Almendros, among other restaurants in the area.
Inside Jobos Beach, an apartment complex is on-site, along with public restrooms. There are no changing rooms, so plan for that as well.
There are a handful of parking spots, but they tend to fill up quickly. Your best bet is to park off the street. Bring plenty of bottled water and snacks if you are on a budget. Of note, small coolers are allowed on the beach. Same for tents, beach chairs, and blankets. There is also a rental site for those “conveniences.”
Plenty of trash cans on-site help maintain the beach litter-free.
Surfer’s Paradise
Playa de Jobos is one of Puerto Rico’s best surfing beaches. As such, expect to see plenty of surfers during the season, competitions, and other miscellaneous surfing events throughout the year.
The beach is home to some surf shops for gear and apparel. Surfing lessons are also available if you are interested.
The beach itself
The beach is a rather good one, with plenty of spots to go into the water and plenty of areas to relax, catch a tan, or play in the sand. The water is also very clear and sandy. Some portions of the beach have plenty of shade, like the picture below.
We went on a cloudy day, so the sun wasn’t necessarily an issue- you would think so anyway. I didn’t use any sunblock because of it and still managed to get sunburned. Keep that in consideration.
The farthest easternmost portion of the beach is sealed off by a natural rock wall, which creates an excellent barrier from the tide, at least from that side of the beach. When calm, it is also a good spot for snorkeling.
As you can see from all the photos above, Jobos Beach is attractive, even on a cloudy day.
Pozo de Jacinto (Jacinto’s Well)
What is it?
The Pozo, Spanish for well, is a natural pit cave on the Playa de Jobos. It is very much frequented by the curious, as one legend says that a long time ago, a farmer called “Jacinto” took the cows to eat in that area.
The well is approximately 30 feet deep and very dangerous, so people are not allowed to jump into it. That is why you must be very careful when visiting, especially when traveling with children.
If you want to visit this beautiful place, remember to be very careful when approaching the well. The wind is quite strong, and the stones are sharp, so I recommend wearing comfortable shoes. I went barefoot, and I can tell you this much: take that advice.
The legend
Legend has it that on one particular day, Jacinto, a farmer, tied one of the cows to his waist, and the cow was frightened by the thunder and ran around until she fell into the well, taking Jacinto away with her. Another version of the legend states that the cow was stung by bees and ended the same way.
“Jacinto, dame la vaca,” or “Jacinto give me the cow,” in English is the phrase visitors shout when they approach the banks of the well. They say that when one says the phrase, the tide rises, or rather, Jacinto becomes enraged and makes the sea wet the visitors.
It doesn’t matter which legend is correct; what is true is that when you yell at Jacinto, the sea rages, and the tide tends to rise. A curious fact is that you have to say the phrase in Spanish for it to have its effect since Jacinto did not speak or understand English or any other language for that matter.
When my wife or I yelled the phrase, the tide did start acting up, although not high enough to get us wet. But one thing is for sure: when we stopped calling, the ocean receded. It makes you wonder.
Playa Jobos is a must
If you find yourself in Puerto Rico and intend to go to the beach, look no further than Isabela and the surrounding northwest area. Isabela is home to multiple beaches connected by PR Route 466. Being that Jobos is the most popular beach in Isabela, it also makes for the one that gets most crowded.
Some of the beaches in Isabela besides Jobos are Las Golodrinas, Playa Montones, and Villa Pezquera, among other smaller beaches. Suffice it to say, if you do not fancy going to Jobos, there are other options. Playa Montones, particularly with the Pozita (a small lagoon), makes a perfect beach for parents with little ones.
If you go to Jobos, I recommend an early morning visit or late afternoon to avoid the crowds. With that being said, grab a Medalla (PR’s own brand and most famous beer), catch the sun, and enjoy the beach.
For another Puerto Rican beach article, check out Crash Boat.
