Playa Resaca

Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico

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Playa Resaca is a secluded, pristine beach located on Culebra, a small island municipality about 17 miles east of mainland Puerto Rico, known for its untouched natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere.

Situated within Culebra’s protected natural areas, this remote beach features soft white sand, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and a windswept, undeveloped setting that offers visitors complete isolation and tranquility. However, reaching Playa Resaca requires a challenging 40-minute to half-kilometer steep hike down a narrow, rocky, and poorly marked trail through Monte Resaca (the island’s highest point) and a unique boulder-strewn forest, making it one of the toughest beach access hikes on Culebra.

The beach is locally nicknamed “Playa Hangover” because “resaca” means both “undertow” and “hangover” in Spanish, alluding to either the dangerous water conditions or the exhaustion from the difficult climb. Playa Resaca is unsafe for swimming due to strong undertows, has no facilities like restrooms, picnic areas, or shade, and visitors must bring all their own supplies including water, food, sunscreen, and sturdy hiking shoes.