By now, many people have experienced Puerto Rico’s sleepy beach town, Rincón, but when a few friends and I went last summer, it was only mostly known to the surfing community. Rincón, which means corner or nook in Spanish, is located on the northwestern part of the island. It is often referred to as the surfing capital of the Caribbean, and most definitely the best surfing in Puerto Rico, with near perfect waves that break anywhere from 2 ft. to 25 ft. Unlike the island’s other hot spots, Rincón is a little more rustic and unguarded although more boutique hotels are popping up looking to market to a new generation of travelers.

We ate, drank, beached, yoga’ed and surfed our way through the island. The villa we stayed in was gorgeous and overlooked the untouched parts of Puerto Rico in all its rustic glory. Our days always began with breakfast at La Rosa Inglesa or The English Rose, a bed and breakfast in the mountainous region with a varied menu and a passion fruit mint iced tea that was to die for. And our days were filled with plenty of beach time thanks to the weather holding up; turns out rain is more prevalent between June and October, peaking in August (which is when we decided to go). But when it did rain, it was never more than an hour or so, and we’d wait it out at the nearby beach bar until the clouds passed.

The water was perfect temperature and the waves were great for everyone involved. In the evenings, we had a private instructor come to the villa for outdoor yoga at sunset overlooking the most incredible views. East Coasters, if you’re looking for a different but easy island getaway, don’t overlook Rincón. Visit once and it will have you coming back time and time again.