Working mom raising good humans through travel

The most memorable part of my time in Rincón wasn’t the surfing or the beaches. It was a conversation inside a tiny surf shop that completely changed how I understood this little corner of Puerto Rico.

Rincón means “corner” in Spanish, but that’s not actually how this corner of Puerto Rico got its name. In 1771, the town of Rincón was named for Gonzalo Rincón, a freed slave who established a community for poor fisherman on land granted to him by his former owner Don Luis de Añasco.

The modern story of Rincón is as layered as its founding. Since becoming a global surfing hub in the 1960s, the town has both embraced the tourism while also suffering from it. The 17,000 residents rely on tourism as the primary source of economic growth while also fighting fiercely to preserve the land and natural reefs from large-scale developers who want to install resorts along the pristine coastline.

Spending a few days in Rincón, I instantly felt the laid-back and welcoming nature of the residents alongside their immense pride and concern for conservation. At @la_marea_surf_co_ I had the most enlightening conversation as the shop worker shared his own experience of what it’s like to live on an enchanting island that has essentially been a colony for over 500 years. It’s complicated.

I’ve traveled some places where resistance to tourism is felt in every shop. I even feel that in the sleepy mountain town where I live in Appalachia. But not in Rincón. The people are deeply kind and genuinely welcoming.

This was my second time to Rincón, and I’ll keep coming back. I want to invest in their local economy, enjoy the endless nature reserves responsibly, and continue to learn from the locals about life, history, and the modern complexities of life in their “corner” of Puerto Rico.

Save these favorites. I can’t them recommend highly enough, but honestly everywhere is amazing:
🏄 @la_marea_surf_co_
🍻 @rinconbeerco
🎨 @rinconartwalk every Thursday night
🤿 Steps Beach
🏊‍♀️ Black Eagle Beach
🌮 @jacksshackpr
☕️ @isla_made_
🍡 @paletados

#travelersnottourists #discoverpuertorico #responsibletravel #supportlocal #familytravel