North Coast - Puerto Rico - page 400

To get the scoop on what's breaking and where, stop by Hang Loose Surf Shop (
872-2490; www.hangloosesurfshop.com ; Rte 4466 Km 1.2; 11am-5pm Tue-Sat)
near Playa Jobos. The shop has a complete selection of gear. Lots of overseas surfers come
here to rent boards ($30 a day). You can also rent boards from Wave Riding Vehicles (
890-3351; www.waveridingvehicles.com ;Rte110Km7.3; 10am-6pmMon-Sat)
. You can get a two-hour lesson at either place for about $65.
Serious surfers will also find a number of custom board builders in the area. Of these,
MHL ( 609-6198; www.mhlcustom.com ;Rte4466Km1.2,beyondVilla Montaña)
has an impeccable reputation for hand-crafted boards.
Diving & Snorkeling
La Cueva Submarina Dive Shop Diving, Snorkeling
( 872-1390; www.lacuevasubmarina.com ; Rte 466 Km 6.3, 8:30am-4pm Thu-
Mon) Named after the nearby underwater caves, this outfit is situated on Rte 466 atop a
steep hill overlooking Playa Jobos. It offers a complete list of dives and dive courses, in-
cluding underwater cavern dives for skilled divers ($55), as well as guided snorkeling and
scuba safaris for inexperienced divers.
Cycling
Hit the ocean road on or around Rtes 466 and 4466 for some of the best bike rides on the
north coast. You'll pass a number of bike-rental places set up at the roadside, where a bike
will cost about $20 for half a day. Bike rental and route details are available from Aquatica
Dive & Surf on Ramey Base.
Horseback Riding
A horseback ride along a nearly deserted beach is one of the joys of Isabela and an excellent
experience. You can take a ride along the fields, dunes and beaches with Tropical Trail
Rides( 872-9256; www.tropicaltrailrides.com ; Rte4466Km1.8;2hrrides$45;
twice daily) , which works out of stables at Playa Shacks.
Beaches
The wonderfully dramatic crescent of PlayaJobos is protected by a large headland of dead
coral to the east, and the surf breaks pretty consistently off this point. The site of the 1989