Playa Sucia and Los Morrillos

The southwest corner of the island ends in white limestone cliffs dropping into unusually clear water, and tucked into them is Playa Sucia, a crescent of pale sand in a bay sheltered enough to swim in almost any weather. Its name means dirty beach, which refers to the seagrass that washes up rather than anything else. Above it stands the Los Morrillos lighthouse, built in 1882 on the cliff edge, with a short walk out along the headland past sinkholes and blowholes to a view down the whole coast. Behind the beach lie the Cabo Rojo salt flats, worked since before the Spanish arrived and stained pink by the same algae that colour flamingos.

What you actually see

• The beach - a sheltered crescent under white limestone cliffs.
• Los Morrillos lighthouse - the 1882 light on the cliff edge above.
• The clifftop walk - past sinkholes and blowholes to the point.
• The salt flats - pink evaporation pans and shorebirds behind the beach.

When to go

December to April is drier, and this is the driest and sunniest corner of the island in any season. Sunset from the cliffs is the best of the day. Weekends fill the car park early. The salt flats are pinkest in the dry months.

Honest expectations

The access road is unpaved, rough and long, and it defeats low cars; after rain it is worse. There is no shade, no shop and no lifeguard, and the sun here is fierce. The clifftop has undercut edges and no railings. It is a three-hour drive from San Juan, so it works as part of a southwest trip rather than a day out.

Nearby

The salt flats interpretive centre is on the road in; La Parguera is 45 minutes east.