Crash Boat Beach or Playa Crash Boat
Crash Boat is a beach located in Aguadilla’s northwestern Puerto Rican municipality. This is a top Puerto Rico photography location. It occupies a former military port site used to rescue downed aircrews from Ramey Air Force Base and still retains some remains of pier infrastructure.
These remains have become an accessible fishing location and jumping into the clear waters. Crash Boat also has two large sand beach areas for general bathing, Scuba and Snorkeling, and power boarding.
The closest passenger airport to Crash Boat is Rafael Hernández Airport(BQN), only 4 miles(6 km) away. Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport(SJU) in Carolina takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes (85 miles) to reach this magnificent beach.
But no matter where you’re staying, visiting this beautiful beach to photograph the surroundings is well worth the trip. Spend your entire day basking in the warm sun, swimming in the refreshing ocean, or simply taking in the breathtaking views surrounding you while photographing here, which are all options. Crash Boat Beach truly offers an unforgettable experience for all who venture here for photography or just an enjoyable trip.
BEST TIME TO GO
Any time is good. Peak times are during holidays and weekends, so if you want to avoid people in your photography, weekdays other than holidays are best.
HOW LONG TO PHOTOGRAPH
The area isn’t big, but you can easily spend a few hours here. There are also snacks and friendly people to chat with if you want. You can swim and do other activities here. This is a great spot to bring your chair and get some sun. Relax, grab some food and chat with the friendly locals. Some of them may even let you photograph them like our picture above.
WHAT PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR TO BRING
When planning your visit to Crash Boat Puerto Rico, bring the following items: a camera and wide-angle lenses, a tripod, extra batteries, and memory cards. It’s also important to wear plenty of organic, noncancer-causing, nonendocrine-disrupting disease-causing sunscreen and a hat for protection against the sun’s rays.
LOCATION OF CRASH BOAT
Nestled in the quaint town of Aguadilla on the upper west coast of Puerto Rico lies the picturesque Crash Boat Beach. With its crystal clear waters and golden sands, this hidden gem is a must-visit destination for travelers. For those staying in San Juan, it’s just a scenic 2-hour trip to reach this paradise. Those staying in Rincon can easily make the 30-minute journey to Crash Boat in Aguadilla.
HOW TO GET THERE
To get to Crash Boat Puerto Rico, the easiest route is to fly into Aguadilla International Airport (BQN). You can rent a car or take a taxi to your destination from there. The beach is primarily accessed by taking PR-107 to a spur signed PR-458. The closest passenger airport to Crash Boat is Rafael Hernández Airport(BQN), which is only 4 miles(6 km). Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport(SJU) in Carolina takes about 1 hour & 30 minutes (85 miles) to get to this magnificent beach.
OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY NEARBY
The surrounding area was teeming with opportunities for photography. The landscape was a photographer’s dream, full of vibrant colors and stunning natural features. There was no shortage of photo-worthy spots, from sweeping vistas to hidden gems. We have included links to our other articles below, offering even more inspiration for shutterbugs. The Window Cave and Cabo Rojo were noteworthy locations that paired well with this spot. With their unique landscapes and captivating views, they were sure to provide plenty of material for the avid photographer.
SEE OUR PUERTO RICO PHOTOGRAPHY HOT SPOTS
WHERE TO CAMP, STAY AND EAT DOWN BELOW
Crash Boat – Puerto Rico Photography Location
Where to stay when doing photography – Fusion Beach Villas
Fusion Vacation Rentals
FUSION BEACH VILLAS
This was one of my favorite places to stay on this journey. The owner was fabulous, the grounds incredible, and the colors were glorious. I just loved it here -Pamela Goodyer.
Not only can you stay at the Inn, they also offer fresh flowers by the stem, hand-tied bouquets and arrangements, event décor, unique local art, gourmet products, specialty soaps, candles, and vases.
Fusion Floral Art & Gift Gallery
PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS
SHUTTER PRIORITY:
You have moving subjects, you will want to shoot in shutter priority to ensure your shutter speed is high enough to have your subject in sharp focus. Approximately 1/250th of a second is appropriate for people walking by, and adjust your ISO accordingly. If they are moving fast, increase your shutter speed to about 1/500th of a second. A fast bird flying by would be shot at about 1/1000th of a second. If it’s a bright sunny day, go as high as 1/1200th of a second. Remember, the higher your shutter speed, the less light comes into the camera. For More Details, see our Shutter Priority Page.
MANUAL MODE:
You can do your long-exposure running and milky water shots if you have moving waters at the location. You will have to use a tripod for this effect. Your settings will vary depending on the lighting and your neutral density filter. You will shoot in manual mode for the milky waters. ISO is always 100 or as low as your camera will allow. The aperture is f22, or the highest f-stop your camera will allow. Your shutter speed will be the only variable depending on the light. Roll your shutter speed until your meter reads zero. (In the center) Use your shutter release or 2-second timer to prevent camera movement when exposing. You will want at least a 2-second exposure for milky water. If you don’t have a neutral density filter, you may not get more than 1/15th of a second in the sun.
You can buy an ND filter here. We highly suggest you do not go anywhere without one. Long exposure to moving waters makes all the difference between lifeless images and outstanding, dynamic images.
APERTURE PRIORITY:
Aperture Priority is often used to blur the background of your images and control your depth of field (how much from the subject to the background is in focus). For more information on this – see our Aperture page
ISO:
The higher you set it, the more light is when exposing an image. The higher the number, the more digital noise, so stay below 800. If you need to go higher to get the shot, you can use Topaz Denoise to filter out the digital noise later. See the ISO page here.
WHITE BALANCE:
Be sure to set your white balance each time the lighting changes. Auto mode is not always accurate on many cameras, and we prefer to set it manually. It’s one of the more straightforward basics of photography to master. If you need more help, you can get some more details here. See the white balance page here.
WATERFALL PHOTOGRAPHY:
If you’re going to do the milky water photography shots here along the water, you must have a tripod and a neutral-density filter. Preparing before embarking on a waterfall photography excursion is always best. You can also explore long-exposure waterfall techniques by visiting our waterfall photography page for tips.
Area Information ♦ Hotels ♦ Restaurants ♦ Camping ♦ Weather
CRASH BOAT INFO
Entrance Fees: There are no entrance fees to the beach. At this beach, there are two options for parking: a free area and a secured lot that charges $5.00 for entry. At the same time, free parking is available.
CRASH BOAT CAMPING
Do you want us to send our photography and ghost-hunting friends to your campground to stay during their ghost-hunting trip? Put your campground information here. We will put a picture of your establishment, the website link, the phone number, and the information on your campground to make it easy for our photographers and ghost hunters to find you. They are good at getting there in the dark.
Would you like to be featured in an article as a place to stay while doing photography or ghost hunting? If so, please send us an email. You will be surprised at how affordable our prices can be.
CRASH BOAT RESTAURANTS
Tsunami Restaurant
ADDRESS
CRASH BOAT AREA HOTELS
We found it to be the best place with the best rates and great service!
Fusion – See Details Above
Fusion was right on the beach. The rooms were immaculate, spacious, and super comfortable. The porch was right near the ocean, where we could hear the waves and see the night sky. Management was superb. It was a zen-type feeling all the way around while staying at this lovely location. We sat on the beach at sunrise, a few steps from our room, with our cup of coffee. The local restaurants are within a mile. We highly recommend you stay here when in this area of Puerto Rico.
CRASH BOAT WEATHER
Check out the weather
Don’t forget that you can use a rain sleeve on your camera if it is raining. If it is bright and sunny, you want to use a low ISO such as 100.
If you are doing photography along with your ghost hunting on cloudy days, you can do running water or waterfall photography to avoid the glaring sun. You can also use an ND filter to get a long exposure for dramatic effects, even in the sunshine. If you ghost hunt indoors in abandoned places, be careful!