Domes Beach

Domes Beach is one of Rincón's premier surf spots, named for the rusting dome of a decommissioned 1960s experimental nuclear reactor visible on the hillside above. The beach gets solid winter swells from the northwest and is best suited for intermediate to advanced surfers; on big days, it is not a beginner spot. The reactor dome itself is fenced off but clearly visible from the beach — a genuinely surreal combination of tropical surf and Cold War industrial archaeology.

Outside of the peak surf season (November to April), the beach is quieter and calmer, with good snorkelling along the rocky shoreline. The parking area is small; arrive early on weekends to get a space.

things to do sight
A story
The dome that gives the beach its name is the containment structure of the BONUS (Boiling Nuclear Superheater) experimental reactor, which operated briefly from 1964 to 1968. It was one of the first nuclear plants in Latin America — a US government experiment that ended when the reactor proved uneconomical. Partial decommissioning left the dome standing on the hillside, slowly rusting, now a Puerto Rico Historical Landmark. Local surfers have been pointing it out to visitors for decades as the most unusual landmark on any surf beach in the world.