El convento beach puerto rico: Dining & Restaurants in Old San Juan Puerto Rico

Packages – Old San Juan Vacation Packages

No matter what your reason for escaping to beautiful Puerto Rico, Hotel El Convento offers guests a distinct island experience that you won’t find anywhere else. Our vacation packages make it even easier for you to escape to a relaxing realm of indulgent services, award-winning cuisine and warm tropical breezes.

 

Bed and Breakfast

Say hello to a new day at El Convento! The Bed and Breakfast package is the perfect start to your days of exploring Old San Juan.

From $299/night

Package includes

This package includes accommodations and daily Full American Breakfast for two (2) adults at Patio del Níspero Restaurant.

Starting rates do not include taxes nor hotel fees. Subject to availability. Blackout dates and other restrictions may apply. Daily Full American Breakfast for two (2) adults.

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Romantic Memories

Rekindle the flames of romance with this special vacation package. Our restored 360-year-old convent is the ideal destination to celebrate anniversaries, vow renewal, special memories, or nothing at all.

From $319/night

Package includes

​​​​Package Includes: 

• Bottle of Sparkling Wine on ice served in your room
• Plate of Chocalte Strawberries
• Rose Petal Turndown to set the mood
• Late Check Out guaranteed until 2pm

A 2-night minimum stay is required.  First night deposit required at time of booking. Subject to blackouts and availability. Cancellation must be received by 3pm, 3 days before arrival, otherwise a first – night penalty will apply. Rates not valid with other offers or groups.

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Escape by Design

El Convento lets you design your own vacation adventure! Escape to San Juan and choose your local experience tours at Bacardí Rum Factory or Historic El Morro Fort, with more amazing perks for you! 

From $309/night

Package includes

Package Includes: 

• 1 Welcome Pitcher to enjoy at our restaurant Patio del Nispero, choose from Sangría or Mojito
• 1 Local Experience Tour, choose: Puerto Rico Museum of Art or Historic El Morro Fort 
• 1 Amazing R&R perk, choose: accommodation upgrade or late check-out until 2pm
• 1 Welcome Gift 

*Based on availability. A 3 nights minimum stay is required. Cannot be combined with any other promotion or specials and must be reserved in advance. One night deposit is required. Free cancellation up to 72 hours prior arrival to avoid any penalty. Blackout dates and other restrictions may apply. Transportation to the Museum is not included.  Accomodation upgrade based upon availability upon arrival, when not avaiable, late check out will be guaranteed. 

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Active Pursuits in Fajardo | Frommer’s

In addition to the lovely beach and the many recreational facilities that are part of the El Conquistador, there are other notable places to play in the vicinity.

Some of the best snorkeling in Puerto Rico is in and around Fajardo. Its public beach, Playa Seven Seas, is an attractive and sheltered strip of sand. The beach lies on the southwestern shoreline of Las Cabezas peninsula and is crowded on weekends. For even better snorkeling, walk to the western end of this beach and along a dirt path cutting though a wooded mount. After about a half-mile (.8km), you’ll come to another path heading to Playa Escondido (Hidden Beach), a small white-sand cover with aquamarine waters right off this beach. It’s great for sunbathing, but it’s too dangerous for swimming. If you continue straight for another mile, you will come to the gorgeous El Convento Beach, stretching out along the miles-long undeveloped coastline between Fajardo and Luquillo.

The area has managed to ward off development despite the building craze taking place across much of the rest of Puerto Rico, with only a few unmarked dirt roads providing access, and paths such as the one from Seven Seas. The area is a nesting ground for endangered sea turtles, and its waters teem with reefs and fish. A small forest runs along much of the beach, and behind it stands the imposing El Yunque rainforest, looming over the white-sand beach and pristine blue waters. About a mile down the beach is the governor’s official beach house, El Convento, a rustic wooden cottage. Just beyond the cottage is a great spot to snorkel. The water plunges steeply just offshore and is pocked with large reefs, which draw even large fish close to shore.

Environmentalists have pushed to protect this area from development, while developers want to build two large resorts. The administration is currently drawing up boundaries of a proposed nature reserve, which is to allow some “low-impact” tourism back from the coast.

To get here, you can hike from Fajardo’s Seven Seas Public Beach, outside the resort just before Las Croabas village. It’s a 2-mile (3km) hike through a trail in the shrub forest on its eastern end to El Convento Beach, a miles-long stretch of largely untouched beachfront, home to sea turtles and reef-studded waters with great snorkeling. The official vacation home of Puerto Rico’s governor is the only development to speak of. The dirt road leading to it is the only road near the beach, one of the reasons it has been able to escape the stampede of development that has remade most of Puerto Rico over the last several decades.

Tennis

The seven Har-Tru courts at the El Conquistador are among the best tennis courts in Puerto Rico, rivaling those at Palmas del Mar. The staff at the pro shop are extremely helpful to beginning players. Courts are the least crowed during the hottest part of the day, around the lunch hour. If you’re a single traveler to the resort and in search of a player, the pro shop will try to match you up with a player of equal skill.

Watersports

Several operators offer day sailing trips, usually from 10am to 3pm, from Fajardo marinas, which include sailing, snorkeling, swimming, and a stop at one of the island beaches where lunch is usually served. It’s the easiest way to experience the Caribbean marine world while in Puerto Rico. Prices, including lunch and equipment, start from $69 per person. The trips are aboard luxury catamarans, with plush seating, a sound system, and other comforts, such as a bar. Captains know the best spots, where reefs attract schools of feeding fish. These are among the most gin-clear and tranquil waters in Puerto Rico. They are teeming with wildlife, including several species of fish such as grouper, but also lobster, moray eels, and sea turtles. Among the local operators are Traveler Sailing Catamaran (tel. 787/863-2821; www.travelerpr.com), East Island Excursions (tel. 787/860-3434; www.eastislandpr.com), Salty Dog Catamarans (tel. 787/717-6378), and Catamaran Spread Eagle (tel. 787/887-8821; www.snorkelingpr.com). Erin Go Bragh Charters (tel. 787/860-4401) offers similar day trips aboard a 50-foot sailing ketch.

For scuba divers, La Casa del Mar (at the marina; tel. 787/863-3483 or 787/863-1000, ext. 7919) is one good option operating out of El Conquistador. You can go for ocean dives on the outfitter’s boats; a two-tank dive goes for $99 or $125 if you go further out to sites off Vieques and Culebra. Equipment is extra but is often included in dive packages. A PADI snorkel program, at $60 per person, is also available or take a trip to Culebra for $95. Sea Ventures Dive Center (Rte. 3, Km 51.4, Puerto del Rey; tel. 787/863-3483; www.divepuertorico.com) has a $109 offer for a two-tank dive $119 with equipment, a $150 discover package for beginners and a $60 snorkel tour.

Fajardo’s seven marinas are proof that it is a sailor’s paradise. The most renowned is the Puerto del Rey Marina (Rte. 3, Km 51.4; tel. 787/860-1000 or 801-3010). The swankiest marina in Fajardo, it’s a beautiful 1,100-slip facility south of town, the largest in the Caribbean. It’s like a city unto itself with restaurants, bars, and a host of other services. Villa Marina Yacht Harbour (Rte. 987, Km 1.3; tel. 787/863-5131 or 863-5011) is the other main marina in town, and is the shortest ride to the offshore cays and isolated white-sand beaches on the mainland. Charters operate out of both. There’s a private 35-slip marina at the lowest level of the El Conquistador (tel. 787/863-1000).

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

Best Beaches in Puerto Rico – 🛳 – Travel To You

Frommer’s Staff

Beautiful beaches are what put Puerto Rico on the tourism map in the first place. The island’s coastline is a pair of sun-soaked spots perfect for swimming, surfing, snorkeling, socializing or enjoying your privacy. And then there are the offshore islands of Vieques and Culebra, two of the most beautiful red lands in all of the Caribbean.

Choosing the best beach for you depends on which of the above attractions and activities you enjoy the most. That’s why we’ve organized this rundown of the island’s best sandmarks according to the main feature of each destination. Whatever you are looking for on the beach, you will find it in Puerto Rico. Wepa!

Best place to swim: Carolina Public Beach

This is a long expanse of sand in a resort-filled Isla Verde The area east of San Juan borders on calm waters protected by a sea reef from the rough Atlantic currents. The Carolina Hotel has public amenities including outdoor showers and lockers; due west lies slightly more secluded Pine Grove Beach , a crescent-shaped beauty curve between the Ritz-Carlton and Courtyard by Marriott. Numerous bars and restaurants are within walking distance.

• Outside San Juan : At Gunica Playa Santa and Cana Gorda in southwestern Puerto Rico, the water is warm and calm all year round.

Best for Families: Luquillo Beach

Located 30 miles east of San Juan, Luquillo attracts local families as well as visitors who know they’ll find better sandy, clear waters than in the city. On the vast beach, there is a crescent-shaped cove, bordered by a coconut grove. Coral reefs protect the crystal clear lagoon from choppy surf, making it a safe place for young children to wade into the ocean. You can also try your hand at kayaking, fishing, snorkeling or sailing. There are tent sites, picnic areas, changing rooms, lockers and other convenient facilities for day trips.

• Picture Perfect : Luquillo is one of the most photographed beaches in Puerto Rico, thanks to its prototypical Caribbean white sand and palm trees.

Best for socialising: Ocean Park

Ocean Park, between the Condado and Isla Verde areas along the coast of San Juan, is a favorite place for young sanjuaneros to gather, especially on weekends. Less family-oriented than many hotel beaches, the upscale area has something of a mayi vibe, with plenty of bikinis and young pros unleashing their waterfront bars and restaurants, though things remain decidedly more low-key than South Beach ( the area is still habitable and more of a B&B than high elevations). The sand is lined with palm trees and sea vines – the perfect backdrop for swimming, kite surfing and mingling with the trendy locals.

• LGBT friendly : Most of the gay bars in San Juan are further west, in the city’s Santurce Arts District. But Ocean Park is just as popular with LGBT beachgoers as it is with straight lines – and overall, Puerto Rico is probably the funniest place in the Caribbean.

Best Surf: Rincón

Puerto Rico’s northwest coast is generally considered one of the best surf spots on the globe, especially in winter when waves can reach 20 feet. Rincon is the capital of the island’s surfing scene, with famous beaches including Puntas , Domes , Tres Palmas , and measures , Primetime for hang-ten is from November to April, although summer storms are also known to pick up the surf. When the waves calm down, the northwestern beaches offer excellent snorkeling opportunities, thanks to the nearby coral reefs populated with marine life.

• Outside Rincon : Neighboring cities Isabela and Aguadilla also have plenty of good surf.

Photo: Rincon surfer

Best spot for scenery: Boqueron Beach

Located in Puerto Rico’s southwest corner, Boqueron is like a tropical view of Cape Cod. The beach town stands along a 3-mile bay lined with palm-lined white sand on both sides. The open-air Ramshackle are building a waterfront line where you can get drinks and seafood like fresh oysters that are removed on site and drenched in hot sauce. In addition to providing tons of Instagram feeds, the beach has calm waters where you can swim, snorkel, swim, and fish.

• Birdwatch in nearby Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge , home to many native bird species including the endangered yellow shoulder blackbird.

Best for Windsports: Condado Lagoon

Persistent trade winds hit Puerto Rico from east to west at around 22 miles per hour, making the island a popular destination for windsurfers and kitesurfers. These sports are especially popular in San Juan – you’ll see thrill-seekers of all skill levels using the elements of wind and water with boards and sails along the beaches at Pine Grove, Ocean Park and Punta Las Marias between Ocean Park and Isla Verde. A slightly less touristy alternative is Laguna Condado , just outside the city’s hotel line. This is a good place to try kayaking.

• In the northwest : Area from Rincón – Isabela is another center for windsurfing, thanks to strong winds throughout the year.

Photo: Kitesurfing in the Santun area of ​​San Juan

It’s best to be alone: ​​El Convento Beach

One of Puerto Rico’s ridiculous pleasures takes place on a secluded cove or pristine stretch of white sand away from the crowds and bustle. At Fajardo (about an hour east of San Juan), a two-mile hike from Seven Seas public beach takes you to beautiful El Convento Beach, stretching for miles along an undeveloped coastline. You will probably have water for sand and aquamarine for you – apart from sea turtles and other marine life that are often on site.

• Other secret beaches can be found in the southwest, between Cabo Rojo and Ponce. In Guanica , for example, Las Paldas and La Jungla the beaches are often empty, except on public holidays.

Best Scuba Diving: West Coast

For a decent scuba excursion, you need coral reefs teeming with interesting marine life, ideally located close to the shore. Southwestern Puerto Rico, from Gunica via Boqueron , fits the bill and the area is less crowded than the northeastern part of the island where San Juan is. Northwest, from Rincon – Isabela , it is also worth tying glasses, but only in summer, after big winter waves, silence.

• Best snorkeling in the east : Fajardo El Convento beach and offshore islands Vieques and Culebra (pictured above)

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Known as the Spanish Virgin Islands, beautiful, off-road Vieques and Culebra represent for many visitors the quintessential Caribbean beach bliss. While they’re not quite the undiscovered gems they once were, these two tiny islands off the mainland’s east coast still offer open postcard beaches, stylish hotels and charming chain-free towns. Vieques is the more developed of the two, with upscale resorts and gourmet restaurants; Culebra is even more relaxed. From the most popular beach, Flamenco (pictured above), a 20-minute hike will take you to Playa Tamarindo and Playa Carlos Rosario , which are surrounded by a barrier reef.