What is the best beach in san juan puerto rico: 12 Best Beaches in Puerto Rico

10 Beautiful Beaches In San Juan, Puerto Rico To Enjoy The Sun, Sea, And Sand

By Mia Sims

Indulge in island paradise with these 10 beautiful beaches in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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Condado Beach in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island that is known for its white-sand beaches and turquoise waters. While the entire island is beautiful, the San Juan area has some of the most stunning beaches in the world and offers a retreat of absolute paradise for all who entire the cozy and welcoming shores. From surfing hot spots to a place to just enjoy the view, unwind on the beautiful island to experience life in luxury.

From Condado to Isla Verde, there are plenty of amazing beaches to choose from. Whether visitors are looking for a place to relax and soak up the sun or want to go swimming or surfing, these beaches have something tailored for every personality and lifestyle. Discover the top 10 most beautiful beaches in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

10/10 Balneario de Carolina

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A post shared by The Royal Sonesta San Juan (@royalsonestasanjuanpr)

One of the most popular beaches in the region, Balneario de Carolina, is widely known for nearby historical attractions like the San Juan Gate and for its beautiful beaches. This is one of the best destinations to soak up some sun or take a dip in the warm Caribbean waters. From swimming, surfing, and snorkeling to volleyball courts, picnic areas, and shade-covered facilities, Balneario de Carolina is the perfect place to spend an enjoyable day. Its spectacular view of the crystal clear waters surrounding the beach makes it a sought-after destination for visitors and locals alike.

  • Accommodation:
    The Royal Sonesta San Juan

  • Address:
    5961 Isla Verde Avenue, Isla Verde, Carolina 00979, Puerto Rico

  • Amenities:
    Valet parking, Free WiFi, Pool, Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room, Bar/Lounge, Beach, Patio, Children’s playground

9/10 Escambrón Beach

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A post shared by Discover Puerto Rico (@discoverpuertorico)

Escambrón Beach is a spectacular place to relax and soak up the sun. It offers calm waters, making it perfect for swimming. Adventurers who love to snorkel will love this beach, as it is a great spot for exploring the colorful marine life and coral reefs. There is also a playground area and picnic tables to enjoy with family and friends. It’s a great spot to just hang out and take in the fresh ocean breeze while enjoying a refreshing drink or snack. Visitors can also rent kayaks and paddleboards to explore the nearby bay, making it an enjoyable experience for all.

  • Accommodation:
    Caribe Hilton

  • Address:
    1 San Geronimo Street, San Juan 00901, Puerto Rico

  • Amenities:
    Valet parking, Wifi, Hot bath, Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room, Bar/Lounge, Beach, Tennis court, Babysitting

Related: 10 Best Luxury Beach Resorts Worth Booking In San Juan, Puerto Rico

8/10 Condado Beach

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This is one of the most popular beaches in San Juan and for good reason. Its white-sand shores stretch out into the Caribbean Sea and offer stunning views of the Puerto Rican skyline. Visitors can enjoy activities such as swimming, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, and paddle boarding. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars scattered throughout the beach, providing visitors with plenty of options for food and drinks.

  • Accommodation:
    O:live Boutique Hotel

  • Address:
    55 Cll Aguadilla, San Juan, 00907, Puerto Rico

  • Amenities:
    Paid private parking on-site, Free WiFi, Pool, Bar/Lounge, Taxi service, Adults only, Rooftop terrace, 24-hour front desk

7/10 Isla Verde Beach

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A post shared by Courtyard Isla Verde (@sjcourtyard)

This beach is known for its fine white sand and crystal clear waters. It’s a popular spot for both locals and visitors alike, as it offers a wide range of activities for all to enjoy. From swimming, snorkeling, and jet-skiing to volleyball courts and beach clubs, Isla Verde is the perfect place for a fun day out in the sun.

  • Accommodation:
    Fairmont El San Juan Hotel

  • Address:
    6063 Isla Verde Avenue, Isla Verde, Carolina 00979-5706 Puerto Rico

  • Amenities:
    Valet parking, Free WiFi, Pool, Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room, Bar/Lounge, Beach, Casino and Gambling, Children’s television networks

6/10 Playa de Ponce

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A post shared by SanJuan National Historic Site (@sanjuannps)

As one of the most popular beaches in San Juan, Playa de Ponce has something for everyone. Plus, there are a variety of activities surrounding the area, perfect for all who visit. Explore a real castle at the Castillo San Cristóbal, hike up to El Yunque Mountain, or take a boat ride out to Culebra Island. After a day of adventure, the beach provides the perfect spot for relaxation.

  • Accommodation:
    Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort

  • Address:
    1150 Caribe Avenue, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico

  • Amenities:
    Parking, Free WiFi, Pool, Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room, Bar/Lounge, Beach, Casino and Gambling, Children’s playground

5/10 Playuela Beach

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This beach is located in Cabo Rojo and offers some of the most beautiful views in Puerto Rico. Its soft white sand makes it a great spot to relax, while its clear turquoise waters are perfect for water activities of any kind. This beach offers plenty of activities, as well as restaurants and bars nearby, making it an enjoyable experience for all. Visitors can view the most attractive lighthouse on the island, which is perfect for photo ops to share with family and friends.

  • Accommodation:
    Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino

  • Address:
    200 Convention Boulevard, San Juan 00907-4905 Puerto Rico

  • Amenities:
    Valet parking, Free WiFi, Pool, Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room. Bar/Lounge, Casino and Gambling, Evening entertainment, Children’s television networks

Related: Discover Puerto Rico’s Old San Juan – The Oldest In The USA

4/10 Playa Mar Chiquita

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Playa Mar Chiquita is known for its tranquil waters and brilliant white sand. Swimming and snorkeling are also popular here, but tourists can also explore the nearby coral reefs and the beautiful caves that line the coast. Visitors can also get a great view from the top of the cliffs, which overlook this stunning beach. Explore the nearby wetlands or iconic local restaurants like the El Mirador de Catano for a unique experience.

  • Accommodation:
    Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Puerto Rico Golf & Beach Resort

  • Address:
    6000 Rio Mar Blvd, Rio Grande 00745, Puerto Rico

  • Amenities:
    Valet parking, Free WiFi, Pool, Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room. Bar/Lounge, Beach, Casino and Gambling, Babysitting

3/10 Playa Buyé

Playa Buye is an ideal spot to relax, as the tranquil waters and soft white sand provide a peaceful atmosphere. Located in Cabo Rojo, Playa Buyé also offers visitors the chance to explore nearby estuaries and mangrove forests, making it a great spot for nature lovers.

  • Accommodation:
    San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino

  • Address:
    1309 Ashford Avenue, San Juan 00907-1324 Puerto Rico

  • Amenities:
    Valet parking, Free WiFi, Pool, Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room. Bar/Lounge, Beach, Bicycle rental, Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)

2/10 Playa Sucia

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This beach is known for its breathtaking views and spectacular sunsets. It’s a great spot to relax, as the soft white sand and crystal clear waters provide an idyllic setting for a day out in the sun. Visitors can also explore nearby caves, coves, and nearby islands. Playa Sucia is also the perfect place for snorkeling, as it offers plenty of aquatic life to discover.

  • Accommodation:
    Condado Vanderbilt Hotel

  • Address:
    1055 Ashford Avenue Condado, San Juan 00907, Puerto Rico

  • Amenities:
    Valet parking, Free WiFi, Pool, Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room. Bar/Lounge, Beach, and Bicycles available. Babysitting

1/10 Crash Boat Beach

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A post shared by Hotel El Colonial (@elcolonialpr)

This beach is located in Aguadilla and offers a spectacular view of the Caribbean Sea. Its strong waves make it a great spot for experienced boarders, while its calm waters also provide an ideal spot for swimming and snorkeling. Take in the stunning views of nearby islands and observe some of Puerto Rico’s most beautiful marine wildlife while exploring this beach.

  • Accommodation:
    El Colonial

  • Address:
    312 Calle de San Francisco, San Juan 00901-1720 Puerto Rico

  • Amenities:
    Paid public parking nearby, Free WiFi, Pool/Beach towels, Bar/Lounge, Pets Allowed, Adults only, Rooftop terrace, 24-hour check-in

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I’m an experienced media professional with over five years working as a news reporter, editor, marketing writer, and marketing coordinator. I love to travel, read, write and spend time with my family.

10 Best Beaches in Puerto Rico

No matter what brings brings you to Puerto Rico, we know our warm, picture-perfect beaches are part of your itinerary. With over 270 miles of coastline, our island is packed with beautiful beaches. While we have several great ones in San Juan, other gems around the island are worth the trip.  Of course, no Spoon post would be complete without food! We went ahead and included some culinary recommendations so you can indulge before or after your beach getaway.

Ocean Park (San Juan)
Located between Condado and Isla Verde, you’ll find our favorite pick in San Juan – Ocean Park beach. With a vast stretch of sand, there’s plenty of room to sun bath. Its popular with locals and known for water sports like kite surfing.
Spoon favorite: Kasalta

Ocean Park Beach | cc: Visit USA

Playa Pelícano (Ponce)
Pelícano has some of the most crystalline waters you’ll ever see! It’s also the first beach in Puerto Rico, and in the entire Caribbean, to attain Blue Flag Beach status.
Spoon favorite: Café Lucero

Playa Pelícano | cc: @airlenspr

Poza del Obispo (Arecibo)
Located right behind the Arecibo Lighthouse, you’ll find this unique beach. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show of the crashing waves against the rock formations.
Spoon favorite: Arado

Poza del Obispo | cc: @eguie_colon

Mar Chiquita (Manatí)
Mar Chiquita is best known for its stunning natural pool. Along the cliffs, an opening allows the waters of the ocean to rush in creating a calm area to bathe.
Spoon favorite: Costa Azul

Mar Chiquita | cc: @sousa_pr

Pozo de Teodoro (Isabela)
There are many beaches in Isabela, but this one is the prettiest! The shallow natural pool makes it an excellent choice for families with children.
Spoon favorite: La Vista Smokehouse

Poza de Teodoro | cc: Islands of Puerto Rico

Crash Boat (Aguadilla)
This beach has something for everyone! Located in what used to be a military port, it’s a great spot for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing. Stay late to catch a beautiful sunset!
Spoon favorite: Levain Artisan Breads

Crash Boat | cc: @babiloniapr

Buyé (Cabo Rojo)
Buyé is one of many hidden gems – meaning that it’s going to be a bit tricky to get there. It’s worth it though; it has all the shades of blue, the calmest water and laid-back beach culture.
Spoon favorite: Downtown Boquerón by Chef Jose Carles

Buyé | cc @sousa_pr

Domes Beach (Rincón)
Domes is a legendary surfing beach celebrated among boarders around the world for its waves. It’s a great place to lay back, relax, and catch some surfers in action.
Spoon favorite: Jack’s Shack

Domes Beach | cc: @airlenspr

Playa Negra (Vieques)
Can you already tell why this beach made it on the list? This black sand beach in Vieques is an experience in itself with the most tranquil waters. You’ll have to do some walking to get there, but it’s worth the trek!
Spoon favorite: Tin Box

Playa Negra | cc: @haroldcamilo

Flamenco (Culebra)
Flamenco is has been rated as one of most the most beautiful beaches in the world and our favorite! White sand, crystal clear waters, and a gentle tide make it the perfect place to unwind completely. It’s also an excellent camping site.
Spoon favorite: Dinghy Dock

Flamenco | cc: @sirkaick

By: Dorimar Rodriguez

capital, San Juan, on the map, photo, weather, flag

On the island of Puerto Rico, as well as on other Caribbean islands, you can find many beaches. Among them, it is worth noting good beaches following the Cabo Rojo National Park: El Combate, Boqueron Bay, Buye – this is the western part of the island, the most ideal for swimming and watching sunsets. there are also good beaches on the neighboring small islands. The island, compared to many other Caribbean islands, is really big – 100 by 50 kilometers. Only Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica are bigger than him. Therefore, we immediately abandoned the idea of ​​going around its beaches and did not even go to neighboring small beach islands with interesting fauna. We simply limited ourselves to a walk around its capital, San Juan, especially since the weather in the morning was again not beachy. nine0004

    1. The political structure of Puerto Rico.
    2. Attractions and beaches of Puerto Rico.
    3. Cruise stop time.
    4. San Juan.
      1. Statue of Columbus.
      2. Fortress Castillo San Cristobal.
      3. Fort San Felipe del Morro.
    5. Treasure Island show on the cruise.
    6. Walking in San Juan.
      1. Travel time.
      2. Distance travelled.
    7. San Juan: weather, time now. Rate. nine0009

Political structure of Puerto Rico ⇧

We don’t usually write about the political structure of the places we visit, but this is a unique case.

The island of Puerto Rico, in terms of political structure, is a unique state. The supreme power belongs to the US Congress, while no congressmen are elected from the island. That is, Puerto Rico depends on the US Congress, but the US Congress does not depend on Puerto Rico! With such a political system, the supreme power is in no hurry to take on the huge debts of the island. Moreover, after Hurricane Maria in 2017, the island was, in fact, completely destroyed and left to its own devices. For more than a year they have not been able to restore electricity in most of the island, and access to drinking water is difficult. nine0005

The island, whose economy was based on the tourist flow, primarily from the USA, in addition to debts and devastation, lost its main source of income.

Puerto Rico Attractions and Beaches ⇧

  • Beaches:
    • El Combat. The nearest free beach to the port. But a taxi will cost $20 one way.
    • Boqueron Bay.
    • Buye.
    • Flamenco Beach Culebra. It is located on the neighboring island of Culebra and ranks 8th in the world according to one of the ratings. The ferry to the island runs 3 times a day from Fajardo, which is 1 hour by taxi from San Juan. Taxi fare is $60-80. nine0009
  • Rain Forest El Yunque.
  • Fajardo’s World Famous Bioluminescent Lagoon Luminous Plankton. two groups at 18:00 and 20:15
  • Tourists like to hang out in port bars, there are even very famous ones.

We didn’t go to the rainforest and see the glowing algae because of Alyoshka, because the algae look at the kayaks, which sometimes turn over. And I read about the forest that you have to decently walk uphill there, which, so to speak, we don’t want to do with an 11-kilogram baby, especially since we saw rainforests in New Zealand and Madagascar. nine0005

Cruise stop time ⇧

We had the liner stop in the port of Puerto Rico from 8:00 to 1:30am (i.e. nights). At first, we thought until 13:30 the next day and planned to take another walk around the city on the morning of November 9th. What was our surprise when at 2 am we woke up and felt that we were swimming, Lesha even ran to the deck to check if it was true. 🙂 It’s good that we have children with us and we didn’t go to any of the many bars in the port until the morning. 🙂

San Juan, Puerto Rico

So, on the morning of November 8, having moored in the port of Puerto Rico, we again saw the clouds and, as we wrote above, we did not risk the beach.

Vlada said that she would not swim in such weather and went to the children’s club today. We decided to go online and take a walk around the historical part of the city of San Juan.

San Juan ⇧

The parking of our cruiser was right in the center of the city, 5 minutes walk from the Old Fort and from the square with the statue of Columbus (which, by the way, has good free wi-fi, I even managed to talk to my mom on WhatsApp). nine0005

Statue of Columbus ⇧

We really enjoyed walking around the city! For those who do not like to walk long distances, there are a lot of city tours, ranging from almost individual ones on a 3-seater electric car, to open steam locomotives.

Fortress Castillo San Cristobal ⇧

  • San Juan. Puerto Rico.

  • San Juan. Puerto Rico.

  • San Juan. Puerto Rico.

  • nine0002 San Juan. Puerto Rico.

Fort San Felipe del Morro ⇧

  • We are walking uphill. San Juan.

  • We are walking uphill. San Juan.

  • San Juan. Puerto Rico.

  • San Juan. Puerto Rico.

  • San Juan. Puerto Rico.

  • San Juan. Puerto Rico.

  • San Juan. Puerto Rico.

  • San Juan. Puerto Rico. nine0005

  • San Juan. Puerto Rico.

  • San Juan. Puerto Rico.

Traditionally, we got into a decent downpour:

Treasure Island show on the cruise ⇧

In the evening Vlada and Lesha went to the chic Treasure Island show on the ship, Vlada sat in the front row and tucked her legs in fear, especially when the artists jumped out into the auditorium.

And Alyoshka and I walked around the liner, listened to the artists on the open deck 14, ate and played. nine0005

  • MSC Divina.

  • MSC Divina.

Walking in San Juan ⇧

Travel time ⇧

The total travel time was 2 hours.

Distance traveled ⇧

4 kilometers.
150 kilometers.

San Juan: weather, time now. Exchange rate ⇧

1 USD =62.23 RUB 1 EUR =79.11 RUB Local time and date: 16:55:34 03.01.2023


© 2015 — 2019, Julia. All rights reserved.

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  • Beaches & Water Sports In San Juan, Puerto Rico

    What to do when you are on a Caribbean island and are practically surrounded by beaches? If you’re a perfectly rational person, then the ideal answer would be to kick off those shoes and go crazy in the water. nine0005

    San Juan, Puerto Rico has so much room for beach adventures. First, the tropical climate is on your side. The average annual temperature is 82 F (28 C) and almost never drops below 64 F or above 97 F. With great weather, it’s almost impossible not to enjoy San Juan’s clear waters and white sand.

    Isla Verde is the best beach in San Juan. Isla Verde Beach, which stretches for miles along the city’s coastline, is opposite numerous luxury hotels, condominiums, restaurants, clubs, guest houses, upscale apartments, parks and even a cemetery. nine0005

    While you can still read or take a nap here, this beach is not ideal if you are looking for a quiet and deserted place to relax. On weekdays there are few people, but on weekends people come in droves, and Isla Verde becomes the center of water activities. The surf is good enough for body surfing, or you can head further out to sea with parasailing, jet skiing, and jet skiing. Equipment rentals are available from the nearby sports shops, while Isla Verde’s beachfront hotels and resorts offer a variety of water sports facilities. nine0005

    Fishing is another popular water sport in San Juan. Most anglers here practice a catch-and-release system, so the most you can get for a souvenir catch is a picture of a fish. A common style here is deep sea fishing. The most abundant species in these parts of the Caribbean are the allison tuna, sailfish, wahoo and mackerel. Thanks to the island’s tropical climate, fishing is good all year round, and you’re more likely to catch tuna, dolphins, wahoo, sailfish and more between October and early March. nine0005

    There are many offshore charters in San Juan that offer half or full day fishing. The boats are often 32 to 50 feet long and can accommodate about six passengers along with two to four fishing crews. Deep water is close to shore, so you can usually start fishing within half an hour of leaving port. A half-day package can cost $480-500, a six-hour trip from $650-700, and a full day of fishing starts from $850 up to 1000 dollars. These fees already include fishing equipment, drinks and the services of a captain and mate. nine0005

    For those who prefer to stay away from deep waters but still want a great fishing experience, light tackle fishing in coves and lagoons is a good alternative.

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