As a general rule, the beaches get better as you go farther east. Few beaches in the San Juan area have amenities or public bathrooms. Do not swim near Old San Juan—although small sandy beaches do appear during low tide, the bay is quite polluted.
Encompassing Parque Escobar, Estadio Sixto Escobar, and Balneario Escambrón, the extensive Parque del Tercer Milenio boasts the closest beach to Old San Juan—several swimming areas with calm, shallow water inside a manmade reef. Some easy snorkeling can be done in the reef that surrounds the swimming area, especially in the morning before the crowds arrive. The eastern beaches tend to be nicer than the western beaches, which progressively have less and less sand area. Parque del Tercer Milenio has many amenities, including restrooms, snack bars, trash cans, and signs identifying the current water quality. The park also includes several picnic tables, an area for barbecuing, a well-lit walkway, a bit of grass, a playground, and a large parking lot. (At the western end of Puerta de Tierra, near Av. Muñoz Rivera. Parking $3. Pier 9 wheelchair-accessible.)
Almost every street running north—south in Condado ends at the beach, which is fairly empty on weekdays and crowded on weekends. While this is far from being the nicest strip of beach on the island, it is clean and the location is unbeatable. The official public beach, Balneario Playa de Condado, is relatively small and is located at the far western edge of Condado near the bridge to Puerta de la Tierra. A line of rocks protects the bay here, creating a lagoon of shallow, wave-free water, a contrast to the crashing waves outside the swimming area. The beach also has lifeguards (daily 8:30am-5pm) and outdoor showers. Be forewarned—there are few public bathrooms in the area, and many restaurants along Av. Ashford let only customers use their facilities.
Condado may have the reputation, but the clean, calm Ocean Park beach strip can deliver. The shores of this posh suburb boast nicer sand, less trash, and better waves for swimming. However, Ocean Park’s beaches have few amenities and may often be filled with teenagers playing loud reggaeton.
Isla Verde has the best beaches in San Juan. Narrow, barely marked paths between condominiums along Av. Isla Verde lead to the beach. The eastern side of Isla Verde has long, beautiful beaches that are most easily reached by turning toward the water at the Isla Verde Mall, then taking C. Dalia to C. Amapola to the end. Near the San Juan Hotel on the beach, Edwin’s Easy Chairs rents for $3 a day. The far eastern end of the beach, in front of the airport and the Ritz Carlton, is farther away from the amenities and shops but consequently has fewer people, smoother sand, and a more picturesque landscape.
The best public beach in the San Juan metropolitan area lies beyond Isla Verde in the city of Carolina. On weekends, this enormous balneario is packed with Puerto Ricans enjoying the long stretch of white sand and crashing waves. Come on a weekday, and the beach is one of the least crowded in the area. Facilities include covered benches, a playground, bathrooms, fire pits, vendors, trash cans, and lifeguards. (☎791-2410. Rte. 187, past the Ritz Carlton about 1 mi. past Isla Verde. Cars $3, vans $4. Open May-Aug. 15 daily 8am-6pm; Aug. 15-Apr. Tu-Su 8am-5pm.)
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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