I spent two months in San Juan in the summer of 2022. The good part about having friends that have apartments right next to the beach is that you can go down to the beach nearly every morning. And hence it became my habit to go down to Escambron Beach and snorkel every day.
Escambron Beach in my honest opinion is the best beach in all of San Juan and the neighboring towns. The beach is kept very clean, there are vendors selling ice cream around, and the best snorkeling for 50 miles around is right there. The rocks around Escambron Beach form a huge natural pool which protects the fish and the swimmers from any strong swells or ocean currents. The water is always clear and calm and just the perfect temperature.
The beach is part of the Blue Flag Program. The initiative means that the beach is classified as a public beach and has all the amenities of such. There is a lifeguard on duty and the water quality is monitored.
Escambron Beach vs Marine Reserve
Escambron Beach or Balneario del Escambron is the area on the northside protected by the natural coral reef. It is also called La Ocho or Playa 8. This is the area with the natural pool and open to the ocean. The west side of the beach has grass and you can usually find families BBQing or gymnasts walking on tightropes tied to trees here. The west end platform is where you can spot surfers out in the ocean past the reef trying to catch waves. On the east side of the beach is the sandy area with the lifeguard and lots of palm trees where you can spread a towel out and tan in peace.
The Marine Reserve Beach is on the south side and faces towards Condado. This is Playa 9 or the ninth beach. This beach is much smaller than Escambron Beach. The sandy area is very small here and completely fills up at high tide. I usually went here when I wanted to snorkel in different water for a change but I would prefer to relax on Escambron Beach proper.
Parking and Entrance Fee
There is no entrance fee for the beach. If you park your car in the beach parking lot then there is a $6 parking fee.
Location
Escambron Beach is located in the neighborhood of Puerta de Tierra. This is a local neighborhood, not visited by any tourists since there are no tourist attractions in this area. This makes it a very calm beach where the tourists usually never appear. Puerta de Tierra is located between Old San Juan and Condado. From Escambron Beach you can see both the El Morro Fort in Old San Juan and the Caribe Hilton in Condado. A lot of tourists regard Puerta de Tierra as a dangerous area but honestly it’s a load of crap. I felt completely safe walking here at night and stayed for a good 2 months so I had enough idea to know whether it was unsafe or not.
Amenities
Food
There are lots of vendors here, especially during the weekends selling cakes, ice pops, chips and drinks during the day. There is a very very good taco food truck – Marlin Tubeau on Wheels, which is a 5 minute walk away and serves the best fish tacos, raspberry desserts and Puerto Rican chips. Another very very famous restaurant is El Hamburger, just a 2 minute walk away. All the locals are obsessed with its greasy bar food and you should be too!
Showers & Restrooms
The showers for Escambron Beach are located at the west and east ends of the sandy part of the beach. The walls have a bright blue mural on them so you cannot miss it.
Handicap Access
Escambron Beach can be accessed via a ramp.
Lifeguard
There is a lifeguard on duty here from early morning to around 6pm in the evening. They are very good about making sure that people don’t venture too far out in tumultuous conditions. I saw them everyday but I have also read that there are days where there are no lifeguards on duty.
Best Puerto Rico Tours
Adventure Tours
Puerto Rico has some really cool adventure tours that take you around the island. If you are into hiking then visit the El Yunque Rainforest with insane waterfalls and hikes. Another really fun day trip is a Catamaran Cruise to Culebra island where you get to party and relax on the sea. And finally, come swim with turtles in San Juan Bay.
Escambron Beach Activities
Snorkeling and Diving
Escambron Beach is a huge natural rock pool that protects the beach from the swell and tide. Inside the pool, especially on the east and west corners there is an abundance of sea life that lives in these rocks. I counted at least 20 different types of fish, plus crabs and a small eel that I saw in the waters. This was my favorite part of going to this beach.
The marine reserve is also where all of the snorkeling tours in San Juan take place. The end of the pool are shallow and easy for snorkeling which in the middle there are artificial concrete boulders that have created a thriving habitat for sea life. There is a deep drop off area after the boulders where all the scuba divers go. It is said (though I have yet to confirm cause I’ve never seen one) that there are turtles that can be seen in the depths here during the early morning hours.
Escambron Battery
Bateria El Escambron is the remains of the fortification that was built to protect the city from invaders. This is the highest part of the beach and makes for a really pretty viewpoint over the ocean. There is a short walking path from Escambron Beach to the battery that is a cool little bit of adventure. You can take a full round around the battery. There is a natural rock pool formed here at low tide and it’s a very nice place to picnic. The sun might be too overwhelming during the day since there is no shade in this part of the beach so take a walk during the early morning or evening hours.
San Geronimo Fort
Fortin de San Geronimo de Boqueron is a small fort located at the mouth of the Condado Lagoon. The fort is an important part of the history of the city. It is a really fun small fort to explore. There are daily guided tours as well which provide all the history about the fort.
Surfing
The surf at La Ocho is only recommended for intermediate and advanced surfers because of the long paddle out and reef bottom. That said, when the swell is right and the waves are pumping La Ocho has sick little right hand barrels. This does leave you paddling against the current back to the lineup which is very hard to do and I’ve seen guys who have been surfing a long time struggle with this.
Paseo de Tierra
This very famous walkway is a favorite amongst runners in the evening. The walkway is along the ocean from Condado to the end of Old San Juan and back around it. It goes along the cliff for a while before descending down to a path right by the beach and circles back around outside the walls of the fort. It’s one of the most fun things to do from Escambron Beach on overcast and cloudy days.
Adrenaline Tours in Puerto Rico
The craziest and most adrenaline filled tours to get your heart pumping. These tours combine the best of the natural wonders the island has to offer with great activities.
Restaurants Near Escambron Beach
El Hamburger
One of the most loved local spots in the late hours of the night. They serve greasy bar food which is exactly what you need after a night of partying in Old San Juan.
Marlin Tubeau on Wheels
My favorite ever fish tacos. The only fish based dish I’ve ever liked have been the tacos from this truck. To top it off they have empanadas filled with cheese and raspberry and some of the best plantain chips ever.
Ladi’s
This is a high end restaurants on a cliff which overlooks the sea. A really good idea to have lunch here on a clear day cause you can see for miles over the ocean and the gentle breeze is really nice.
Places Near Escambron Beach
Luis Muñoz Rivera Park
The park was one of my favorite places for skating. It has long lines and ledges that make it great for cruising and skate tricks. I occasionally spotted other skaters here as well filming and chilling out. The park is really pretty and there are almost never any visitors. It’s usually deserted except for some families doing photoshoots. It is one of the best kept secrets of San Juan.
Old San Juan
Viejo San Juan is very close to the beach. I often spent the day at the beach and then skated or walked over to Old San Juan at night for dinner. There is a walking path that connects the beach to Old San Juan which is very popular with evening joggers and cyclists. The sunsets views are gorgeous if take a walk during sunset.
Caribe Hilton at Escambron Beach
Once when I got mad hungry and needed something for food I ventured into the shopping mall below Caribe Hilton in search of food and caught a glimpse of how rich white people travel. Paseo Caribe is an ok destination for shopping and there are a couple good food places where you can get a bite to eat. Caribe Hilton at Escambron Beach has a private beach, a great pool and the best access to the city life of Condado.
Conclusion
I love Escambron Beach and the local vibes it has. No pretentious tourists nearby either. The first are plentiful to snorkel with and I love the calm trees and lots of sandy space to play frisbee here. This is undeniably the best beach in San Juan.
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