The 9 Best Puerto Rico Beaches for Cruisers
There are beaches at nearly every turn on the small Caribbean island and U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. Even when you're driving through the island's mountainous interior, you'll rarely find yourself more than an hour from at least one of the best beaches in Puerto Rico.
Near the cruise port in San Juan, where passengers might initially feel like they've stepped into a metropolitan city, there are actually pristine, calm and even secluded beaches just minutes away -- and are some of the top Puerto Rican beaches.
Puerto Rico offers an equal number of wonderful and varied beaches for as many types of cruise passengers as there are. Keep reading to find out more about the nine best beaches in Puerto Rico for cruisers.
1. Playa Peña: San Juan Beach with Easy Access to the Cruise Port
Playa Peña is the easiest beach to get to from the cruise port in Old San Juan, but it's still one of the most secluded in the city.
Several years ago, the city -- along with help from a group of volunteers -- cleaned up the area of Playa Peña and made it accessible to the public, uncovering a beautiful treasure of a beach, surrounded by rocky shoreline.
While the beach itself is very rocky, there’s ample sand to enjoy beach activities like building castles, playing frisbee, or simply relaxing. Playa Peña is one of the best beaches in San Juan for cruisers who have a half day or less, aren’t interested in swimming and snorkeling and want to catch some beach time before heading back to the cruise ship.
City officials recommend enjoying the water with care. The beach itself is safe, but there is a strong current, riptide and undertow that can be very dangerous. Enter the ocean with caution, and don’t go out too far. When visiting Playa Peña on your beach day, stick to the shore for a safe experience.
Playa Peña is not recommended for children or those looking for a place to snorkel or spend the day swimming.
2. Balneario El Escambrón: One of the Best Beaches in San Juan Overall
For cruisers who want to spend a day on one of Puerto Rico's most highly rated and popular beaches without leaving San Juan, Balneario El Escambrón is the place to be.
The beach is situated in a cove between Old San Juan and the more modern Condado section of the city. The beach has been designated a Blue Flag Beach many times, which means that it offers convenient facilities for visitors, including restrooms and lifeguards, but still meets a stringent set of eco-friendly standards.
Balneario El Escambrón is a family-friendly beach that provides all the amenities you’ll need to keep everyone happy on vacation. Rent beach chairs and umbrellas, and stop at conveniently located food vendors to keep everyone energized.
The waters of El Escambrón are protected by a natural coral reef, which means it's also a popular spot for snorkeling and diving. If you're visiting during the weekend, you'll likely get to mingle with lots of locals who love to enjoy their time off at El Escambrón. Be sure to try some traditional snacks for sale at the concession stand.
Balneario El Escambrón is one of the top San Juan beaches for families and those who enjoy convenient facilities and amenities. It’s the perfect beach to discover if you have at least a half day and is less than a 10-minute drive from the San Juan cruise port.
3. Playa Ocean Park: Laid Back San Juan Beach Ideal for Kitesurfers
Playa Ocean Park is located in San Juan's vibrant, artsy Santurce neighborhood. It's been popular among locals for a long time, but in recent years as Santurce has developed and grown, it's also become popular with tourists and kitesurfers.
The vibe is laid-back, but it can get very busy. The sand is powdery soft, the water a vivid blue and the waves ideal for various water sports (it's on the Atlantic side of San Juan). Several equipment rental shops and restaurants are just steps from the beach as well.
Ocean Park is one of the best beaches in San Juan to visit if you have half a day or more. It’s easy to reach from the cruise terminal as it’s only a 10- to 12-minute taxi ride.
4. Playa Seven Seas: A Reliable and Enjoyable Beach in Puerto Rico
Hit up Playa Seven Seas if you have a full day for sunshine, fun and water activities. It’s one of the top Puerto Rican beaches where you can enjoy fun in the sand.
Playa Seven Seas is located in Fajardo, a little more than an hour from the cruise port, a popular but uncrowded beach featuring soft, white sand and gorgeous, gentle aquamarine-hued waters.
It has also been given the Blue Flag designation, and it's a lovely spot for snorkeling, swimming and low-key watersports, such as paddling, bodyboarding and kayaking. There are restaurants and concession stands in the vicinity and restrooms and shower facilities are available for a fee. There is also a nominal fee for parking for those who come by car.
As Playa Seven Seas is one of the best beaches in Puerto Rico, it can get crowded, especially on the weekends.
5. Playa Escondida: One of the Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Beaches in Puerto Rico
Also known as Hidden Beach, Fajardo's Playa Escondida is reached only by foot via the more populated Seven Seas Beach and is one of the top Puerto Rico beaches to visit.
Visitors must walk about 25 minutes through a mangrove forest -- so it might be better suited to more active travelers -- but the beauty and calm of the secluded beach at the end is well worth the trek. Playa Escondida is suitable for cruisers who have a full day to enjoy this secluded piece of paradise.
Despite the presence of a coral reef, this beach is prone to strong currents and riptides, so it's not suited for swimming. But Playa Escondida is perfect for enjoying a quiet day of R&R on the sand surrounded by impressive views; you might even be able to spot the El Yunque National Forest. Just keep in mind that there are no facilities nearby, so bring what you'll need for your visit and be sure to carry out your trash.
It takes a little over an hour to reach Playa Seven Seas from the cruise port and then a 25-minute walk to make it to Playa Escondida.
6. Playa Luquillo: Experience a Local Beach in Puerto Rico
Ask any local of Puerto Rico's northeastern region where they go to the beach, and they are sure to mention Luquillo. Playa Luquillo is best known for its strip of food kiosks where any number of local specialties can be enjoyed, but situated just beyond the kiosks is a long stretch of beach that starts out narrow and widens out as you walk toward the right (if you're facing the ocean).
Locals tend to congregate on the stretch of beach right behind the kiosks, which tends to develop a block party vibe as the day goes on -- and especially on weekends.
On the beach, you’ll find for-fee facilities, such as showers and restrooms. There are typically vendors all along the beach offering kayak rentals, windsurfing, souvenirs and even horseback riding, but no one will harass you or pressure you to buy the way some beach vendors do.
Playa Luquillo is one of the best Puerto Rican beaches for foodies and is best if you have a full day to explore. It typically takes an hour by car to reach the beach from the cruise port.
7. Playa Caracas: A Slice of Paradise on Puerto Rico's Vieques
Vieques -- a tiny island off the coast of Puerto Rico's mainland and reachable by ferry or small plane -- offers visitors many pristine, natural beaches, including Playa Caracas, which is one of the most popular.
It takes a couple of hours to reach Vieques from the San Juan area, but if time permits (and you are staying a few days before or after your cruise), it's an experience not to be missed.
To reach Playa Caracas, you'll need to rent a vehicle or take a taxi and bring your own food, drinks and gear, but the experience is worth the extra effort. Note that there are no restroom or shower facilities available.
The white-sand beach is surrounded by lush vegetation -- there are even hiking trails scattered throughout -- and it's often visited by friendly wild horses who spend the day grazing and "people watching." The water is just warm enough, even during the cooler months, and calm enough for even young children to swim in.
8. Visit Playa Negra (Negrita): One of the Best Puerto Rico Beaches on the Island of Vieques
Visiting Playa Negra (Negrita) -- also on Vieques -- is a somewhat otherworldly experience. Though slightly more well-known these days, Playa Negra is still off the beaten path; while you might be able to get a taxi driver to drive you to the closest road, we recommend renting a car and driving yourself. Getting to this black-sand beach is half the adventure.
You'll need to park on the road that runs parallel to the beach and walk through a wide path that has been cut through the tall cliffs to get there (roughly a 20-minute walk). The path is flat, but it can be muddy. When you reach the beach, you'll see mostly dark, golden sand, but as you walk to your right, the sand gets darker and darker until it's totally black. It is a truly stunning sight.
Playa Negra is a small beach, so get there early to nab a spot in the shade of the cliffs. Floating in the shimmering, gold- and black-flecked water is totally surreal.
It’s the perfect beach if you have a full day (or more) to discover its breathtaking surf and shore. Playa Negra is one of the best beaches in Puerto Rico to enjoy a relaxing beach day.
9. Flamenco Beach: One of the Best Puerto Rico Beaches on the Island of Culebra
Located on Culebra -- the neighboring island to Vieques -- Flamenco Beach has often been named one of the world's most beautiful and is undoubtedly one of the top Puerto Rican beaches. Also reachable by ferry or small plane, Flamenco Beach generally takes a couple of hours to get to from the San Juan area.
It's a haven for divers and snorkelers due to its crystal-clear turquoise waters teeming with fish, turtles and even manta rays. Shallow depths and calm waves make it ideal for swimming.
While the beach is totally pristine and maintains a feeling of being untouched, water sports equipment rentals and food kiosks selling treats and drinks are available, as well as bathroom facilities and outdoor showers for a fee.
Be sure to walk over and check out the old Navy tank -- a standby from the time the U.S. military used the island as a gunnery range and since converted into a community art installation.