Condado Beach, San Juan
Overview
Condado Beach is the beach of the Condado district of San Juan, on the Atlantic coast just east of Old San Juan. It runs from La Ventana al Mar, a small seafront park on Ashford Avenue, east to Punta Piedrita, with Ocean Park beyond. The beach is lined with hotels, including the Condado Vanderbilt, La Concha and the Condado Plaza, and Ashford Avenue behind it is one of the busiest dining and shopping streets in the city.
Hotel staff rent chairs and umbrellas on the sand, and La Ventana al Mar is a popular place to watch the sunset over the water.
Our current condition score for this beach is .
Photo summary of last month
Each photograph is published unedited and in date order, and is replaced as newer submissions arrive, so what appears here is the most recent view of the beach rather than a promotional photograph.
Condado faces the open Atlantic on the north coast, so its photographs are a useful comparison with Ocean Park, Isla Verde and Luquillo on the same day.
Position relative to the Atlantic sargassum belt
Sargassum from the tropical Atlantic reaches Puerto Rico in most recent years, carried by the trade winds and currents, and the amount that lands on a given beach depends largely on its exposure and on the wind on the day. Condado faces the open Atlantic on the north coast. The dated photographs above show the beach as it actually was.
The sargassum season
In Puerto Rico the heaviest arrivals usually fall between spring and late summer, and the winter months are generally quieter. Volumes and timing vary considerably from one year to the next, so recent photographs are a better guide than the calendar.
Swimming conditions and safety
The open beach is known for strong rip currents and a steep shore break, particularly in winter, and signs warn against swimming in several places. Visitors should not count on lifeguard cover. For calmer water, Playita del Condado, a small sheltered cove at the western end near the Dos Hermanos bridge, is the usual choice for families, and the Condado Lagoon behind the district is used for kayaking and paddleboarding.
Choosing where to stay
The hotels along Ashford Avenue are directly on the beach, and the district is about ten minutes by road from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.
Access and getting there
The beach is open to the public along its whole length, with access points between the hotels along Ashford Avenue and at La Ventana al Mar. Street parking is limited, and most visitors arrive on foot from the hotels or by taxi.
Check live conditions before you go
On the live map we track Condado Beach with dated photographs and a current condition score, which makes it easy to compare with the other beaches of San Juan on the same morning.
See live conditions, photos & cams →