Balneario El Escambrón

Beautiful beach. A bit of a hike but well worth it. Pack a picnic because there are not any food options close by. Can’t recommend this beach enough.

There aren’t many beaches within walking distance of old San Juan, so if you are staying in the city with no car access then El Escambron is a great beach option. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a decent walk (solid 30 minutes each way) but it’s Puerto Rico, so chances are the weather is probably perfect.
This beach has a super local feel. Everywhere you look there are family and friend gatherings, bbq’s and speakers blasting dance music. It’s definitely a relaxed and fun atmosphere, and I was a little jealous that I wasn’t involved in one of these parties — all of the food smelled amazing!
I’m super scared of going into the ocean because of waves, and what I loved most about this beach was how calm the ocean was. Because it’s a shallow cove surrounded by rocks, it almost feels like you are in a pool. Especially because the water is so warm! The water was so shallow and calm that people were even chilling on beach chairs in the water.
We were a bit disappointed to learn that there were no food options. Given how crowded the beach was, I’m sure that any sort of taco or other food stand would do great. Luckily, there was a beach bar so at least that was a win.
If you are staying in San Juan and don’t want to pay to rent a car or taxi over to the Condado /​Isla Verde area then hit up this beach instead. I promise that you won’t be disappointed!

This is going to be my last review of Puerto Rico. We were only here for a few short days but we managed to come here twice! It was by far the nicest beach we visited on our trip to Puerto Rico. Granted we did not get to visit Flamenco Beach in Culbrera, on the main island you cannot beat this spot. It is kind of cheating because there is an area of this beach that is protected by rocks/​coral reef. But due to this protection that water is crystal clear. And with the coral there was an abundance of fish. We were able to see the fish so easily, and some of the other people around us brought food for the fish so they swam all around us. It was so much fun!
It is $ 6 to park, but because there is a slight cost to park, you had locals who were very clean and tourists who had cars. They have restroom and shower facilities here too. So that $ 6 per car is totally worth it.

Pretty impressive spot on the right hand side of the island as you trek/​drive/​jog etc into old San Juan. I personally love a beach or park where you have to pay $ 5 bucks to enter. It’s going to be clean and safe and that’s always a plus. The little guys are out with their food carts, the water is clear and you can see the surfer dudes *insert jealousy here* riding the big waves. Puerto Rico is an amazing place and this spot doesn’t disappoint.

This is a nice beach if you are staying in Old San Juan and are looking for something walking distance away to bypass the expensive cab ride to somewhere else.
If you are looking for a family friendly beach without a lot of waves and rocks and that has a lifeguard present, this may be the place for you. You don’t need to bring your water shoes either because there aren’t a lot of rocks and sharp things here.
While I definitely appreciated less rocks, I wish there was more wave action going on. They also have a rope set up to block people from going too far into the water.
Overall, I had a nice time here and would go back. I would say it’s more a beach of convenience though rather than a destination beach to go out of your way to visit.

Great beach! Tons of parrot fish and tangs close to shore. Bring your snorkel gear and water camera!

Of course doesn’t compare to beaches on vieques, but this is exactly the kind of beach I was looking for in San Juan. I asked around and each local have me the same answer. No significant waves, pretty shallow, crystal clear waters that allow you to see the colorful fish below without goggles, well maintained, and a nice shady grove of Palm trees. So happy it was so close!

I love this beach! I love how you can see San Juan– the fort! The water is always beautiful and less waves than other parts in the area. There is a reef to snorkel at and explore, it’s super close to San Juan and condado, and there is a restaurant on the beach!
The bathrooms are pretty dirty and often don’t have toilet paper. There is a mix of people here; normally more locals than tourist and some of the locals are often a little on the young and loud side which is the only reasons I don’t give this place a 5!!!

Great beach. Not crowded. $ 5 parking. Ok snorkeling. Not too close but restaurants not too far away.

El Escambrón is a very nice public beach just West of Old San Juan. it is clean with a protected swimming area, public toilets (closed on Christmas Day unfortunately), a life guard, and snack bar.
Parking is $ 5, but worth the price thanks to the attendant who watches over the lot, accompanied by a police cruiser and several police officers the day we were there. The beach is adjacent to the parking lot.
The very fine sand is easy on the feet, but adheres easily to the skin. Much better than the rocky beaches of Greece, the sand is easily brushed or washed away with a towel or the sea.
The water drops off quickly to about three feet and remains fairly shallow all the way out to the rocks. There are numerous species of fish inside the reef, so bring your snorkeling gear. The bottom is sand and small, smooth rocks, and is easy on the feet. Water temperature on Christmas day was probably in the high 70’s, perfectly cool enough to refresh while not so cold it shocks the system.
Mostly families and couples, El Escambrón is highly recommended while in the San Juan area.
This beach is one of the nicest we’ve seen in our three weeks in Puerto Rico … Clean, sandy bottom, completely protected by reef, bar/​restaurant, bathrooms, lifeguards, and the most stunning view of San Juan … Gorgeous!
CombatCritic Gives El Escambrón 10 Out of 10 Bombs … BOMBS ARE GOOD!

Fantastic beach within a short walk of Old San Juan. It’s definitely a locals beach with lots of families hanging out with their picnic tables and grills. There are some really fantastic natural features to this beach that make it great. First there are barrier rocks a little off the beach into the ocean. This results in really calm waters. Second there are a bunch of palm trees growing fairly close to the shore, so you can lounge on the sand, but still be in the shade. Also if you want to look for some cool sealife there are some tidal pools just off to the side that you can explore.

Awwwwwwwwww I wanted to be the first to review this hidden gem! *pouts with arms crossed*
However, I feel slightly relieved to be the second reviewer of Escambron Beach, which means that hopefully this cute spot of happiness stays hidden for now. Perhaps the only beach in Old San Juan (if this area could even be considered a part of OSJ), Escambron Beach was a 35−30-minute walk from our hotel on Calle Fortaleza and probably 20 – 30 from San Cristóbal Fort, and it was so worth the walk, which was pleasant anyhow. (And no, we did not rent cars… not everyone knows how to drive!) This lovely beach was not crowded at all, enough palm trees to lounge under, and gentle waves… oh, and the best part of the beach? The view of San Cristóbal Fort and El Morro in the distance! Now that’s a perfect postcard picture!
Hungry? Head over to Escambron Beach Club, where I got chicken chicharrones (fried chicken chunks) rice and beans, and salad, for under $ 10. How’s that for a Puerto Rican picnic on the beach!
My only regret was that I came here once… but that’s another excuse to return to PR and OSJ! Oh please, puh-​leazzzz stay hidden!!!

Awesome beach! It’s a perfect beach to snorkel or to simply get some R&R under the coconut trees!
There is a natural reef which makes a portion of the water pretty calm. I saw a ton of fish and even came face to face with a huge eel!