Balneario del Escambrón

Lots of fish swimming by the shore, found a good amount of shell bits and sea glass. Calm area with food vendors that arrive around noon. Water is very fresh!

Absolutely beautiful beach! It is very clean and was not crowded at all when we went. A must see for anyone In The old San Juan area

Beautiful beach, this is my second time coming here. the waves range from calm to more aggressive for those who like to surf. There is a lot of seaweed and your normal sea stuff at the shore but once you get past it, it’s pretty and blue. The sand is not as soft. There are a few rocks on the seafloor but nothing too immense. Theres a lot of area to sit. Not a lot of food directly on the beach but nearby. It’s easy and free to enter. Mostly safe as long as you keep an eye on your stuff. Kid friendly, of course with supervision.

Lowkey beach. Great spot to lounge. Lots of palm trees provide adequate shade. There are showers to rinse off after.

Very nice swimming & snorkeling spots for beginners and kids. The beach is protected by reefs from waves. So the water is pretty calm even in winter. A lot of colorful fishes. Some coral reefs if you swim far.

Great beach with beautiful views of el Morro and the east side of old San Juan. Calm waves with a cool castle outlook to the east edge. The amenities are a huge downside, unfortunately. Only one men’s bathroom was available and it was disgusting. I can’t imagine the women’s was any better. What’s worse is that the bones are all very good, with at least three bathrooms built but all worn down. And there is a nice bridge that connects the two different beaches that has a food court and changing room area beneath it that is totally abandoned. All the windows are boarded up and homeless people were staying there. I would’ve bought something and used it otherwise. Such a waste in an otherwise amazing beach.

This is one of our favorite beaches from the whole trip and especially great for snorkelling! I got lucky and spotted a cuttlefish near the buoy by the rocks, so neat! There's vendors selling drinks, ice cream and some food too. Lots of parking available for 6.50 a day. Good shade under the trees though it does get busy and crowded.

Beautiful beach. Bathrooms, washing areas, and vending machines for cold drinks are available. I wish I had brought some bread for the pigeons! The water was very calm. Had a great time swimming and reading a book afterward.

Honestly, this beach was one of my favorite stops in san juan. I got there around 8:30 am & it wasnt busy at all which I was so thankful for. I saw people actively picking up garbage from the beach so that was nice to see that its maintaned pretty consistently. The water is super clear but be careful because it goes from ankle deep to waist deep pretty quickly (like two steps quickly)!! I didn't stay in the water long because its deep so I wouldn't recommend if you can't swim. However, the water isn't too cold so its good to swim if that's something you want to do. I went in late feb & the weather was perfect. If I come back to PR, I will definitely go to this beach again.

Very nice walk along the water. Once you reach the actual beach the water is very calm and shallow. It wasn't too crowded. We caught a nice sunset here.

Our air bnb host suggested this beach while staying in San Juan and I wish we would have visited earlier in our stay!!! The beach was gorgeous and despite being busy there was plenty of parking. Parking is going to run you $5, which in my opinion is worth it as you at least have a little bit of security maintaining the lot. Two bathrooms are available at the park as well as several local vendors walking around selling drinks, ice cream and more. The water is warm and decently calm during our visit at least. Just be aware that the water does get deep a little quicker that most beaches here.

Balneario El Escambron is a little beach outside of Old San Juan close to Condado. We came here for some snorkeling! Easy access and we went on the San Juan guided snorkel tour. It looked like there were a few businesses operating from here including scuba diving. There were facilities but they were closed during our visit and looked a bit rundown. Not sure if it was previously hurricane-related or not. We enjoyed our time, the water was a little rough, but it was great. There were all kinds of fish, turtles, and other ocean life in the area when snorkeling.

Not a bad beach, but very crowded and rocky. Hurts your feet a bit when going in to the water. Personally would try to find a nicer, less crowded beach.

El Escambrón is the perfect spot for family and friends to gather for a day of fun in the sun. This popular beach is protected by coral reefs that make the beach ideal for snorkeling and exploring some of Puerto Rico's marine life. Lined by golden sand and tall palm trees that provide shade and is only five minutes away from restaurants and food stands We were here just for a walk, but this is perfectly safe for swimming. We saw a small portion of the beach is blocked by big rocks- so no rough waves make it perfect for swimming and having a good time with family. there is a park as well and come the weekend you'd expect families to be out in full force here. So it's a mix of both park and beach. Showers-bathroom-parking - everything is there. as the whole San Juan is protected by fortified walls - you can see that here as well. one thing struck me- there were no food options -might be it was late evening- but even on the main road- I did not find any food truck or anything sort of that.

Nice beach, cool water and lot of people. . Good view. Cheap parking. The weather was good. Bathrooms were terrible

Beach is perfect! Family friendly. Get there early. Friendly. Clean lots of vendors for food and chair rental

This is a gorgeous beach about halfway between Old San Juan and Condado. Although it's an urban beach, it is surprisingly clean and family-friendly. My wife, 2 teenage sons (14 yrs, 16 yrs), and I made this our preferred stop in San Juan. It's easy to park here and only a 1 minute walk to the beach! Balneario El Escambron is a public park with a soccer field, ocean-facing beach, city-facing beach, and historic battery (used to defend Old San Juan. What are the pluses of this beach?. First, the coral reef barrier provides a calm area protected from rough waves. Second, lifeguards are there during regular hours. Third, if you have a car, it's only $5 for all-day parking (bring cash!) which is less stressful than driving near Isla Verde Beach. I can't think of a minus for this beach. Perhaps it could use a large snack bar or concession stand that could make a fortune selling cold water. While the local government prefers to limit vendors here, I think a snack bar with kid-friendly foods and refreshments would not only provide a boost in revenues for the park, but also benefit families seeking refreshments.

4/3/21 We came here for a snorkel tour with Wanderlust Tours. The beach was very clean. Snorkeling was awesome!! Lots to see underwater. We parked all the way in the back at the end. Thats where we snorkeled. Parking was $5, you get a card and pay as you exit. It's very spread out so you are not on top of people. Plenty of parking.

The the hotel provided free shuttle.The beach is small.We went during the week.It wasn't too crowded but we really enjoyed it

Nice beach with rocks and coral reefs close to the shore....$5 entrance fee, well maintained. We rented snorkeling gear which was $15 a set. Its great location to relax or get in the water. Glad we were able to spend time here.

Easy, fun, and felt very safe as a solo traveler. The water was perfect, beach was clean, and I loved every minute of my experience. Fun to see as much as you could of Old San Juan from the beach as a little bonus.

Our introduction to Puerto Rico, after the airport and car rental obviously. We had already planned out stopping here to get our first feel for the beach and maybe catch a sunset to end our day. Parking is nice and really close. There is a $5 parking fee and they give you a card to leave on your dashboard .... don't lose it, the fee is $10 if you don't have it when you leave. The beach is nice and clean and on a Saturday evening there were some people here, but it wasn't overly crowded. Several people (appeared to be tourists) doing the same thing we were doing, wading in the water, taking pics and exploring. Facing the water, to the left are some great views of Old San Juan and makes for a nice setting for some sunset pics. If you explore further to the right you have some city views from a nice vantage point. All in all this is a really nice beach. Families were here playing (both in the sand and off in a grassy field area as well). We were really glad that this was our first stop and it set our trip off on a great first step. Check it out if you're in the area.

Best beach in the San Juan area. Great for families. I've been here a few times just with my son (no husband). It's safe. There are lifeguards on duty and security around.

Is Puerto Rico so the beaches are beautiful! Great beach to catch up with your friends and relax! The water was warm, the sand soft and the sun amazing!

We stumbled upon this beautiful beach, taking a stroll in the park across the way. We noticed a family carrying cooler, chairs, and water toys, so we followed them. It is hidden and out of the way, people who travel here and are without cars may never come across it, and we were already parked for free. Escambron was very clean, and the best part was all the natural shade made by the palm trees. My California friend & I enjoyed all the beaches we ventured to, but my favorites were the ones with calm waves. This one here is in my top 3 for Puerto Rico and the Favorite for San Juan.

Parking is $5 (all day), but CASH ONLY. Amazing beach!! We visited during the week and pretty much had the beach to ourselves. Crystal clear blue water, calm and clean. The coral reef keeps the waves from crashing into shore, so that was nice for my kids. The water is so clear you can see schools of tropical fish swimming all around you. Next time I plan on bringing goggles and a snorkel. Beautiful beach to take a stroll. Nice to have the showers available to rinse the sand off your feet.

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!

Love coming to this beach, it is almost never really packed. They offer a parking area where you need to pay a fee to park but it is not too bad. It looks like they have made improvements on the place. The water is clear and the sand is oceans cool as you walk to your spot. They do offer bathroom facilities with a changing room. The beach is close to Old San Juan so we always like to go to the beach then into Old San Juan. I love this place!

My favorite beach in San Juan! As a popular tourist beach, Escambron can get pretty crowded and rowdy, especially on weekends; however, this beach is kept very well maintained and clean for all the traffic it gets. The waters have excellent visibility and it's bustling with marine life, especially near the rocky areas and in the little lagoon areas. From a 1.5 hr snorkeling session, we were able to spot a multitude of organisms including corals, sea urchins, sea turtles, 20+ types of tiny colorful fish, pufferfish, flounders, cuttlefish, etc. Waves feel more gentle at Escambron and it's a great place to bring your kids. The beach also offers free access bathrooms and showers.

This is a beautiful large cove area. It wasn't my favorite beach on the Island, but I love all beaches. There appeared to be large rocks fairly far out that broke up the waves, so the water was quite calm. No wild beach here, but quite a few locals, which is usually a good sign. The worst part, no food or beverage availability! BUMMER. If we had known the aforementioned we would have come prepared. The locals do it up right cooking & partying on the beach. Unfortunately thirst won out & we only spent a few hours here. Would I reccomend it? Would I return? A big YES, I would just be prepared. Point of reference: I always take water shoes, so I am prepared. This beach had many rocks & I was sure glad I had them. What's a girl to do? Any beach or water I am ready, this time I messed up with no provisions.

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!

This is a nice public beach in San Juan. From Old San Juan, it is a 35 to 40-ish minute walk or a very short taxi or Uber ride. There is no fee to get in, but I believe there is a fee for parking. As someone else mentioned, this beach is full of locals. We were the only non-locals that I saw. We just came for two hours, but there were many people there who had brought big coolers, grills, etc. So you can definitely come here and hang out for a very long time and for very cheap. The water is seemingly clean here and there are rocks that break the waves coming in. I imagine if you have little ones...you might want to watch out for them slipping or cutting their feet (like you would anywhere like this). The beach was packed when we went, but it still seemed quiet, had plenty of space, and we were able to spread out. There are also public bathrooms and rinsing areas.

We went to this beach twice! Palm trees provide shade. The swimming area is enclosed by rocks making the waves pretty small (safe for kids). GREAT place for snorkeling. We saw 3 different schools of fish in the same day. All you need is a pair of goggles. The beach is pretty empty during the week but by Friday it is packed.

Great beach! Parking only $5 for all day plenty of bathrooms and showers. Bring drinks and umbrella for better relaxation and also the sell ice cream and other stuff overall great clean water

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.

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!!!!

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 snorkeling here as there is a reef that runs perpendicular to the shore. There were a number of schools of fish but no turtles were sighted. The water is cool but can be very choppy at times with strong currents. The beach is huge and packed with a lot of people. When we visited a radio station was there playing music for beachgoers. This seems to be the beach that locals visit. I enjoyed my time there.

Beautiful beach not to far away from parking so you domt have that long haul of stuff from your car to the sand :)

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!

Very good beach spot if staying in/around Old San Juan. Some rocks protect the coast and thus the water is quite calm. There is a nice combination of trees and open sand for a good shade/sun balance. Also, there are not too many buildings right around the beach, which isn't something I can say about the other beaches we visited while in Old San Juan. Definitely recommend!

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.

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

I loved the beach ,I went with my family n friends n had a wonderful time ,the only thing u have to bring food n drinks even though they have a restaurant there but every time I go it's close ,u can run out to KFC that is right around the corner but overall I garantizado q pasarán un día bonito

This was our favorite beach while staying in old San Juan. It feels almost like a pool compared to the rough waves of San Juan beaches. Really relaxing and quiet.

It's a cool beach and a place you can hang out with the locals. One of the nicest beaches I have ever been too

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.

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.

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

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!

Fantastic beach! People watching was great. Water was clear and filled with colorful fish! My only regret is not bringing a snorkel! To witness the locals and their BBQ/picnic setup was awesome....grandmas in hammocks, babies in playpens and incredible food spreads! Puerto Ricans know how to live.....