General Description: Great Snorkeling in the heart of San Juan near where the cruise ships dock. This is a small public beach among the resorts in the Condado neighborhood.
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Maps: PR San Juan 20130920 US Topo
Finding the Beach: Playa Condado is a short walk from Old San Juan. Just across the bridge at the eastern end of Old San Juan Island. If stopping in San Juan on either a cruise ship or flight layover this would be a short taxi ride, then easy snorkel.
If walking from the cruise ship dock, walk to the left to the first road heading up from the bay, Calle Juan Antonio Coretejas. Walk up a block to Paseo Covodonga take a right heading east walk approximately 1 mile to Puente Dos Hermanos. While walking Paseo Covodonga east it will turn into Ave De La Constitution. You will walk by the Capitol Building, after the capital, there will be a large park also on the left. After about a mile you will see the Avandia Ashford Bridge that crosses the bay. The small public beach is at the base of the Condado Plaza Hilton to the left of the Avenue.
One day I walked here for a snorkel from my son’s apartment in old San Juan. I'm sure glad I did this, it was a great snorkel with a touch of high society.
Beach Overview: Balneario (playa) Condado is a small snorkeling beach that is on the bay of El Boqueron. Geographically it is located on the Peninsula de Condado just across from Old San Juan Island. Playa Condado is a testament to the Puerto Rico public beach system. Beaches are for the people technically there are no private beaches in Puerto Rico. This beach ensures that one of the most exclusive areas in San Juan and Puerto Rico is open to the public. Once leaving Avandia Ashford the beach is located right below the Condado Plaza Hilton Patio Restaurant. You can rent beach chairs and snorkeling equipment on site. The beach is well protected from the surf by a rock outcrop. The outcrop that leaves the north end of the beach and stretches halfway across the Bay of El Boqueron. 
This is the only snorkel beach that I have been to where after snorkeling you can walk right up the street to a high-end Sushi Restaurant. Avandia Ashford in San Juan is what 5th Avenue is to New York. At this beach, waiters will initially meet you on the beach and offer to bring you drinks or food from the restaurant and bar.
Snorkeling Instructions: Enter the water anywhere along the beach area. The beach front is small maybe 50 yards from the street to the rock outcrop. There are underwater rock formations all throughout the bay. I observed the most fish snorkeling along the rock outcrop and the bridge over the bay. I have never seen any motorized traffic on this bay. I doubt that it is allowed. There are plenty of fish to view, but I have seen much better coral formations in other parts of Puerto Rico and Culebra. A snorkel in the city of San Juan will be an unforgettable experience. 
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