The 13 Best Beach Hotels & Resorts in San Juan

A Puerto Rican institution, the Fairmont is 10 minutes from Old San Juan on the Isla Verde Beach, voted the Best Urban Beach in the USA. Pampering is paramount here, with four pools, a three-level fitness center and a lavish spa, where treatments include a heavenly Alpine arnica deep-tissue massage. You won’t go hungry either: restaurants include a family-run pizzeria and the renowned Caña by Juliana Gonzalez, serving authentic Puerto Rican dishes.

Get back to nature at this chic resort on a former coconut plantation near Luquillo, in the foothills of the El Yunque National Forest. Lakes, nature trails, jungle hikes and the Espíritu Santo River are all on the doorstep for outdoor exploring with the resident naturalist, while smaller guests can sample birdwatching, turtle feeding and treasure hunts at the kids’ club. There are also art classes, tennis clinics, a spa and two whole miles (3.2km) of pristine beach if you’re looking for something a little less adventurous.

Barefoot luxury is second nature at this elegant 1950s resort on a former plantation where no building is taller than a palm tree. Rooms come with indoor and outdoor showers, oversized soaking tubs, walk-in wardrobes, Bose wireless speakers in the bathrooms and Nespresso machines. Elsewhere, there are cooking classes, an infinity pool overlooking a pineapple garden, a spa with treetop treatments and its own traditional healer, as well as the largest wine cellar in Puerto Rico, with some 690 labels.

Make the most of the Puerto Rican sunshine at this Condado Beach resort right on the sand. As well as the beach, there’s a spa and an onsite casino, where guests can try their luck; or you can soak up some rays by the palm-tree-lined pool, with sweeping ocean views, a bar and a water slide. There’s also an ice cream shop, a Puerto Rican coffee house and an international buffet restaurant that hosts a special event each Friday, serving traditional dishes such as roasted pork and mofongo (mashed plantain) with local cocktails.

If the kids need more than a beautiful beach, they will be spoilt rotten at the Caribe Hilton. It has a huge pool complex including a children’s fountain pool, an outdoor playground, a games room, tropical gardens and a bird sanctuary. There’s also a packed schedule of activities on offer every day, including sandcastle building, fish feeding and hula-hoop contests. Just make time to sample a fruity piña colada by the pool – especially as the drink was invented at this very hotel in 1954.

This landmark Puerto Rican property is one of the best hotels in San Juan. Built by Frederick Vanderbilt in 1919, it’s attracted visitors including Errol Flynn, Charles Lindberg and President Roosevelt. Now grandly refurbished and featuring 323 guest rooms and suites, the hotel still draws the glitterati to its upmarket casino, spa and hammam, martini bar, cigar lounge and sumptuous fine-dining restaurant from Michelin-starred chef Juan José Cuevas. Guests are even attended by a private butler on the beach, delivering snacks, sun cream and fresh towels as required.

Worried you’ll be bored by lazy beach days? At this resort near Old San Juan, there’s plenty to occupy even the most reluctant sunbather, including an onsite casino, a huge fitness center and nearby watersports opportunities including sailing and scuba diving. You can even borrow a complimentary Linus Bike to tour the local area. When hunger strikes, choose from seafood fine dining, Puerto Rican specialities and even an ice cream parlor.

Food is the focus at the only vegetarian hotel in San Juan, with just nine delightful rooms and three suites. The hotel is renowned for its organic and locally sourced breakfasts and brunches featuring homemade hemp milk, as well as its four-course vegan dinners prepared by visiting guest chefs. Decorated with ethereal dreamcatchers throughout, the hotel also offers yoga and meditation classes, bicycle rental and nature adventure tours away from the most touristy offerings on the island.

Just one block from lively Condado Beach, this modern property is in the perfect spot for exploring magical San Juan. Wander the cobbled streets of the old town, tour the Bacardí rum distillery 7mi (11km) away, or splurge at Plaza Las Américas – the biggest shopping mall in the Caribbean – only 5mi (8km) away. Afterwards, soak up the sun by the pool or indulge in Puerto Rican and Cuban cuisine at the Ropa Vieja restaurant.

It’s always party time at La Concha. Right on the oceanfront in Condado, this hotel offers round-the-clock entertainment, including beach boot camps, wine yoga classes, champagne brunches and poolside DJs. After dark, there’s a high-energy casino, a 13-seat sushi restaurant, a hidden adults-only beachfront terrace and one of the hottest nightclubs in town.

There’s no need to squeeze next to strangers in the jacuzzi at this Spanish-style hotel villa, less than a block from the beach in Condado. The outdoor tub is swimming-pool size, so there’s always a spot to soak in the blissful warm water while gazing out across the ocean. Don’t miss dinner at French restaurant Niche Bistro, a tiny temple of fine dining loved by local foodies.

Business travellers won’t need to worry about reaching this hotel in front of San Juan Bay. The property is just 10 minutes from the international airport, five minutes from Old San Juan and right at the heart of the Puerto Rico Convention Center District. That’s not to say working will be easy: the fourth-floor infinity pool, full-service spa, sushi bar and poolside restaurant could prove more than a little distracting.

There’s no chance of going hungry at the Condado Plaza Hilton, a modern property sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and Condado Lagoon. Start the day at the Starbucks concession, try Italian dishes at Café Caribe and its all-day ice cream parlour, or indulge at 24-hour American diner Denny’s. There’s even a mini market for extra snacks when the munchies strike.