Shuma

Hello, <BR> <BR>My friends and I are planning to go to San Juan in the end of June. We are looking for hotels using the web. <BR> <BR>We are interested in hanging out on the beach (but of course!). We would like to know about which beaches are the most enjoyable with water sports available (such as snorkeling, jet skiing, etc). We also want to see the Old San Juan area as well as the rain forest. <BR> <BR>Does anyone have any suggestions on their recent trip to San Juan, preferrably in 2001? The reason I put in a timeframe is because I've noticed that the Caribe Hilton has had some major renovations done...and that's kind of our "number one" choice, as of right now, that is! <BR> <BR>Any advice is well appreciated! <BR> <BR> <BR>

rqf

Caribe Hilton is midway between Old San Juan and a major tourist area, the Condado. It is less than 10 miniutes to either. The beach at the Hilton is not very large and is protected so there is little or no wave action and snorkling is minimal - certainly nothing to get excited about. Snorkling in and around San Juan is not very good. Although all beaches in PR are public the only access to the beach is through the hotel or swimming in from the ocean side so the only ones using the beach will be hotel guests.

Shuma

Thanks for your response. <BR> <BR>Do you have any recommendations for a hotel in the San Juan area that offers more of a typical beach?

rqf

There is a long stretch of beach in the Condado area. The Marriott fronts a nice part of that beach. I feel the beach in Isla Verde section is more desirable. The INtercontinental and the El San Juan are next to each on this section beach. Just east of these hotels on a large stretch of beach is the Ritz Carlton. On the same stretch of beach is a large public beach and para sailing was available on the stretch of beach between the Ritz and the Isla Verde public beach. There is no worthwhile snorkling at the beaches in the Condado or Isla Verde. You will see lots of jet skis off both beaches so I imagine there must be a place to rent them.

Mariarosa

Hi Shuma! I agree with rqf - the Isla Verde beaches are the nicest in San Juan. The Intercontinental and the Wyndham El San Juan are located in a beautiful beach and there are lots of watersports. I stayed 1 night at the Ritz Carlon in May '99 and it also has a nice beach, and it is less crowded than the one in front of the Intercontinental and the Wyndham El San Juan. <BR> <BR>San Juan is in the Atlantic ocean side and the beches are all sandy, so there's no coral and no interesting snorkeling. However, there are great tours that depart from all major hotels that take you to the marina in Fajardo , where you board a catamaran and sail to the off-shore reefs. I've done this day-sail twice, the snorkeling there was pretty good, lots of colorful fish and corals. I think the price is about $80 pp for a full day, including transportation, lunch, and drinks (including rum punch, etc). There are many different companies that do this, they all advertise at the hotels. Some of the companies can be found at: http://www.travelandsports.com/sail.htm Good luck!