Espresso Boarding: Puerto Rico
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Puerto Rico:
Beaches, Salsa Dancing, and Fabulous Food
With 300 beaches, Puerto Rico has the perfect vacation experience for everyone.
- Cris
WHAT TO SEE
Mar Chiquita is one of 300 beaches in Puerto Rico
Getting to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, which means it's part of the United States, but not a state. Think of it like the U.S. and Puerto Rico are in a committed relationship, but PR doesn’t get a vote in Congress. It uses the U.S. dollar, follows federal laws, and its residents are U.S. citizens - but they can’t vote in presidential elections unless they move to a state. “No taxation without representation.” Yeah, it’s complicated.
If you’re a U.S. citizen, you do not need a passport or visa to travel to Puerto Rico. It’s a domestic flight, so it’s just like flying to another state. Bring your government-issued photo ID (like a driver’s license) and you’re good to go.
If you're a foreign national, it gets a little more technical. Since Puerto Rico follows U.S. immigration rules, entering PR is the same as entering any other part of the United States. So:
If you're from a country in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, you can visit Puerto Rico for up to 90 days using ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).
If you're from a country that requires a visa to enter the U.S., you’ll need that same visa to enter Puerto Rico.
You’ll go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection just like you would entering anywhere else in the States.
Even though Puerto Rico feels like its own world - lush jungles, salsa music, mofongo everywhere - it’s still under the U.S. flag, and travel reflects that.
Condado Beach has a beach, sure, but it’s known for the glamour and music scene where you can order cocktails in flip flops.
If you're spending time in San Juan and don't visit Condado Beach, are you even doing Puerto Rico right?
Let me break it down for you like a local. Condado Beach is our version of Miami Beach but with more soul, better food, and zero pretense. It stretches along the edge of one of San Juan’s most walkable neighborhoods, where the buzz of city life meets the roll of the Atlantic. On any given day, you'll see joggers, tanners, and families staking out shady spots under palm trees while someone nearby tries (and fails) to look cool on a rented paddleboard. Since the early 1900s when Condado Beach attracted the likes of railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt, it has been a haven for the affluent who want to get away from it all while having it all.
What makes Condado special isn’t just the golden sand or the crystal-blue water - it’s the vibe. You’ve got ritzy hotels like La Concha and the Condado Vanderbilt overlooking the surf, but you’ll also find beach vendors selling cold coconuts and $5 piña coladas in plastic cups. Fancy or chill? Your choice. That’s the Condado way.
The water can get choppy so heads up if you’re not a strong swimmer but the views, people-watching, and cocktails within arm’s reach make up for it. There’s even a calmer area near the bridge at the eastern end of the beach if you want a safer dip. You can also take a Beginner’s Scuba Diving Class during which you video the turtles and marine life - don’t miss it!
And the best part? You’re a flip-flop stroll away from amazing eats. Grab brunch at a sidewalk café, hit up a food truck for empanadas, or sip something strong at a rooftop bar before the sun dips behind the Condado Lagoon.
Condado isn’t just a beach - it’s a full scene. It’s where locals escape for a staycation and where visitors accidentally spend their whole trip. Go once, and you'll get it.
The world is falling apart? That’s too bad…I’ll wait it out here.
If Condado is San Juan’s flashy city beach, Isla Verde is its laid-back, sun-kissed friend who’s always down for a good time. Locals love it because it feels like a true beach escape - but with all the conveniences of the city still right there.
Located just east of Condado and next to the airport (like, you can literally go from baggage claim to beach chair in 15 minutes), Isla Verde has some of the best sand on the island. It’s wide, soft, and golden, and the water? Calm, clear, and perfect for swimming. Unlike some other beaches where the waves are strong, Isla Verde is friendly to swimmers, paddleboarders, and even that friend who’s terrified of the ocean.
There are technically three beaches here: Pine Grove (great for beginner surfers), Alambique (where the party’s at), and Balneario de Carolina (a family-friendly Blue Flag beach with lifeguards and facilities). Whether you want to sip a rum punch under a rented umbrella or chase your kids through the shallows, Isla Verde’s got you.
You’ll also find some iconic hotels here, like the Fairmont El San Juan, which doubles as a nightlife hotspot. But honestly, you don’t need to be staying in a hotel to enjoy Isla Verde. Beach bars and food kiosks are scattered all along the sand, and locals roll up with coolers, music, and folding chairs like it’s a Saturday tradition - because it is.
It’s chill, it’s beautiful, and it’s just easy. If you’re looking for a beach that feels like a vacation without ever having to leave San Juan, this is it. Leave your work computer at home.
Once you have relaxed your way into a chill vibe, take a salsa dance class! For $30, you can laugh while learning if your hips move quite in the right way. I suspect that a few “refreshing” fruity drinks help to optimize the class but you won’t regret your laughter or your new moves. It’s so much fun.
Coming soon
Welcome to the nature sanctuary…er…hotel
When You Need to Escape, Go Here
We needed a weekend away - no notifications, no schedules, no noise. I was craving a digital detox and the feeling of leaving the world behind. So, I started browsing Marriott hotels in Puerto Rico.
Now, I don’t usually stay at the Ritz-Carleton (a girl’s got a budget), and I’ll admit I hesitated. I was worried it would be too formal - like I’d need to dress up for breakfast or deal with snooty people in loafers and pearls.
I was wrong.
This is hands-down my favorite weekend escape. It’s a sanctuary where you can fully unplug, unwind, and be completely yourself.
Here’s what makes it magical:
Come As You Are
I showed up with a swimsuit, a hairbrush, and zero makeup. No heels, no jewelry, no pressure. I used the toothbrush they provided and grabbed a random book from the library. Yes, they have a fully library stocked with books, games, and videos (and reading chairs). The vibe is totally relaxed. You’ll see people in shorts, resort wear, and beach towels. No one cares what you’re wearing - as long as you’re kind and quiet.
24/7 Butler Service (Yes, Really)
You get your own WhatsApp chat with a dedicated butler team who will bring you McDonald’s at 2 a.m. or a custom meal not on the menu. They’re discreet, responsive, and somehow make everything feel effortless. No apps, no limits, no fuss. Just a message and a smile.
Nature preserve = few people…perfect!
It’s Set on a Nature Preserve
Dorado Beach is 50 acres of protected nature reserve. The birds outnumber the guests. There’s no trash, no noise, and no “resort-y” damage. Trees are being replanted, flowers are blooming, and the air feels noticeably cleaner. It’s like staying in the middle of a well-loved garden.
1 step to breakfast, 2 steps to the private pool, 5 steps to the beach
Your Own Private Infinity Pool
We booked a room with a private pool - and wow. Meals are served on floating trays so you can eat breakfast or dinner right in the water (mango for me, McNuggets for you, no judgment). The pool overlooks a quiet ocean path, with no foot traffic - just birds, lizards, and the occasional squirrel making eye contact while you float.
The closet (behind the wall to the left) is stocked with all of the creams, lotions and magic that turn anyone into a beauty - it’s bigger than my first apartment! Yet nothing spoils the ambiance.
The Spa Is Worth the Trip Alone
Spa Botanico isn’t a building. It’s an experience. They send a golf cart to pick you up from your room, then drive you through fruit trees and native plants to a secluded oasis. Each treatment room is a standalone glass hideaway in the forest. Birds sing. Breezes rustle the trees. You feel like you’re inside a nature documentary - only relaxed and in a robe.
The entrance to the spa…where locally grown herbs are drying before being turned into natural beauty treatments. It smells so good.
Booking just one service gives you access to the entire spa complex for the whole day. That includes three distinct areas: a co-ed space, a women-only section, and a men-only section - each with hot tubs, cold plunges, sunbathing rocks, shaded lounges, and the kind of stillness your nervous system will thank you for.
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