Condado
The fast-moving metropolis of San Juan is at its most glamorous in Condado, a beachfront zone that extends east from the old town along miles of shorefront lined with condominiums, hotels, and casinos. Condado melds into two other beach neighborhoods, Ocean Park and Isla Verde, forming an upscale residential district. This bustling area, which occupies a slender isthmus wedged between the Atlantic Ocean and Laguna del Condado, teems with Art Deco and modernist structures. This is the place to be on weekends when the young and young-at-heart flock to sun themselves by day and to party by night.
1. Beaches
Unfurling along more than 5 miles (8 km) of shorefront, the talcum-white beaches of Condado draw locals on weekends to sunbathe, kite-surf, and mingle beneath the palms. Most of the beaches have food stalls.
2. Avenida Ashford
This major thoroughfare runs parallel to the shore and is San Juan’s tourist strip. The road is lined with towering condominiums, hotels, restaurants, and upscale boutiques.
3. Watersports
The breezy beaches of Condado are ideal for watersports. Windsurfers skim the waves here, kite-surfers perform aerial acrobatics, and parasailing is a fun way to get a bird’s-eye view of the coast. Laguna del Condado is good for stand-up paddleboarding.
4. Laguna del Condado
Mangrove forests line the shores of this tidal saltwater lake inland of Condado. Each year, on June 23, the locals celebrate St. John, patron saint of the city, by plunging backward into the lake’s waters 12 times for luck.
5. Juan Bobo Statue
This statue in Parque Antonia Quiñones portrays a legendary Puerto Rican jibaro (farmer) trying to carry a basket of water The park – known to locals as la placita de Condado (Condado’s plaza) – is a good place to get a taste of local life.
6. La Ventana al Mar
Lawns, contemporary sculptures, and a fountain make this waterfront plaza an attractive setting for the free folkloric performances held here.
7. Art Deco Architecture
Art Deco flourished in San Juan from 1930 to 1950, and Condado boasts many fine architectural examples, especially along Avenidas Ashford and Magdalena.
8. Fine Restaurants
San Juan is lined with fine restaurants offering a variety of cuisines. Many of the city’s best restaurants are in Condado and Isla Verde, where upscale hotels lead the way.
9. Ocean Park
Some of the area’s best beaches are found in this classy residential neighborhood. Favored by beach-going youngsters, Ocean Park is also the setting for some of the trendiest hotels.
10. Casinos
Many deluxe hotels here have casinos, some of which are quite plush. Patrons, who must be at least 18 years old to enter, get dolled up in their Miami Vice best for a fun night out.
Art Deco Heyday
Art Deco in Puerto Rico coincided with the great age of transport, and inspired local architects infused their buildings with slick, streamlined forms. Exteriors of most structures built between 1930 and 1950 feature distinctive Art Deco elements, such as rounded curves and horizontally banded parapets representing ships and trains moving through air.
Tip: Be cautious where you swim. Many parts of the beaches are rocky, and some areas have dangerous undertows. Ask your hotel concierge for local conditions. Tip: When you want to splurge, dine at Zest – try the signature Sandgria or Oceanberry cocktails.
