THE PLACE THAT CHANGED OUR LIVES…
This past winter, we visited a place that changed our entire lives. Changed everything we thought we wanted and shifted it into something more exploratory, more vibrant, full and energetic yet “less” at the same time. This place was Puerto Rico. Lounging on a beach in the middle of the Caribbean it’s easy to say, “can we just stay here forever?”. But for us, it jumpstarted our drive to become future digital nomads. I’ll explain more about our upcoming world travels in the next blog, but, if you want more info on our travel plans now you can hop over to our youtube channel.
Now, you’re planning a trip to Puerto Rico and you’re wondering which beach to stay in: Condado or Isla Verde. Organized tours leave from both Condado Beach and Isla Verde Hotels. Both areas also offer high end resorts and more budget friendly hotels, but their vibes are very different.
CONDADO BEACH
Condado Beach boasts some of the most luxurious resorts on the entire island of Puerto Rico, including The Vanderbilt Hotel and Condado Beach Marriott. Because of these resorts, it is extremely built up with tourist-friendly eateries like Ben & Jerry’s and your go-to chain smoothie joint. Personally, I didn’t feel as authentic in this environment as I knew everything in the area was built to appease the tourist on vacation.
The Beach: I noticed three main sections of Condado Beach. A white sandy beach that many hotels sat on to give their guests direct beach access. The Marriott is located here. Next was a rocky beach called La Ventana al Mar Park (no swimming) that has an incredible ocean front walk/run path and a green park with wide open space. The Vanderbilt Hotel is located here. Lastly, there is a lagoon with very limited “beach” but calm waters where many families enjoy stand up paddle boarding and kayaking. This is where the Caribe Hilton and Condado Plaza Hilton are located.
Proximity to Major Destinations:
• Luis Munoz Marin Airport: 15 minute drive
• Old San Juan: 8-12 minute drive
• El Yunque National Rainforest: 45 minute drive
• Fajardo (Ferry to Culebra or Vieques): 1 hr 10 minute drive
Should You Stay Here?: Stay in Condado if you want ultimate walkability outside of your resort. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, and beach activities to fulfill an entire weeks stay. In Condado, you will see some touristy restaurants and the occasional tour group. Stay in Condado if you want a wide range of hotels, kid friendly activities and a more upbeat vacation.
ISLA VERDE
Isla Verde is an absolutely pristine beach, more so than the beach in Condado. Isla Verde boasts luxury resorts and casinos like the Ritz Carlton. The newly renovated El San Juan Resort also has one of the most popular night clubs on the Island. All of the hotels in this area have fine dining options and although there are some restaurants and convenience stores on the Main Street, the local area is not as densely walkable as Condado.
As a couple in our early 30’s, we loved staying in Isla Verde, as it felt less geared towards tourists. There were also significantly less family vacationers and more honeymoon type guests in Isla Verde.
The Beach: Isla Verde is one of the most pristine beaches in all of Puerto Rico. Isla Verde is an extremely long beach, great for morning beach runs and sunbathing with a little privacy away from huge resort crowds. There are many beachfront bars and restaurants lining the beach with icy cool cocktails and authentic Puerto Rican cuisine mixed with American options. Beach activities are plentiful here, think parasailing, jet skiing, and all other water activities in Puerto Rico you can think of. Most hotels and condominiums have direct beach access.
Proximity to Major Destinations:
• Luis Munoz Marin Airport: 5 minute drive
• Old San Juan: 15 minute drive
• El Yunque National Rainforest: 35 minute drive
• Fajardo (Ferry to Culebra or Vieques): 55 minute drive
Should You Stay Here?: Stay in Isla Verde if you want a beach-centric vacation in Puerto Rico. There are plenty of fine dining hotel restaurants to explore and a lively music and nightlife scene. It was a breeze renting a car or catching an Uber to any of the nearby attractions. I personally recommend Isla Verde over Condado for a relaxing vacation, as it is easy to get to Condado for the day if you want to walk around the area.
If you have any questions about your vacation in Puerto Rico, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy Travels!
Thank you for your review! What do you think about old san juan?
We loved Old San Juan! It had such a unique culture and beautiful architecture. The fort was also really cool 👍🏻
Thanks for this review as well! What hotel did you stay at in Isla Verde?
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