The Ultimate Guide to San Juan Surf
San Juan surf does exist. You don’t HAVE to head to Rincon or the west coast to get waves in Puerto Rico. Here’s our complete guide to what to expect…
An introduction to San Juan surf
San Juan is the pulsating heart of Puerto Rico. A place of crooked cobblestone streets, pumping spring break bars, and paint-peeling Latin cantinas, it’s where most people will arrive into the island, whether the plan is to head out to the surf spots or not.
The good news is that you don’t actually have to travel all that far to get on the waves. The city might not be on the BEST stretch of PR coast for surfing, but it’s not bad up here in the north.
Just a stone’s throw from the UNESCO forts and enthralling salsa bars of Old San Juan, you can discover a diverse array of surf spots, from beginner-friendly beach breaks to challenging reef breaks, all set against the backdrop of the vibrant cityscape.
Extra bonuses: Warm waters year-round and a consistent swell season that lasts throughout the winter months (you know, when it’s frickin freezing on the Eastern Seaboard).
Our summary would be this…San Juan is a cracking starting point for a Puerto Rican surfing adventure. Come, see the sights, have some rum punches, surf a little. Then, plan your escape to Rincon and beyond.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Puerto Rico and in the Caribbean
San Juan surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to surfing in San Juan?
Where is San Juan?
San Juan is on the northern coast of Puerto Rico. That’s good because it’s a part of the island that gets PLENTY of surf – the main swell directions that fire up the beaches and reefs here is NW, which is right on for the city.
The good news is that the city is very much the gateway to the whole island. Flights go into the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in the city, which isn’t just the biggest hub in Puerto Rico, it’s the biggest hub in the whole darn Caribbean.
We tend to use Kiwi to search for flights since they have a nifty thing that looks for the best deals on multiple carriers but you can also check Google Flights and whatnot. There are often great deals just after spring break or in the runup to Christmas (though not over the holidays).
San Juan surf spots
iStock.com / benedekThe core of San Juan is Old San Juan. You won’t find any surf worthy of note there. Travel to the east about 10 minutes and to the west about
Kikita Beach
The first of the very quality breaks within striking distance of San Juan is to the west of the city. Stretching over about 150m of reef that comes relatively close to the shore (at least compared to the more beginner-friendly beach breaks to the east of the town), Kikita Beach has peaks of all shapes and sizes.
It’s semi-shallowish and has rips on both sides, so better left to more experienced surfers. The waves themselves aren’t a massive challenge – your looking at a pretty wide-faced peeler that’s soft and slow for 70-100m
Cochino
The huge arc of Playa Cochino unfurls infront of Levittown just to the east of Old San Juan. It’s not the best beach break in the world by any stretch but can get crumbly sets for total beginners on the inside. There’s also lots of protection from dominant W trades here, which can be a big help at the tail end of the hurricane season.
La Ocho
La Ocho is the crown jewel of San Juan’s surf scene. It’s known for its punchy – but hardly deadly – right-hand reef breaks, which are just a few bus stops (8 to be exact) from the heart of Old San Juan.
We’ll be honest, what makes it so popular is NOT the quality of the waves. It’s how easy the spot is to get to.
But the waves aren’t bad at all. They peak up over the reef that runs all the way along the northern edge of the Parque del Escambron.
The best of them break on the outside of the manmade breakwater that defends La Poza del Escambrón Beach, which is lovely and hidden away on the inside.
They’re wedgy grumblers with some good speed but will also lengthen out as the tide pushes up over the rocks to make very nice longboard waves that can be trimmed and cruised.
There’s good vibes all round. Families chill on the beach. Dogs playing. Hardly a smidgen of localism. Our sort of urban break. Sydney take your lessons.
La Punta
If you check the satellite map, there’s a clear break in the outer reefs just north of La Punta, a little bump of a headland about five minutes’ drive further along to the east of the iconuc Condado Beach. Built up and busy, the spot is one of the better ones in the area if you want some size and punch (though it’s verrrrry rare).
It’s probably the only one in the San Juan vicinity that could be termed a decent shortboard performance wave – it can throw out the odd pitching left hander on its day (again: RARE).
Most of the time, it’s a mellow wave that’s good for all levels and loves a bit of extra volume – mals are the sweet spot if you ask us.
The local La Punta Surf Club can sort you out with board rentals and lessons. Look for them on Narin Street.
Pine Grove
Nestled near the tourist-friendly resort strip of Isla Verde some four miles to the east of Old San Juan, Pine Grove is the go-to spot for beginners and those looking for a more relaxed session.
The sand-bottomed beach break serves up gentle, rolling waves that are ideal for learning. What’s more, the reef shelf here is some 1.3 miles wide at some points. It tempers all the big N swells right out beyond sight of the beach and only lets little secondary swell ankle slappers into the bay.
Look, it’s never going to be a barrel fest but it’s a top choice for families with the little ones and those who’ve never surfed before.
The whole beach is also packed with amenities, great hotels abound, and it’s literally steps away from the arrival halls of the airport.
Aviones
Just 15 minutes from the city but a mere five minutes from the airport, Aviones is where we like to go just after we get off the plane. It’s not quite Rincon and the western beaches, but it’s really good fun. Plus – it’s FIVE MINUTES from the arrivals hall. Rent your car and drive down, stay on the beach a few days to shake whatever the redeye threw your way, and surf surf surf.
The spot here is pretty consistent. It sucks in peaky A-frame shorebreaks that bowl out to the left and the right. The lefts especially are great fun. They pitch quite quickly after a mellow take off and can even curl overhead to offer mini barrels. We think it’s one of the easiest places to get into the green if you’re a beginner and not quite used to tucking into the pocket. But it’s a top spot for all levels.
Often crowds.
Where to stay when surfing in San Juan?
It’s a good idea NOT to stay in the heart of Old San Juan if you want to surf and surf and surf here. It’s just that getting to the beaches will be a pain each day if the surf is your priority.
If, like most, you’re just looking to surf for one or two sessions in the capital before branching out west to the better surf destinations then a stay in the heart of the UNESCO town is probably the way to go – you’ll get the sights on the doorstep and then travel to the breaks by bus/rental car, which isn’t crazy hard.
Anyway, here are some of our favorite accommodation choices to satisfy both…
- Seaside Caribbean Comfort – Between Beach and City – As the name implies, this one’s neatly plonked midway between the city and the beaches of the Balneario del Escambrón. You can be at the surf in <10 minutes and in the heart of the action in the same by public transport. It’s also really nicely done out with a gorgeous little garden for chilling.
- The Beach Guesthouse – If you’re more serious about surfing than seeing San Juan’s historic core, then go here. It’s a few minutes’ out of the airport, so a perfect first rest stop after collecting a rental car. ANNNDD it’s on Aviones Beach, which hosts almost certainly the best A-frame waves in the whole region.
- 352 Guest House Hotel Boutique – If you’ve come to see the attractions of Old San Juan then this charming boutique hotel can hardly be beaten. It’s LOVELY. Hot tub on the roof sorta’ lovely. Mhmm.
- Mango Mansion – Last but certainly not least is this budget option, a HOSCAR-winning hostel with some serious style, close to Old San Juan but also some of the top local surf spots. It’s great.
The other good way to go about looking for a stay next to the beach is to use Booking.com’s map feature. Search for San Juan, click the map, and you can see exactly where each hotel/accomodation is, and how close it is to each beach.
When to surf in San Juan?
The prime surfing season in San Juan runs from November to April, when the north swell delivers the most reliable and sizeable waves.
What you’re after here is the Atlantic N-NE swells that pump through from the top end of the United States and Canada. Low pressure systems will push down long-fetch groundswell that works a charm on the beaches of Rincon out west, and the same here in the capital, though it’s a little more tempered thanks to the nature of the offshore reefs and things, so waves in the city are usually a few feet smaller than elsewhere.
While the summer months bring smaller swells, they can be good for beginners. That said, there will be some days between June and August when looking at the Caribbean around San Juan is like looking at a lake (AKA – not surfable!). Plus, the tail end of the summer means hurricanes!
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
