Trip plan · November
3 days of diving & snorkeling in San Juan
Every stop below is a 787daily guide pick near San Juan, chosen by distance and what's good in November.
Three days in San Juan that move from reef and fortress walls to park views and city beaches. Each day closes with a dinner and a drink, all within the places listed here.
San Juan runs thin for this many days of diving & snorkeling; consider fewer days or a nearby base. Days 2 and 3 open with another outing instead.
Day 1
Start with a shore dive at Escambrón Marine Park, then explore Castillo San Cristóbal before dinner at Marmalade Restaurant & Wine Bar and mezcal cocktails at La Grieta.
Escambrón Marine Park
An easy shore dive in the middle of San Juan: a protected reef with old ruins, entered from the beach. Coral ledges, seagrass and plenty of fish lie a short swim out; dive schools train here and snorkelers come on calm days.
Castillo San Cristóbal
The largest Spanish fortification in the Americas, built to defend San Juan from land attack. Its layered walls, tunnels, and sentry boxes climb above the old city, part of the San Juan National Historic Site (UNESCO World Heritage).
Marmalade Restaurant & Wine Bar
A long-running fine-dining restaurant on Calle Fortaleza serving multi-course tasting menus with an extensive wine list. Operates as a reservation-based dinner spot.
Directions from Castillo San CristóbalLa Grieta
An agave- and mezcal-focused cocktail bar in Old San Juan with a moody, low-lit room and smoky, intentional drinks, a niche few PR bars cover.
Directions from Marmalade Restaurant & Wine Bar
Day 2
Take in Parque de las Palomas, then cross to Parque Nacional Isla de Cabras, followed by dinner at Verde Mesa and a late drink at El Batey.
Parque de las Palomas
Parque de las Palomas is a park in San Juan, Puerto Rico, offering views of the surrounding mountains, harbor, and city, including La Princesa Jail.
Parque Nacional Isla de Cabras
Parque Nacional Isla de Cabras is a park on a peninsula in Toa Baja with a view of El Morro, with a shooting range and the ruins of a leper colony.
Verde Mesa
A vegetable-forward, farm-to-table restaurant on Calle Tetuán led by chef Gabriel Hernández. Reopened in 2023 and operates for lunch and dinner.
Directions from Parque Nacional Isla de CabrasEl Batey
A long-standing dive bar on Calle del Cristo, established in 1961, with graffiti-covered walls and a focus on beer and simple drinks. Cash-oriented, informal, and historic.
Directions from Verde Mesa
Day 3
Spend the day on the sand at Balneario Condado and Playa Ocean Park, then dine at 1919 Restaurant and finish with cocktails at Identidad Cocktail Bar.
Balneario Condado
Balneario Condado is a public beach in San Juan with nearby parking and dining options.
Playa Ocean Park
Playa Ocean Park is a large public beach in the residential Santurce district of San Juan, near Dr. José Celso Barbosa Park. It was once called Último Trolley Beach, after the old San Juan–Condado streetcar line that ended there.
1919 Restaurant
The fine-dining restaurant inside the historic Condado Vanderbilt hotel, named for the year the hotel opened. Focuses on contemporary, seasonally driven cuisine with an awarded wine program.
Directions from Playa Ocean ParkIdentidad Cocktail Bar
A Santurce cocktail bar built on local ingredients and Caribbean identity, with technically precise builds that lean into Puerto Rican flavor.
Directions from 1919 Restaurant
Curated by 787daily from its own guide. Seasons shown are typical, conditions change. Verify hours and access before you go.