Trip plan · November
3 days of surf 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 based in San Juan, moving from Atlantic-facing surf breaks to calm coves and public beaches, with good tables and drinks to close each day. Here's how it all fits together.
Day 1
Start with the open-Atlantic surf breaks around Condado, stroll through Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera, then settle in for a tasting menu at Marmalade and mezcal cocktails at La Grieta.
San Juan / Condado
Surf breaks at La Ocho, Pine Grove and Condado face the open Atlantic and are at their best from November to March. The calmer inside spots are where surf schools start beginners.
Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera
Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera is a recreational public space with beautiful trees and landscaping, located by the ocean. It is the largest public square in the San Juan metropolitan area.
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 Parque Luis Muñoz RiveraLa 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
Head east to the beach breaks of Piñones and Loíza, spend the afternoon at Playa Ocean Park, then have dinner at 1919 Restaurant and finish with local-ingredient cocktails at Identidad.
Piñones / Loíza
A run of beach breaks along the coast road east of San Juan, past the Piñones mangrove lagoon. Swell from the north and northeast throws fast, hollow waves close to shore, and the coast stays quieter than the city beaches.
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
Day 3
Swim in the calm, horseshoe-shaped cove at Mar Chiquita, continue to Balneario Cerro Gordo, then enjoy farm-to-table plates at Verde Mesa and a last drink at El Batey, the dive bar on Calle del Cristo.
Manatí / Mar Chiquita
Mar Chiquita is a horseshoe-shaped cove behind a gap in the rock, calm enough to swim in. Nearby Punta Palmas has reef breaks when swell comes from the north and northeast.
Balneario Cerro Gordo
Balneario Cerro Gordo is a public balneario in Vega Alta, run by the Municipio de Vega Alta, with restrooms, a place to eat or drink and campsites nearby.
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 Balneario Cerro GordoEl 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
Curated by 787daily from its own guide. Seasons shown are typical, conditions change. Verify hours and access before you go.