How do I book directly?

Visit /properties, pick the studio or penthouse that fits your trip, click into its page, and use the calendar to select your dates. Payment is processed securely on our booking engine, with the same protection as an OTA but without the guest service fee.

What forms of payment do you accept?

Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover). For long stays of 30 nights or more, message us about other options.

Is direct booking cheaper than Airbnb?

Yes. Airbnb adds a guest service fee on top of the nightly rate; booking direct on this site has none. How much you save depends on the dates and the unit, so compare the totals for your stay. We will not be beaten on price for the same dates.

What is your cancellation policy?

For direct bookings: full refund up to 14 days before check-in, 50% refund between 7 and 14 days before, no refund within 7 days. Bookings made through Airbnb, Booking.com or Vrbo follow each platform's own policy.

Do you charge a security deposit?

Yes. A refundable security deposit is pre-authorized on your card and released after check-out, assuming no damages. A damage waiver and rental agreement must also be completed before your door code is issued.

What time is check-in and check-out?

Check-in from 3:00 PM, check-out at 11:00 AM. Early check-in and late check-out are sometimes possible depending on the cleaning schedule. Ask us in advance and we will tell you honestly whether it works for your dates.

Is check-in self-service or in-person?

Self check-in with a door code. Your code and arrival instructions are sent between 3:00 and 4:00 PM on the day of arrival, once the damage waiver and rental agreement are completed. If you complete both on the day of arrival, send us a message so we can speed it up. Valid ID is required at reception for every guest.

What if my flight arrives late at night?

Not a problem. Self check-in works at any hour, so as long as your door code has been issued earlier in the day you can arrive whenever your flight lands.

There is no parking included with the units. Paid parking is available in the Paseo Caribe complex, subject to availability. Most guests skip the rental car altogether: Uber is inexpensive and parking in Condado is not.

How many guests does each unit fit?

Studios sleep between 2 and 4 depending on the unit, and the penthouse sleeps 6. Each unit page shows its exact capacity. We enforce guest counts, so please book for the real number of people travelling.

Are all units in the same building?

Yes. All units are in the gated Paseo Caribe complex in eastern Condado. Shared building amenities: outdoor pool, hot tub, gym, 24/7 security, gated access and elevator.

Do all units have ocean or lagoon views?

Yes. Every unit faces the lagoon, the ocean, or both. The specific exposure is listed on each unit page.

What is included in the kitchen?

It depends on the unit, so check the page for the one you are booking. The penthouse and studios 517, 518, 624 and 720 have a stovetop and a full set of cookware and dishes. Studios 516, 719 and 721 have a kitchenette without a stovetop: fridge, microwave and coffee maker, which covers breakfasts and reheating rather than real cooking. None of the units has an oven except the penthouse, and none has a kettle.

Yes, fast Wi-Fi is included free in every unit and is suitable for video calls, streaming and remote work.

Are the units air-conditioned?

Yes. The penthouse has central air conditioning; the studios have split-type units you control from the room.

Is there a washer and dryer?

Most units have an in-unit washer and dryer. Studio 624 has its own washer and uses a paid dryer in the building, and studio 516 uses the building laundry. The unit page tells you which. Laundry detergent is not provided.

Yes, a shared outdoor pool with lounge chairs, open daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Yes, a shared hot tub in the pool area, free for all guests and available to building residents as well.

Yes, a shared fitness room in the building. Check the posted hours on arrival.

Is the building safe?

Yes. The complex has 24/7 security, gated entry and elevator access, and valid ID is required at reception for every guest. Eastern Condado is consistently rated among the safer parts of San Juan.

Yes, pets are welcome in all our units. Let us know at the time of booking so we can confirm the details.

No smoking inside the units or on the balconies.

How close is the beach?

Condado Beach is roughly a 15-minute walk, or a short Uber ride. Escambron, which has calmer water, is about 10 minutes by car.

How far is Old San Juan?

About 15 minutes by Uber, or roughly half an hour on foot along the waterfront path.

How far is the airport (SJU)?

About 15 minutes by Uber. There is no shuttle service; we recommend Uber over taxis for transparent pricing.

Do I need a rental car?

For a Condado-focused trip, no. Walk to restaurants and the waterfront, and use Uber for everything else. For day trips to El Yunque a rental car helps. Parking in Condado is expensive and not included with the units.

What is around the building within walking distance?

Ashford Avenue dining is about 2 minutes away, Ventana al Mar park about 3, and supermarkets and a pharmacy are within a few minutes.

Can you arrange airport pickup?

We do not arrange airport pickup. Uber from SJU to the complex takes about 15 minutes. If you prefer a pre-arranged transfer, our things-to-do page has options.

Do you offer concierge services?

Not in-house. For tours, activities and restaurant recommendations, see our things-to-do guide. For anything else, message Rosemary.

Can you help with a special occasion?

Yes, we can help arrange small touches for anniversaries, birthdays, proposals or honeymoons. Requests need to be made in advance and an additional fee applies.

I have a specific accessibility need. Can you help?

The building has elevators and most common areas are wheelchair accessible. Bathrooms in the units are standard, not roll-in showers. Tell us your needs in advance and we will tell you honestly whether we can accommodate them.

How many reviews do you have?

More than 560 reviews across the portfolio, with a 4.79 average. Rosemary is a Superhost with a 100% response rate, typically answering within the hour.

Are the reviews on this site real?

Yes. All guest reviews come from verified Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com stays. We do not write fake reviews or remove negative ones.

What if something goes wrong during my stay?

Message Rosemary on the WhatsApp number you receive at check-in. Responses are usually within the hour during waking hours, and there are emergency contacts for urgent issues such as a lockout or an AC failure.

Still have a question?

Message us on WhatsApp or through the contact form. Rosemary typically replies within an hour.

Condado Lagoon Guide: Kayaking, Manatees & More

Ask most visitors about Condado and they picture the Atlantic surf along Condado Beach. But turn around, cross Ashford Avenue, and you will find the Condado Lagoon: a calm, turquoise pocket of water where locals paddle at sunrise, manatees drift by, and the San Juan skyline glows at sunset. I host guests right on its shore, and it is the part of the neighborhood people tell me they wish they had discovered on day one.

What Is the Condado Lagoon?

The Condado Lagoon (Laguna del Condado) is a saltwater lagoon tucked between the Condado and Miramar districts of San Juan, Puerto Rico. It connects to the Atlantic Ocean through a narrow channel at its western end, spanned by the Dos Hermanos Bridge, the same bridge you cross when walking from Condado toward Old San Juan.

Because the ocean only enters through that narrow opening, the lagoon stays protected and calm even when the beach side of Condado has strong surf. The water is clear, shallow near the edges, and part of the San Juan Bay Estuary system, one of the most important coastal ecosystems on the island. The lagoon is a protected estuarine reserve, which is why the water quality and wildlife here have improved so noticeably over the years.

For travelers, the practical takeaway is simple: Condado gives you two completely different kinds of water within a five minute walk of each other. Waves and wide sand on the ocean side, and flat, swimmable, paddle-friendly water on the lagoon side.

Things to Do on the Condado Lagoon

The heart of the action is Jaime Benitez Park (Parque Nacional Laguna del Condado Jaime Benitez), the green space along the lagoon's edge near the Dos Hermanos Bridge. It is free to enter, has easy water access, and is where most rentals and tours launch.

Kayaking and paddleboarding

This is the classic lagoon activity. Several outfitters rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards right at the park, no experience needed. The water is flat enough that first-timers are usually comfortable within minutes, and you can paddle the full length of the lagoon with the skyline of Condado's waterfront buildings on one side and Miramar on the other. Morning sessions tend to have the calmest water and the best light.

Night paddles

Local operators also run guided night tours on the lagoon, including paddles in illuminated kayaks. Gliding across dark, still water with the city lights reflecting around you is one of the most memorable things you can do in San Juan, and it is a favorite for couples celebrating something special.

Swimming

Yes, you can swim in the Condado Lagoon. The park side has gentle entry points, and on weekends you will see local families wading and floating in the shallows. There are no waves and no strong currents in the main body of the lagoon, which makes it a very different experience from the ocean beaches. If you are traveling with little ones, this is where I send families first; you will find more ideas in my guide to things to do in San Juan with kids.That flat, protected water is the daily view from our Lagoon View Studio with pool access, so you can check swimming conditions from the balcony before you head out.

Sunset watching

The lagoon faces west at the bridge end, so sunsets here are spectacular. Grab a spot on the seawall or the park lawn in the late afternoon, or simply watch from a waterfront balcony with a coffee or a cocktail in hand. It is a much quieter alternative to the beach at that hour.If you would rather watch that sunset from your own balcony, our Oceanfront Studio with ocean and lagoon views faces the same stretch of water.

Manatees and Wildlife

The Condado Lagoon is one of the easiest places in San Juan to spot Antillean manatees. They enter through the channel to graze and rest in the calm water, and sightings are common enough that paddlers often get a quiet fly-by just below the surface. You may also see herons, pelicans diving for fish, and the occasional sea turtle near the channel.

A few simple rules keep the lagoon healthy: give manatees plenty of space, never chase or touch them, and paddle around them rather than over them. The lagoon's recovery is a real local success story, and everyone who visits plays a small part in keeping it that way.

Is the Condado Lagoon Safe?

This is one of the questions I hear most from guests, and the honest answer is yes, with normal common sense. The lagoon is calm, shallow near the edges, and free of the rip currents that demand caution on the ocean side. Swim near the park where entry is easy, keep an eye on children as you would anywhere, and use footwear if you are walking on rocky sections of the shore.

The area around the lagoon is also one of the most walkable, well-trafficked parts of San Juan. Ashford Avenue, the main strip of Condado with its restaurants, cafes, and hotels, runs parallel to the water, and the park is popular with joggers and families throughout the day.

Where to Stay on the Condado Lagoon

Here is the part most visitors do not realize until they arrive: you can stay directly on the lagoon, not just near it. Our waterfront studios and penthouses at Condado Lagoon Waterfront Villas sit right on the water, so the view from your balcony is the same calm, turquoise lagoon described in this guide. Guests regularly message me photos of manatees they spotted while drinking their morning coffee.For a boutique lagoon-view balcony, guests tend to pick our Elegant Studio with lagoon views, and couples who want the hot tub choose the Bright Studio with a lagoon-view balcony.

From the villas, you are about a five minute walk to Condado Beach, a short stroll to Jaime Benitez Park for kayak rentals, and surrounded by the restaurants of Ashford Avenue. If you are still comparing areas and options, my guide to vacation rentals in Condado Beach breaks down how the neighborhood's stays compare.

Plan Your Lagoon-Side Stay

The Condado Lagoon is the quiet secret hiding in plain sight in San Juan's most popular neighborhood: calm water for paddling and swimming, manatees and sunsets, and a green park connecting it all. Whether you want an active morning on a paddleboard or simply a peaceful view to wake up to, the lagoon delivers a side of Condado that the beach crowds miss.

The lagoon is the calmest water in the neighbourhood, which is exactly why it anchors most of the itineraries in our family guide to San Juan with kids. Everything around it is close enough to reach on foot. We lay out the distances in our guide to exploring Condado on foot.

Ready to wake up on the water? Browse our waterfront studios and penthouses and book direct to save 15 percent. I would love to host you on the lagoon.

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