Saving Time & Money – Discover The Best Ways To Travel & Get Around Puerto Rico!
On one island, Puerto Rico is home to a vast variety of natural landscapes, including mangrove islands, rain forests, coral reefs, salt flats, bays, unique karst zones, and caves.
Do you know that Puerto Rico is known as the paradise of the Caribbean due to its rich history, culture, fantastic food, breathtaking beaches, and majestic mountains?
Yes, it’s true! From the coast to the mountains, Puerto Rico has a wide range of natural habitats where you may find mangrove islands, rain forests, coral reefs, salt flats, bays, special karst zones, and caves, all on one island! We know that people go to Puerto Rico for its stunning beaches and cool Caribbean breezes.
However, once you’re there, it’s clear why this archipelago is so unique, from its historic buildings to its varied natural landscape. Tourists visit San Juan to shop and enjoy the city’s vibrant architecture and cobblestone streets. They go there to explore waterfalls and wildlife on a hike across the vast El Yunque jungle.
The sands of Isla de Vieques are among the best beaches in the world, especially Mosquito Bay, where bioluminescent creatures cause the ocean to shine blue-green at night. But the question is, how do we get there? What are the ways to travel to and get around the island? By road? By ship? By air? Let’s find out!
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In Puerto Rico, there are numerous ways to move around. Multiple flights connect some major airports like Culebra and Vieques to the island. Also, Ferries run between San Juan and some adjacent locations such as Fajardo, Vieques, and Culebra.
Don’t worry; you won’t have any trouble traveling to your destination or simply getting out and enjoying all Puerto Rico has to offer if you add the train, bus, taxis, and públicos!
Just Rent It!
The simplest way to explore the Island at leisure is to rent a car. The airports in San Juan, Aguadilla, and Ponce are home to this business, including Avis, Enterprise, and Budget. However, most rental vehicle providers are available at the airport in San Juan.
For example, Charlie Car Rental is a reputable local business located in San Juan and Aguadilla that provides affordable pricing and dependable service. A car is unnecessary if you only intend to stay in the metro region because parking spaces are scarce in the city and there is heavy traffic.
Travelers have varying opinions on Carlos Jeep Rental and Jerry’s Jeep Rental, so call well in advance of your trip for information or reservations if you’re looking to hire a car or golf cart on the island of Culebra.
Additionally, there are also rental car locations all around the Island. If you’re looking to get from point A to point B, operators with several branches will frequently let you rent from and return to separate places for an extra price.
“Explore Puerto Rico with ease! Rent a car today and unlock unforgettable adventures. Book now!“
Payments & More
Cash and the automated, pre-paid AutoExpreso system are accepted at toll booths in Puerto Rico. Most rental cars include an AutoExpreso tag, allowing you to travel around the island freely. Your operator will charge you after you return the vehicle.
Once the extremely high taxes and fees are considered, rates for economy-sized cars with unlimited mileage start at $40 per day or $450 for seven days. If you rent a car outside the Metro area or during busy holiday times, expect to pay substantially higher rates.
Always reserve much in advance; Puerto Rico’s rental car inventory was already at capacity before the outbreak. With any legitimate U.S. or foreign driver’s license, you can rent a car in Puerto Rico. Digital nomads and other long-term visitors should be aware that they must apply for a Puerto Rican license if their vacation lasts longer than 90 days.
Many of the airport’s automobile rental companies are not open 24/7. Be prepared to drop off your car early if you have a late or early trip home. In rural locations, gas stations are frequently closed on Sundays and typically at 7 p.m. There aren’t as many gas stations as on the mainland, so remember that the next one is far away.
Getting On The Train
Sadly, train travel between cities doesn’t exist. However, The Tren Urbano (Urban Train), primarily a commuter train connecting residential and commercial points in the capital, is the only way to navigate metropolitan San Juan without taking a train between cities.
As a result, Old San Juan is not accessible by the Tren Urbano. Nevertheless, Guaynabo, Bayamón, and portions of the metropolitan region of San Juan may be traversed through rail. Tren Urbano, a single-line rapid transit system with 16 stops spread over 10 miles, is a well-liked and reasonably priced way to get around the metro region.
Commuter Flights
After commuter trains, the island is rich in commuter flights too! In fact, it is now much simpler to travel between Puerto Rico’s islands thanks to many commuter airports such as Vieques Air Link, Cape Air, and Air Flamenco.
Also, Isla Grande (SIG) in San Juan, Ceiba (RVR), and Mayagüez are some additional short-haul airports (MAZ).
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With the exception of island-hops to Vieques and Culebra, Puerto Rico’s domestic air transportation system is limited and hardly used. The cost of a domestic flight from Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Muoz Marn in San Juan to Mayagüez and Ponce ranges from $75 to $80 one-way, depending on the day and time of travel.
In addition, frequent flights to Culebra and Vieques from San Juan or Fajardo are more practical for most travelers. Many airlines service these routes; however, due to the small size of the aircraft—neither island can accommodate a jet—holiday travel times are sometimes hectic.
The least expensive flights depart from Isla Grande, a small domestic airport in San Juan, and cost about $100 roundtrip. The international airport also offers direct flights from Cape Air and a few other carriers, which are more convenient for connections but more expensive. Yes, they start from $180! Woah.
Ferries Or Fairy?
Puerto Rico has a really friendly and highly affordable ferry service. You can take a ferry from Old San Juan to Hato Rey, where Plaza Las Américas is located, or to Catao, the cheapest route to the Bacardi distillery.
The majority of locals use the ferry from Fajardo to get to Vieques and Culebra. It takes around two hours and will safely transport you there. It can be crowded on long weekends and major holidays, though, and the service might be sporadic.
You can also bring a car on the boat, although the service is far less dependable and much less regular. So what are you waiting for? Take a ferry from Puerto Rico’s main island to Culebra and Vieques, two offshore vacation spots.
Trip times might range from 30 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the ferry and the state of the water when it leaves Ceiba.
However, always remember that ferries only have a limited number of parking spots for vehicles, and most rental car agencies won’t let their customers leave the mainland, so maybe your best option can be to hire a taxi, rent a car, or rent a golf cart once your boat docks!Â
Actually, the service may be inconsistent as the ferries are pretty busy on long weekends and holidays. So if you’re pressed for time, private boat operators provide charters to outlying islands and cruises on fast catamarans.
Motor Vehicles - Scooter, Buses, Taxi & More!
Starting with the scooters, they are a terrific method to move around San Juan if you are running short of time. Download the app, provide your payment information, and add your driver’s license to hire scooters.
The app will display nearby scooters and a map of prohibited zones. How cool!!? Apart from this, you can also hail a taxi or a bus! The Department of Transportation operates the most comprehensive Metrobus network in the city. You may plan your route around San Juan using the interactive map on their website.
Additionally, Puerto Rico is implementing a green drive to make their buses more environmentally friendly, which is always great!
Públicos
We talked about these at the start of the article, but the question is; what are they? Actually, a publico is an independently run shuttle service that provides access to the entire island.
This is a great choice if you have time on your hands, want to see small, local communities along the way, and prefer mixing with blue-collar locals.
Experience The Puerto Rico Life Through Your Favorite Travel Method! ...🛪
Have you decided what method to choose yet? Perhaps your best option can be to hire a taxi, rent a car, or rent a golf cart. Don’t worry; all are equally cool!Â
No wonder Puerto Rico is referred to as the “Island of Enchantment” due to its excellent year-round climate and accessibility by air and boat. It has long captured travelers’ hearts with its colonial architecture, tropical warmth, various landscapes, and traditional food.
Book any traveling method now and learn why this little gem is worth the trip despite having just over 3,500 square miles!
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