There are many options for getting around Puerto Rico. Numerous flights connect various airports around the island, including Culebra and Vieques. There is a ferry service from San Juan to several nearby destinations, and from Fajardo to Vieques and Culebra. Add in the train, bus, taxis, and publics, and you won’t have any trouble getting to your destination or just getting out and exploring what Puerto Rico has to offer.
A taxi
From the airport, look for the Tourist Taxi, which bears the garita (garita) icon as its logo. You can also find them at designated taxi ranks at various points in San Juan (including Plaza de Armas and a few steps from Plaza Colón). Taxis can be expensive, with fares from the airport to Condado, Old San Juan, and Isla Verde starting at $ 15.
By Public
A public is a private transportation service that transports people across the island. This is a great option if you have free time (a trip across the island can easily take several hours with multiple stops), want to see small and local towns along the way, and enjoy mingling with blue-collar locals. .
By bus
Puerto Rico’s public buses are known as guaguas . Tourists in San Juan will be more interested in two lines: the A5, which travels from Old San Juan to Isla Verde, and the B21, which runs between Old San Juan, Condado, and the Plaza Las Américas shopping center. in Hato Rey.
The Department of Transportation also operates an efficient Metrobus, which has the most extensive network in the city. There is an interactive map on their website to help you plan your way around San Juan. Puerto Rico also has a green initiative underway to make its buses greener… always a plus.
In car rental
Unsurprisingly, virtually all car rental companies have a presence in Puerto Rico, along with several local companies. A partial list includes:
- Avis
- Budget
- Charlie Car Rental (the largest local agency on the island)
- Hertz
- National Car Rental
- Thrifty
In Vieques:
- Maritza car rental
In Culebra:
- Rent Carlos Jeep
By train
Train travel between cities does not exist, but you can move around the San Juan metropolitan area through the Urban Train, which is mainly a commuter train that connects residential and commercial points in the capital. As such, the Urban Train does not reach Old San Juan.
By ferry
Puerto Rico has a decent and very cheap ferry service. From Old San Juan, you can take a ferry to Cataño (which is the cheapest way to get to the Bacardi distillery) or to Hato Rey (the banking district and the site of Plaza Las Américas).
Most of the locals who want to get to Vieques and Culebra take the ferry from Fajardo. It takes about two hours and will get you there safely. However, it is packed on long weekends and popular holidays, and service can be spotty. You can also take a car on the ferry, but car ferry service is much more infrequent and less reliable.
By plane
The fastest and most effective way to travel across the island or to Vieques and Culebra is by plane. Several charter services and local airlines operate from San Juan’s Luis Muñoz MarÃn International Airport in Isla Verde or its smaller local Isla Grande Airport in Miramar. Among the airlines you will find here are:
- Air Flamenco
- Vieques air link
- Cape air
