There are at least thirteen ways to get around Puerto Rico. Transportation options in Puerto Rico include rental cars, taxis, buses, Uber, ferries, trains, scooters, and even trolleys. If you’re deciding how to get around in Puerto Rico, the best transportation method will depend on the cities you’re visiting, if you’re staying in the metro area, your budget, and your preferred way of traveling. Show
That probably sounds like a lot to sort through, huh? Well, don’t worry – because I’m a local and I’m here to help! In this list, I’m breaking down the best and worst of each transportation method so you can choose exactly what will fit your needs. I will also tell you the best local’s tips on how to move in Puerto Rico. Let’s dive in: Table of Contents
Disclosure: Travel Lemming is an independent reader-supported blog. You can support us by purchasing via the affiliate links on this page, which may earn us commissions. Thank you! 13 Ways to Get Around in Puerto RicoRental Cars🚗 Best for: Comfort, saving time, and freedom to explore  Renting a car is the single best way for moving around the island of Puerto Rico. Driving in Puerto Rico is actually pretty easy, especially if you are coming from elsewhere in the USA. You will find major rental car companies in Isla Verde, where you can get a rental car for your trip with a driver’s license, compulsory liability coverage, and collision damage insurance. If you don’t have any insurance, you can pay an additional fee to get it with most rental car companies, or it’s also available as an add-on when booking through Discover Cars. To search dozens of agencies at once, and compare quotes side by side, I suggest using the Discover Cars search engine. Pros of Car Rentals:
Cons of Car Rentals:
👉 Pro Tip: Check out my full article on how to rent a car in Puerto Rico, as well as my guide to driving in Puerto Rico for helpful drive tips. Taxis🚕 Best for: Saving time, and comfort Taxis are the second most used transportation by tourists, after a car rental, on the island. Taxis can pick you up right at the airport and take you to wherever you want to go. Certain routes have a fixed rate, otherwise, taxis have to use the meter to calculate the price based on the distance. Some taxis charge additional fees per piece of luggage or for transporting larger groups. Pros of Taxi:
Cons of Taxi:
👉 Don’t Miss: My list of the top Things to Do Around Puerto Rico this year! Tours🚍 Best for: Safe exploring and saving time If you rather avoid a car rental company, you can opt for exploring Puerto Rico through tours. Most travelers hire tour operators to visit the main attractions of San Juan in a day trip and save time, or to visit areas outside the capital city. You can find most of the best-rated Puerto Rico tours on Viator, as well as a few other ones available on Get Your Guide. Pros of Tours:
Cons of Tours:
Uber🚘 Best for: Comfort Uber is the predominant ridesharing company in Puerto Rico. Anyone with the app in their smartphone can use it. The service is available in the metropolitan area even during night hours. Pros of Uber:
Cons of Uber:
Private Shuttles🚍 Best for: Saving time and comfort Private shuttles are an alternative to taxis. Different local companies offer international visitors transportation from the San Juan airport to different points of the island, like the Ceiba terminal. Depending on the luxury of your vehicle and the amenities, the price for a private shuttle can increase significantly. Pros of Private Shuttles:
Cons of Private Shuttles:
Scooter🛴 Best for: Saving time, and comfort For visitors that are short on time, the scooters are a great way to move around San Juan. To rent the scooters, download the app, add your driving license, and payment method. The app will show you the scooters near you and a map of the areas where you can’t use them. Pros of Scooter:
Cons of Scooter:
On Foot🚶♀️ Best for: Saving money, and freedom to explore Few cities in Puerto Rico are walkable, but Old San Juan is one of them. If you’re planning to stay in Old San Juan, you can safely explore the city’s sites and attractions by walking. This is a great way to save money on transportation and see San Juan at the same time! Beyond San Juan, Rincón, Cataño, and Ponce are walkable cities too. Pros of Walking:
Cons of Walking:
📚 Related Reading: Is Puerto Rico Safe for Travel Right Now? AMA Bus🚍 Best for: Saving money, mingling with locals The AMA buses have 24 routes that run around San Juan, and other major cities in the metro area. You can catch an AMA in the designated bus stations, and you have to pay 75 cents per one-way trip in coins or with or with a card you can get at any train station. The bus runs until 9:00 pm on weekdays, 8:00 pm on Saturdays, and they don’t run on Sundays. Pros of AMA:
Cons of AMA:
👉 Local Tip: If you have a smartphone, you can download the First Transit app to monitor the live location of the bus and the bus schedule. Tren Urbano🚃 Best for: Saving money, saving time, and avoiding traffic The urban train is a light rail system that provides a quick way to move between San Juan, Guaynabo, and Bayamon from 6:00 am to 11:20 pm. The fee for a one-way trip is $1.50 and you can get the train card at the vending machines at every station. Learn more about the stops on their website. Pros of Tren Urbano:
Cons of Tren Urbano:
👉 Local Tip: Carry cash to buy your train card, since many of the machines don’t accept debit or credit cards. Ferry⛴️ Best for: Saving time and money There are three ferry routes in Puerto Rico. These are between San Juan and Cataño, Ceiba and Vieques, and Ceiba and Culebra. The round trip between San Juan and Cataño is only $1 and the roundtrip from Ceiba to any of the municipal islands is from $4 to $4.50. Ferry is the best way to get to the islands of Culebra and Vieques (which, by the way, I recently visited and can say offers a ton of fun things to do!). Pros of Ferry:
Cons of Ferry:
👉 Bookmark for Later: Top Things to Do in Vieques. Airplane✈️ Best for: Saving time and exploring safely Another way to move around the island is through airplanes. Airlines like Cape Air, Vieques Air Link, and Air Flamenco offer daily flights to Vieques and Culebra, from Luis Muñoz Marín or Isla Grande Airport. Some of these airlines also land at airports like the Mercedita International Airport (PSE) in Ponce, and the Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN) in Aguadilla. Pros of Airplanes:
Cons of Airplanes:
“Pisa y Corre” or Guagua Pública🚌 Best for: Saving money Pisa y Corre or Guagua Pública are small buses that travel between cities for a small fee. You can catch one in the “terminal de carros públicos” in the cities’ center. Locals use them because they have more extensive routes than AMA buses, but you have to wait until the bus is full for it to leave the terminal. You must pay your fee in cash. Pros of Public Buses:
Cons of Public Buses:
City Trolley🚎 Best for: Saving money Some cities in Puerto Rico have trolleys that run during the daylight and that are free. There isn’t a specific website to find out about the services, so you will always have to ask the locals to find out if the city offers the service. San Juan, Bayamón, Carolina, and Guaynabo are some of the cities with a trolley. Pros of a Trolley:
Cons of a Trolley:
5 Tips For Getting Around In Puerto RicoChoose The Best Method for YouAlthough most visitors choose to go with a car rental, the truth is a car is not necessary if you’re planning to stay in Old San Juan only. The old city is entirely walkable and it’s safe even during the night. A car will only be necessary if you want to explore the main island on your own. Rent a Car if You CanThe easiest way to get around Puerto Rico by yourself is with a car. Although renting a car in San Juan, Puerto Rico might seem expensive, you’d be saving money in the end if you compare it with booking tours for a few days. It also gives you more flexibility and time to explore the scenic routes of the island. Be sure to use Discover Cars to compare agencies and get the best deals. Know the Traffic RulesPuerto Rico’s traffic system is similar to the United States. Besides knowing the laws for wearing seat belts, be aware of the speed limits for school zones, highways, and urban areas, to avoid getting a ticket for overspeeding. Read my complete guide for driving in Puerto Rico here. Know Your SpanishIf you’re planning on taking public transportation, be sure to know basic Spanish phrases that can help you in case you get lost. There aren’t many bus drivers that know English, so it will be hard to communicate in case you need directions. Use AppsGoogle Maps works in Puerto Rico, but you should always download your maps offline in case you lose signal. You can also keep at hand a translator app to help you out with possible language barriers, and use First Transit to know the AMA locations and stops. Map of Puerto Rico*** How you explore Puerto Rico will depend on your final destination and your preference. Do you know the places you’ll be visiting within the island? Check out my post on the best places to visit in and outside San Juan. What is the best way to get to Puerto Rico?The easiest way to get to Puerto Rico is to fly, though the island is also connected to the Dominican Republic and Virgin Islands by ferry.
Where do you fly into for San Juan Puerto Rico?Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) is the largest airport in Puerto Rico. With over 20 different airlines, SJU has more than 21,000 passengers in and out of the Island daily.
Is there a way to get to Puerto Rico without flying?Yes, you can take a fast ferry from Puerto Rico. Fast ferry duration ranges from 13 hours. Ferries Del Caribe are popular ferry operators offering high speed ferries to Puerto Rico.
Can you fly direct to Puerto Rico?Which airlines offer direct flights to Puerto Rico? jetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Qatar Airways, Azul Airlines, American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Etihad Airways all fly non-stop to Puerto Rico.
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How to get to San Juan, Puerto Rico
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