Getting Around in Puerto Rico

Road Network and Traffic

Puerto Rico has a fairly well-developed road network with a system of highways and expressways (some toll-based) that roughly circle the island. Secondary roads head inland and into the cordillera, allowing you to cross the territory on a north-south axis. In short, the infrastructure is quite good, though this doesn’t prevent traffic jams, especially around the capital.

As for public transport, the options are varied, including buses, minibuses (locally called guaguas), ferries to the islands (Vieques and Culebra), a few domestic flights (mainly to the islands), and a small suburban rail network for the San Juan metropolitan area.

Car Rental

While public transport may be sufficient if you stay in San Juan or beach areas, a car becomes the best option if you want to explore the interior or venture off the beaten path. It also offers more freedom and makes things much easier if you’ve decided to base yourself in one place and explore from there. To save money, you could even rent a vehicle for just a few days—the time needed to visit areas that are hard to reach without your own transport.

Renting a car in Puerto Rico is very easy. The market is quite large, and you’ll find rental agencies at ports, airports, in cities, and beach areas. Generally, prices are affordable, and you can expect to pay around $30–40 per day for a small model.

Buses and Shared Vehicles

Buses

Guaguas

Like in Dominican Republic, guaguas are shared minibuses. They leave when they’re (very) full, stop on demand, and are a very economical—but not particularly comfortable—way to get around cities and cover short to medium distances.

Two Wheels

Motorcycle

Bicycle

Hitchhiking

Trains

Apart from San Juan’s suburban train, there are no longer any passenger rail lines in Puerto Rico.

Boats

There are two main ferry routes that run several times a day between the east coast of Puerto Rico (Fajardo) and the islands of Vieques and Culebra (see schedules). For the first, expect a 90-minute crossing for $2 each way, and 120 minutes for $2.50 each way for the second.

There’s also a small ferry line in San Juan, connecting the port to the nearby municipality of Cataño across the bay. Several trips run per hour, with a journey time of under 10 minutes for $0.50 each way. Beyond these regular ferries, you can also find "water taxis" or other boats to charter for trips to the islands or along the coast.

Domestic Flights

In Town

Taxis

Other Options

Urban bus: mainly in the capital area, with buses run by the Metropolitan Bus Authority operating daily until around 10:00 PM. The fare is $0.75, and drivers don’t give change.

Suburban train: the San Juan metropolitan area has a "Tren Urbano" serving the city and its outskirts daily from 5:30 AM to 11:30 PM, with a 17 km line (16 stops). The fare is $0.75 per ride (discount passes available).

What to Choose for Getting Around?

While public transport may be sufficient if you stay in San Juan or beach areas, a car becomes the best option if you want to explore the interior or venture off the beaten path.

Distances Between Cities

Distances (km) between the main cities and tourist spots in the country: