Puerto Rico | Travel Information
General Info, Travel Info, & FAQs are provided to assist with your vacation.
CUSTOMS Visitors are allowed to bring in 200 cigarettes (one carton) or 50 cigars or 2kg (4.4 pounds) of smoking tobacco, or proportional amounts of each, and visitors 21 years and older are allowed to bring in one litre of alcoholic beverage duty free.
For more information call US Customs in San Juan at 787/253-4533.
Also see the section in General Info: Illegal items.
IMPORTING ANIMALS Dogs and cats more than four months old require a rabies vaccination within six months of arrival. You'll also need a health certificate and vaccination certificate, including rabies, issued by a licensed veterinarian from the country of origin. Dogs coming from rabies-free countries do not require a rabies vaccine.
For current regulations contact the Puerto Rico State Veterinarian, Department of Agriculture at tel 787/796-1650, 796-1835 or 796-0138. For more information visit the US Department of Agriculture website at www.aphis.usda.gov/ac.
GETTING THERE BY AIR Most flights land at the island's largest airport, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (airport code SJU) in Isla Verde, just outside of San Juan. The other airports are Rafael Hernández Airport (airport code BQN) in Aguadilla, Eugenio María de Hostos Airport (airport code MAZ), four miles north of Mayaguez, and Mercedita International Airport (airport code PSE) in Ponce. Approximate flying times are 4.25 hours from Toronto, 7.5 hours from Los Angeles, 2.5 hours from Miami, 5.75 hours from Mexico City, 10 hours from Paris and 12 hours from London.
Airlines that service Puerto Rico include Air Canada (tel 877/321-0173), Air Flamenco (tel 787-724-1105), Air Sunshine (tel 888/879-8900), American Airlines/American Eagle (tel 800/981-4757), ATA/American Trans Air (tel 800/435-9282), Cape Air (tel 800/352-0714), Condor (tel 800/364-1667), Continental Airlines (tel 800/231-0856), COPA (tel 800/FLY-COPA), Delta Airlines (tel 800/221-1212), Iberia (tel 800/772 4642), Jet Blue (tel 800/538-2583), LIAT (tel 866/549-5428), Northwest Airlines (tel 800/225-2525), Pan Am Clipper Connection (tel 800/359-7262), Spirit Airlines (tel 800/772-7117), US Airways (tel 800/622-1015), United Airlines (tel 800/United-1) and Vieques Air Link (888/901-9247).
Note: The phone numbers listed above are local access numbers unless otherwise stated.
BY CRUISE Cruise lines that call on the island include Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn, Sea Dream Yacht Club and Silversea Cruises.
The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (tel 800/866-7827) maintains a cruise ship schedule.
GETTING AROUND BY CAR There are plenty of car rental agencies on the island. Bicycles and motorcycles are also available for rent. Gas stations are located all around the island. Roads are clearly marked, although street signs are in Spanish. To rent a car you will need your valid driver's license from home.
Driving is on the right. Speed limits are posted in miles per hour while distances are posted in kilometres. Speed bumps are used to control speeding.
Carolina: 787-791-0600; Hertz, 787-253-362; Dollar Rent a Car, 787-791-5600
Mayaguez (Eugenio María De Hostos Airport): Avis, 787-832-0406; Budget, 787-832-4570; Hertz, 787-832-3314; Thrifty, 787-834-1590
Ponce (Mercedita International Airport): Avis, 787-842-6154; Budget, 787-848-0907; Hertz, 787-843-1685; Dollar Rent a Car, 787-843-6940; Thrifty, 787-290 2525
San Juan (Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport): Avis, 787-253-5926; Budget, 787-791-0600; Hertz, 787-791-0840; Dollar Rent a Car, 787-791-5500; Thrifty, 787-253-2525
BY TAXI Tourist taxis, indicated by the Taxi Turistico logo on the door, are reliable. Fares are based on zones between the airport or cruise ship pier and tourist zones within San Juan and Old San Juan. Outside of tourist zones fares are based on a meter or an hourly rate. A charge of 50¢ is applied for each piece of luggage, and an additional charge of $1 is applied for each piece of luggage more three pieces. Island taxi tours are available in addition to standard taxi service.
Sample zone fares are as follows: From the airport to Isla Verde, $10; to Condado/Miramar, $14; to the pier area in Old San Juan, $19 From the piers to Old San Juan, $7; to Condado/Miramar, $12; to Isla Verde, $19; to the Plaza Las Américas shopping mall, $14; to the Plaza Carolina shopping mall, $24
The initial charge for meter rates is $1.75. Thereafter 10¢ is applied for every 1/19 of a mile, and a $3 minimum charge applies. A rate of 10¢ per 25 seconds is charged for waiting time. Rates increase between 10pm and 6am. Each additional passenger over five costs an additional $2. The hourly rental rate is $36.
TAXI SERVICE Bayamon: Cooperativa de Taxis, 787-785-2998 Isla Verde: Federacion-Taxis-Puerto Rico, 787-253-3260 Ponce: Cooperativa de Taxis, 787-848-8248 San Juan: Taxis Service, 787-645-8294 Santurce: La Casa del Taxista, 787-727-2764
BY FERRY Island Hi-Speed Ferry (tel 877/899-3993) operates a seasonal ferry service (Dec-Apr) to the small islands of Culebra and Vieques from Old San Juan. From Thurs-Sun the ferry departs Old San Juan at 8am, arrives in Culebra at 9:45am, then departs Culebra at 10:30am for arrival in Vieques at 11am. On the return trip it departs Vieques at 4:30pm, arrives in Culebra at 5pm, then departs at 5:30pm to arrive in Old San Juan at 7:45pm.
Fares are as follows: Between Old San Juan and Culebra: adult round trip $68, child $53; adult one way $42, children 4-12 years $32 Between Old San Juan and Vieques: adult round trip $78, child $63; adult one way $47, children 4-12 years $37 Between Culebra and Vieques: adult round trip $33, child $23; adult one way $22, children 4-12 years $17
The ferry leaves from the Aquaexpresso Ferry Terminal (Pier 2 next to the cruise ship docks) in Old San Juan, where you can also buy tickets. Advance reservations are recommended.
Fares and schedules are subject to change.
BY BUS Metropolitan Bus Authority (AMA and Metrobús; tel 787-767-7979) operates a public bus (guagua) service along set routes in San Juan between 5:30am and 10pm. Fares cost 25-50¢ depending on the route. Bus stop signs say Parada. Rates are subject to change.
BY TRAIN The urban train system, called Tren Urbano, operates daily 5:30am-11:30pm. The adult fare is $1.50, seniors 60-74 years and students pay 75¢, and kids under 6 years old and seniors over 75 years old are free. Rates and subject to change.
BY AIR Airlines that fly to local destinations include Air Flamenco (tel 787-724-1105), Isla Nena (tel 877/812-5144), MN Aviation (tel 877/622-5566) and Vieques Air Link (888/901-9247).
Disclaimer: Information is provided as a service to visitors and is updated regularly. All
information should be verified prior to travel.
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