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Driving is the favorite transportation method for most locals and visitors in Puerto Rico. Roads are usually paved, but often poorly maintained and extremely congested. Watch out for narrow and washed-out roads in the central mountains and reckless drivers just about everywhere. (See On The Road.)
|
Aguadilla |
Aibonito |
Arecibo |
Cabo Rojo |
Fajardo |
Luquillo |
Mayagüez |
Ponce |
San Germán |
San Juan |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Aguadilla |
95 |
33 |
26 |
112 |
108 |
17 |
63 |
31 |
81 |
|
|
Aibonito |
95 |
|
61 |
72 |
59 |
62 |
78 |
32 |
66 |
42 |
|
Arecibo |
33 |
61 |
58 |
79 |
73 |
49 |
52 |
62 |
48 |
|
|
Cabo Rojo |
26 |
72 |
58 |
|
131 |
131 |
9 |
41 |
7 |
111 |
|
Fajardo |
112 |
59 |
79 |
131 |
7 |
129 |
89 |
125 |
34 |
|
|
Luquillo |
108 |
62 |
73 |
131 |
7 |
|
124 |
90 |
124 |
28 |
|
Mayagüez |
17 |
78 |
49 |
9 |
129 |
124 |
46 |
14 |
98 |
|
|
Ponce |
63 |
32 |
52 |
41 |
89 |
90 |
46 |
|
34 |
70 |
|
San Germán |
31 |
66 |
62 |
7 |
125 |
124 |
14 |
34 |
104 |
|
|
San Juan |
81 |
42 |
48 |
111 |
34 |
28 |
31 |
98 |
70 |
|
Though car rental can be expensive, driving is the most efficient way to get around in Puerto Rico. A car is a must for travelers who want to visit beaches outside the city center, hike in national parks, or simply move about in a timely manner. Unfortunately, it is impossible to rent a car in Puerto Rico if you are under 21 and pricey to do so at any age. Most travelers rent a car in San Juan and use it to get around the island, though there are car rental agencies in every major city. If you will be spending most of your time in San Juan or other cities, a compact car works best to navigate the island’s narrow, congested streets. If you plan to drive the Ruta Panorámica, a car with four-wheel drive may be the optimal choice for navigating the sharp turns and steep hills, though it’s possible to get almost everywhere without four-wheel drive.
You can generally make reservations before you leave by calling major international offices in your home country. However, occasionally the price and availability information they give doesn’t jive with what the local offices in your country will tell you. Try checking with both numbers to make sure you get the best price. Local desk numbers are included in town listings; for home-country numbers, call your toll-free directory.
To rent a car in Puerto Rico, you must be at least 21 years old. Some agencies require renters to be 25, and most charge those aged 21-24 an additional insurance fee (around $5-10 per day). Policies and prices vary from agency to agency. Occasionally, small local operations rent to people under 21, but this is not a predictable or reliable service; be sure to ask about the insurance coverage and deductible, and always check the fine print.
All of the following rental agencies have offices at the Luis Muñoz Marín Airport.
Rental car prices start at around $40 a day from national companies, $30 from local agencies. Expect to pay more for larger cars and for four-wheel drive. Cars with automatic transmission can cost up to $10 a day more than cars with manual transmission (stick shift), and in some places, automatic transmission is hard to find. Moreover, it is often difficult to find an automatic four-wheel drive.
Many rental packages offer unlimited miles, while others offer a limited number of miles per day with a surcharge per mile after that. Return the car with a full tank of gasoline (petrol) to avoid high fuel charges at the end. Be sure to ask whether the price includes insurance against theft and collision, tax, and special airport fees. Remember that if you are driving a conventional vehicle on an unpaved road in a rental car, you are almost never covered by insurance; ask about this before leaving the rental agency. Be aware that cars rented on an American Express, Visa, or MasterCard Gold or Platinum credit card in Puerto Rico might not carry the automatic insurance that they would in other countries; check with your credit card company. Insurance plans from rental companies almost always come with a deductible of around $500 for conventional vehicles; the excess ranges up to around $800 for younger drivers and for four-wheel drive. This means that the insurance bought from the rental company only applies to damages over the excess; damages up to that amount must be covered by your existing insurance plan. Some rental companies in Puerto Rico require you to buy a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), which will waive the excess in the case of a collision. Loss Damage Waivers (LDWs) do the same in the case of theft or vandalism.
National chains often allow one-way rentals (picking up in one city and dropping off in another). There is usually a minimum hire period and sometimes an extra drop-off charge of several hundred dollars.
If you plan to drive a car while in Puerto Rico, you must be 18. Puerto Rico accepts unexpired International Driving Permits or driver’s licenses from any country that imposes requirements similar to Puerto Rico (including the US, Canada, and many European countries) for up to 120 days. Visitors staying longer than 120 days must apply for a Puerto Rican license.
Your International Driver’s Permit, valid for one year, must be issued in your own country before you depart. An application for an IDP usually requires one or two photos, a current local license, an additional form of identification, and a fee. It may be a good idea to get an IDP, in case you’re in a situation (e.g., an accident or stranded in a small town) where the police do not know English; information on the IDP is printed in 11 languages, including Spanish. To apply, contact your home country’s automobile association. Be careful when purchasing an IDP online or anywhere other than your home automobile association. Many vendors sell permits of questionable legitimacy for higher prices.
Most credit cards cover standard insurance. If you rent, lease, or borrow a car, you will need a Green Card, or an International Insurance Certificate, to certify that you have liability insurance and that it applies abroad. Green cards can be obtained at car rental agencies, car dealerships, some travel agents, and some border crossings. Rental agencies may require you to purchase theft insurance in countries that they consider to have a high risk of auto theft.
Puerto Rican drivers can be classified somewhere between confident and reckless. Traffic is heavy; many people disregard speed limits, neglect to signal turns, and cut off other cars. Markers such as stop signs are treated more like suggestions than laws. Aggressive urban drivers will feel right at home.
Puerto Rico’s road system is very similar to that of the US. In this book “Rte.” (as in “Rte. 1”) refers to small, one-lane roads, and “Hwy.” (as in “Hwy. 7”) to highways and expressways; Puerto Ricans call almost all roads carreteras. Roads are fairly easy to navigate, though signage varies. In San Juan, remember that all signs pointing to “San Juan” eventually lead to Old San Juan. Puerto Rico has several good road maps, available for sale at most gas stations and drug stores. Hwy. 22, Hwy. 30, Hwy. 52, and Hwy. 53 are the island’s only toll roads. These freeways have intermittent toll booths charging $0.30-1. Use the lane with the green “C” if you have correct change and the lane with the red “A” if you do not.
One confusing aspect of Puerto Rico’s road system is the use of the metric system alongside the imperial system. Gas is measured in liters and the distance markers on the side of the road measure kilometers traveled. However, the speed limit is posted in miles per hour. Gasoline (petrol) prices vary, but average about $0.50 per liter in cities and from $0.55 per liter in outlying areas.
Carjackings are common in Puerto Rico, especially in big cities. If you are in a big city hotel without a parking lot, it’s a good idea to put your car in a garage. Ask the hotel receptionist for regional advice. Never leave anything visible in your car; people have been known to break in for something as small as a couple of tapes. Carjackings frequently occur at beaches, especially deserted beaches. When driving, keep doors locked. To help drivers avoid nighttime carjackings, Puerto Rico has passed a law that cars are not required to stop at red lights between midnight and 6am. While driving, be sure to buckle up—seat belts are required by law in Puerto Rico. The speed limit varies from region to region. Most highways have a limit of 65 mph, while residential areas may post limits as low as 20 mph.
Central mountain roads tend to be narrow with sharp curves, poor visibility, and frequent one-lane washouts. Throughout the island, most roads are paved, though many are poorly maintained and have accumulated their share of potholes. Never drive in the mountains at night or during a rainstorm. Perhaps the greatest danger are the local drivers, who often use the whole road in narrow spots and drive at high speeds around sharp turns. Drivers are also reckless on the roads around large cities such as San Juan, where signaling turns is uncommon practice and speed limits are frequently exceeded.
Most automobile clubs offer free towing, emergency roadside assistance, and travel-related discounts in exchange for a modest membership fee. US or Canadian residents traveling to Puerto Rico should consider contacting the American Automobile Association (AAA; ☎800-564-6222 roadside assistance 787-620-7805; www.aaa.com), which offers service in Puerto Rico. Membership costs vary depending on which branch you join ($50-60 for the first year; less for renewals and additional family members).
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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