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Puerto Rico's main airport is Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (IATA: SJU) in Carolina, near San Juan. Jet Blue, Continental and Delta Connection also fly to smaller airports in the cities of Aguadilla and Ponce.
As Puerto Rico is part of the US commonwealth, '''U.S. Immigration and Customs Laws and Regulations apply''', however, U.S. citizens flying back to the U.S. mainland from Puerto Rico will not have to pass through Customs before boarding their flight. Travel between the mainland and San Juan, Ponce and Aguadilla is the same as if it were between two mainland cities.
Most U.S. and many international airlines offer direct flights from many cities to Puerto Rico. Flights are economical and numerous. SJU is the biggest and most modern airport in the Caribbean and offers all the conveniences and services (McDonalds, Dominos, Starbucks, etc.) of a major city airport. American Eagle operates a hub at SJU and airlines like Caribbean Sun, Liat and Cape Air offer cheap and easy connections to most Caribbean islands.
If you have lots of luggage, beware there are no baggage carts in the domestic terminal, although there are plenty of baggage porters available to help you for a tip or fee. Luggage Carts are available in the international terminal of the airport. At the exit, a porter will assist you with your luggage for a fee.
Transferring from the airport to your hotel usually requires taking a taxi, although some hotels provide complimentary transportation to their properties in special buses. Puerto Rico Tourism Company representatives at the airport will assist you in finding the right transportation. All major car rental agencies are located at the airport, and others offer free transportation to their off-airport sites.
Typical flight times (outbound flights are slightly longer due to headwinds):
On your way back out of Puerto Rico, note that you'll be required to pass all your check-in bags through a '''US Dept of Agriculture''' inspection ''before'' checking in. Many agricultural products, including most fruits and vegetables, are in fact permitted [http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/fsheet_faq_notice/notice_PPQ-puerto.html], but will be checked for disease. Cruise ship passengers with ship luggage tags are exempted.
Official Tourism Company-sponsored taxis on the Island are clean, clearly identifiable and reliable. Look for the white taxis with the official logo and the "Taxi Turistico" on the front doors. Under a recently instituted Tourism Taxi Program, set rates have been established for travel between San Juan's major tourist zones. Rates are as follows:
No Zone Piers (Old San Juan) to Plaza Las Americas - $14.00 No Zone Piers (Old San Juan) to Plaza Carolina - $24.00 No Zone Airport LMM to Plaza Las Americas - $18.00 No Zone Airport LMM to Plaza Carolina - $14.00 Zone 1 Airport LMM to hotels in Isla Verde - $10.00 Zone 2 Airport LMM to hotels in Condado/Ocean Park/Miramar - $14.00 Zone 3 Airport LMM to hotels and piers in Old San Juan - $19.00 Zone 4 Piers in Old San Juan to hotels in Old San Juan area- $7.00 Zone 5 Piers in Old San Juan to hotels in Puerta de Tierra - $7.00 Zone 6 Piers in Old San Juan to hotels in Condado/Ocean Park/Miramar - $12.00 Zone 7 Piers in Old San Juan to hotels in Isla Verde - $19.00
Additional metered rates are available which are not to/from the major tourist areas in San Juan: Types of Charges Charges Initial Charge $1.75 Charge per 1/19 of mile $0.10 Charge for waiting every 25 seconds $0.10 Charge per piece of luggage (up to 3) $0.50 Charge per piece of luggage (4 or more) $1.00 Charge per call $1.00 Charge for rental per hour $36.00 Night charge (10:00 pm until 6:00 am) $1.00 Minimal charge per trip $3.00 Charge for 5 passengers or more (only in vans) $2.00
Several taxi company numbers: Asociacion Duenos de Taxi de Carolina (787) 762-6066
Asociacion Duenos de Taxi de Catano y Levittown (787) 795-5286
Cooperativa de Servicio Capetillo Taxi (787) 758-7000
Cooperativa de Taxis de Bayamon (787) 785-2998
Cooperativa Major Taxi Cabs (787) 723-2460 or 723-1300
Metro-Taxi Cab. Inc. (787) 725-2870
Ocean Crew Transport (787) 645-8294 or 724-4829
Rochdale Radio Taxi (787) 721-1900
Santana Taxi Service, Inc. (787) 547-1926
'''Parking''' in the Old Town of San Juan is virtually non-existent (there is a public parking lot called "La Puntilla" which on weekends you only pay a fixed rate for the whole day, and it always has parkings available) and '''traffic''' in all major cities is bad during rush hour (8AM-10AM, 4PM-6PM), so give yourself plenty of time coming and going.
'''Road signs''' are Spanish language versions of their U.S. counterparts, so you shouldn't have trouble figuring them out. However, note that ''distances are in kilometers, while speed limits are in miles''. Gas is also sold by the liter, not by the gallon, and significantly less than the USA.
In addition to the regular free highway (''carretera'') network, there are three '''toll roads''' (''autopista'') on Puerto Rico. They're much faster and less congested than the highways, and it's worth using them if in any kind of hurry. Tolls for a 2-axle car range from $0.50 and $1.50. The lanes on the left are reserved for people with RFID (Autoexpreso) toll passes, which you probably won't have on your rental car. If you need change, head for the lanes marked with a "C", usually the furthest to the right.
Off the main highways, roads in Puerto Rico quickly become '''narrow, twisty and turny''', especially up in the mountains. Roads that are only one-and-a-half lanes wide are common, so do like the locals do and beep before driving into blind curves. Signage is often minimal, although intersections do almost always show the road numbers, so a detailed highway map will come in handy.
'''Police cars''' are easy to spot, as by local regulation, they must keep their blue light bar continuously illuminated any time they are in motion. Avoid getting a speeding ticket: fines start at $50 + $5 for each mile above the speed limit.
There are two ways of getting on a publico. The '''easier''' way is to call the local publico stand the day before and ask them to pick you up at an agreed time. (Your hotel or guesthouse can probably arrange this, and unlike you, they probably know which of the multitude of companies is going your way.) This is convenient, but it'll cost a few bucks extra and you'll be in for a wait as the car collects all the other departing passengers. The '''cheaper''' way is to just show up at the publico terminal (or, in smaller towns, the town square) as early as you can (6-7 AM is normal) and wait for others to show up; as soon as enough have collected, which may take minutes or hours, you're off. Publicos taper off in the afternoon and stop running entirely before dark.
Publicos can make frequent stops to pick up or drop off passengers and may take a while to get to their destination terminal, but you can also request to be dropped off elsewhere if it's along the way or you pay a little extra. Prices vary depending on the size of the publico and the distance being traveled. As an example, a small publico that can seat three or four passengers from Ponce to San Juan will cost roughly $15, while a 15 passenger publico that is traveling between San Juan and Fajardo will cost about $5 each person.
The Tren Urbano complements other forms of public transportation on the island such as the public bus system, taxis, water ferries and shuttles. The entire mass transportation system has been dubbed the _gAlternativa de Transporte Integrado_h (Integrated Transportation Alternative) or _gATI_h.
It's services are very reliable and are on time almost always.
'''Fares''' - A single trip costs $1.50 ($0.75 if you transfer from an AMA bus) including a 2 hour bus transfer period. If you exit the station and wish to get back on the train the full fare must be re-paid; there is no train to train transfer period. Students and Seniors (60-74 years old) pay 75 cents per trip. Senior citizens older than 75 and children under 6 ride for free. Several unlimited passes are also available.
A stored-value multi-use farecard may be used for travel on buses as well as on trains. The value on the card is automatically deducted each time it is used. It is a system similar to the Metrocard system used in New York City.
The AMA provides daily bus transportation to residents of San Juan, Guaynabo, Bayamon, Trujillo Alto, Catano, and Carolina through a network of 30 bus routes, including 2 express routes and 3 "Metrobus" routes. Its fleet consists of 277 regular buses and 54 paratransit vans for handicapped persons. Its ridership is estimated at 112,000 on work days.
The daily, weekend and holiday bus service from 4:30 AM to 10PM with the exception of a few routes that are limited to certain hours and the express routes.
There are two routes which are very reliable, M-I & M-II, commonly called Metrobus (metroboos). MetroBus M1 transit between Old San Juan to Santurce downtown, Hato Rey Golden Mile banking zone and Rio Piedras downtown where a nice open walking street mall and great bargains could be found, the Paseo De Diego. The Metrobus II transit from Santurce to Bayamon city, passing Hato Rey, including Plaza Las Americas Mall and to Guaynabo City. Many interesting places could be found on the routes, like the remains of the first european settlement on the island and the oldest under USA government, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caparra#History Museum Caparra Ruins (Ruinas de Caparra Museum)].
'''Horseback Riding'''
<do name="Horseback riding" alt="Hacienda 8A" address="Las Piedras" directions="" phone="787-567-0983" url="http://www.hacienda8a.com/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Your home in nature! Come do amazing horseback riding trailrides through breathtaking passages!</do> Whether you're dreaming about spectacular surfing waves, a challenging golf course, or the perfect sunbathing beach, Puerto Rico offers the active traveler a tremendous array of opportunities. Surfing and golf compete with tennis, fishing, kayaking, scuba diving, and horseback riding, not to mention windsurfing and parasailing, for your active time. The island has over 15 championship golf courses a short drive away from the San Juan metropolitan area.
Learn about the different character of Puerto Rico's favorite beaches, or find out where to participate in your favorite sports. The hardest part will be choosing what to do first.
'''Golf'''
[http://wwww.trumpgolfclubpuertorico.com The Trump International Golf Club] boasts Puerto Rico_fs first course of legendary proportions, designed by PGA Professional Tom Kite. Comprised of two 18-hole championship courses, the Championship and the International, our meticulously crafted fairways boast stellar scenery. Each course winds through lush tree groves and over waterways and lakes, amid tropical blooms and past scenic bluffs, delivering an unparalleled golfing experience to players of all levels.
'''Blue Flag in Puerto Rico'''
The Blue Flag Program, initiated in Europe since 1987 has been modified for implementation in the Caribbean. It is voluntary program and it has proven along the years to be a very effective strategy to guarantee the best quality in beach services for bathers in different parts of the world.
'''Scuba dive'''
... Puerto Rico's Caribbean coasts. Spectacular wall diving offshore Guanica, or the cayos of the Spanish Virgin Islands of Culebra & Vieques. PADI 5 star Instruction.
'''El Yunque'''
El Yunque, Puerto Rico's rain forest is a must see. It spreads out over a mountain, so if you walk uphill from the road you're in a cool rain forest. At any altitude you'll see numerous varieties of plant and animal life. If you're lucky you can catch a glimpse of the endangered Puerto Rican parrot & hear the song of the local Coqui tree frog. There are many hiking trails and the Yokahu tower is a great spot to see the forest from above. There are also two trails that lead you straight down to La Mina waterfalls. You can swim at the bottom of the falls in the cold refreshing water.
There are short hiking trails and long hiking trails and they do overlap. Pay close attention to the signs to ensure that you do not bite off more than you can chew.
Since it is a RAINforest, expect it to rain daily and frequently. This means you may wish to leave your expensive Louis Vuitton hand-bag at the hotel.
'''Outdoor Adventures'''
There is plenty to do outside the metropolitan areas. Many small family owned tour companies provide guided tours of the Central Mountains in Utuado near Rio Tanama, Repelling in Arecibo, kayak tours of Lake Guajataka, and horse back riding on the beach in Aguadilla. Some of the tour operators also provide low cost or free lodging. Let's Go Puerto Rico has listed a few of these outfitters or you can simply do an internet search with the name of the area you would like to visit to find things to do. The individual towns also have yearly festivals listed in the tourism guides available at both major airports.
'''Bioluminescent Bays'''
The bioluminescent bays near Fajardo and in Vieques are a soul-healing experience that should not be missed. The microscopic organisms that live in every drop of water in these bays will glow when they dart away from movement. Take a kayak or boat tour during a new moon for the best results; they're hard to see during a full moon and impossible to see in sunlight. The biolumicescent bay in Lajas is by far the most famous one to visit with many kiosks and restaurants there for the traveler to enjoy as well as boat tours.
Both Spanish and English are the official languages of Puerto Rico, but '''Spanish is without a doubt the dominant language'''. Fewer than 20 percent of Puerto Ricans speak English fluently, according to the 1990 U.S. Census. Spanish is the mother tongue of all native Puerto Ricans, and any traffic signs and such are written exclusively in Spanish, with the exception of San Juan and Guaynabo. However, people working in tourism-related businesses are usually fluent in English, usually locals in less touristed areas of the island can usually manage basic English, as it's taught as a foreign language in school. Menus in restaurants, even off the beaten track, are almost invariably bilingual.
That said, as anywhere, it's respectful to try make an effort and try to learn at least the basics. Average Puerto Ricans appreciate efforts to learn the language of their nation, and most are more than happy to help you with your prononciation. If you're already familiar with the language, beware that Puerto Rican Spanish speakers have a very distinct accent, similar to the Cuban accent, which is full of local jargon and slang unfamiliar to many outside the island. Puerto Ricans also have a tendency to "swallow" consonants that occur in the middle of a word. Puerto Ricans also speak relatively faster speed than Central Americans or Mexicans.
Examples of words that are unique to Puerto Rican Spanish include:
'''Taino influence'''
When the Spanish settlers colonized Puerto Rico in the early 16th century, many thousands of Taino people lived on the island. Taino words like hamaca (meaning _ghammock_h) and hurakan (meaning "hurricane") and tobacco came into general Spanish as the two cultures blended. Puerto Ricans still use many Taino words that are not part of the international Spanish lexicon. The Taino influence in Puerto Rican Spanish is most evident in geographical names, such as Mayaguez, Guaynabo, Humacao or Jayuya. You will also find Taino words in different parts of the Caribbean.
'''African influence'''
The first African slaves were brought to the island in the 16th century. Although 31 different African tribes have been recorded in Puerto Rico, it is the Kongo from Central Africa that is considered to have had the most impact on Puerto Rican Spanish. Many of these words are used today.
The Condado section of San Juan is home to fine designer stores such as Cartier, Gucci, Ferragamo, Mont Blanc and Dior.
You might want to check out the Belz Factory Outlets and the Prime Outlets of Puerto Rico. They house stores like Polo, Hilfiger, Banana Republic, Puma, Gap, PacSun, etc.
Most of the large cities on the island have a large regional mall with very familiar international stores.
There are plenty of ATM around the commonwealth. Most are linked to the Cirrus, Plus, American Express and Discover networks.
If you're looking for local crafts of all sorts, and want to pay less than in Old San Juan while getting to know the island, try going to town festivals. Artisans from around the island come to these festivals to sell their wares: from typical foods, candies, coffee and tobacco to clothing, accessories, paintings and home decor. Some of these festivals are better than others, though: be sure to ask for recommendations. One of the most popular (yet remote) festivals is the "Festival de las Chinas" or Orange Festival in ''Las Marias''.
Authentic Puerto Rican food (''comida criolla'') can be summed up in two words: '''plantains''' and '''pork''', usually served up with rice and beans (''arroz y habichuelas''). It is rarely if ever spicy, and to many visitors' surprise has very little in common with Mexican cooking.
Plantains (''platanos'') are essentially savory bananas and the primary source of starch back in the bad old days, although you will occasionally also encounter cassava (''yuca'') and other tropical tubers. Served with nearly every meal, incarnations include:
The main meat eaten on Puerto Rico is '''pork''' (''cerdo''), with chicken a close second and beef and mutton way down the list. Seafood, surprisingly, is only a minor part of the traditional repertoire: the deep waters around Puerto Rico are poorly suited to fishing, and most of the seafood served in restaurants for tourists is in fact imported. Still, fresh local fish can be found in restaurants across the east and west coast of the island, especially in Naguabo or Cabo Rojo respectively.
A few other ''puertorriqueno'' classics include:
If you want to eat like a local, look for places that are out of the way. There is a roadside food stand or 10 at every corner when you get out of the cities. Deep-fried foods are the most common, but they serve everything from octopus salad to rum in a coconut. You might want to think twice and consult your stomach before choosing some items - but do be willing to try new things. Most of the roadside stand food is fantastic, and if you're not hung up with the need for a table, you might have dinner on a beach, chomping on all sorts of seafood fritters at $1 a pop, drinking rum from a coconut. At the end of dinner, you can see all the stars. In the southwest of the island, in Boqueron, you might find fresh oysters and clams for sale at 25 cents a piece.
If you are really lucky, you might get invited to a pork roast. It's not just food - it's a whole day - and it's cultural. Folks singing, drinking, hanging out telling stories, and checking to see if the pig is ready, and staying on topic, you'll find the pig likely paired with ''arroz con gandules''.
With all these choices - roadside stands, local hangouts that you just might find - things that you've never seen before - do yourself a favor and never eat from the commercial fast food restaurant except maybe, the fried chicken restaurants, which just do it differently in PR.
Finally, there are some wonderful restaurants, and like everywhere, the best are found mostly near the metropolitan areas. Old San Juan is probably your best bet for a 4-star meal in a 4-star restaurant. However if your experimental nature wanes, there are lots of "Americanized" opportunities in and around San Juan. Good luck, keep your eyes open for the next roadside stand, and make sure to take advantage of all the sports to counteract the moving buffet.
Beer and hard liquor is available at almost every grocery store, convenience store, ''panaderia'' (bakery) and meat shop.
Puerto Rico is obviously famous for its rum and rum drinks, and is the birthplace of the world renowned ''Pina Colada''. Several rums are made in Puerto Rico, including Bacardi, Captain Morgan and Don Q. Rum is, unfortunately, not a connoisseur's drink in the same way as wine or whiskey, and you may get a few odd looks if you ask for it straight since it is almost always drunk as a mixer. The best rum available in Puerto Rico is known as ''Ron del Barrilito''. It isn't available in the mainland US, and is considered to be the closest to the rums distilled in the Caribbean in the 17th and 18th centuries, both in taste and the way it is distilled. It has an amber-brown color and a delicious, clean, slightly sweet taste. Very refreshing on a hot day with ice and a mint leaf.
During Christmas season, Puertoricans also drink "Coquito" an eggnog-like alcoholic beverage made with rum, egg yolks, coconut milk, coconut cream, sweet condensed milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
Most stores stock a locally-produced beer called ''Medalla Light'' that can be purchased for $1-$2 each. Medalla Light is only sold in Puerto Rico, and is first in the Puerto Rican market share. Other beer options for the discriminating drinker include ''Presidente'', a light pilsner beer from nearby Dominican Republic (note: it's a different brew from the Dominican version), and Beck's. Beck's imported to Puerto Rico and the rest of the Caribbean is a different brew from the one that makes it to the U.S., and is considered by many to be better. Other beers which have popularity on the island are Budweiser, Bud Light, Heineken, Corona and Coors Light, which happen to be one of the prime international markets. Many other imported beers are also available, but usually at a higher price.
Most of the beers sold vary from 10 to 12 ounce bottles or cans. The portions are small (compared to the Mainland) in order to be consumed before the beer has time to warm up. Tap water is treated and is officially safe to drink.
If you are an avid '''coffee''' drinker, you may find heaven in Puerto Rico. Nearly every place to eat, from the most expensive restaurants to the lowliest street vendors, serves coffee that is cheap, powerful, and deliciious. Puerto Ricans drink their coffee in a way particular to the Caribbean, known as a ''cafe cortadito'', which is espresso coffee served with sweetened steamed milk. A cup of coffee at a good panaderia is rarely more than $1.50.
As a legacy of Puerto Rico's status as one of centers of world sugercane production, nearly everything is drunk or eaten with sugar added. This includes coffee, teas, and alcoholic drinks, as well as breakfast foods such as ''avena'' (hot oatmeal-like cereal) and ''mallorcas'' (heavy egg buns with powdered sugar and jam). Be aware of this if you are diabetic.
There are also many fully furnished apartments you can rent by the day, week and month, especially in Old San Juan. These are usually inexpensive, clean and comfortable and owned by trustworthy people. They are located mostly in the residential area, which is safe (day and night), and within walking distance to everything from museums to nightlife.
See the San Juan section for contact numbers for hotels and short-term rental apartments.
Also the island has major medical teaching centers which are internationally acclaimed such as the University of Puerto Rico Center for Medical Sciences and the Ponce School of Medicine.
There is a small international workforce on the island. In general, it's possible to find a nice job on the island doing various things. The island is full of international businesses which look for skilled labor all the time. Tourism is obviously a big industry for Puerto Rico. Also, the majority of pharmaceutical companies can be found in PR & the island plays a very important part in pharmaceutical manufacturing for the US & other places in the world.
Nearly all crime is concentrated in the big metropolitan cities of San Juan and Ponce, and most of it is connected to the drug trade. However, the tourist areas of both cities are heavily patrolled by police, and violent crime directed against tourists is ''very'' rare. The main problem is '''theft''': don't leave your belongings unattended on the beach. Car theft is also an issue, so take care where you leave your car and don't leave valuables inside.
Make sure to stay away from public housing complexes known as ''caserios'', which are numerous and widespread throughout the island, and avoid shanty slums as well (La Perla in San Juan). These are frequently the location of drug dealers and other illegal activity as well as violent crime. If you must venture into such a location, avoid doing so at night and do not take pictures or film local residents without permission. You should never take pictures of children without permission, as this can be quite rude. Avoid drawing a lot of attention to yourself and be polite at all times.
Medical facilities are easily available all around the Island, and there are many trained physicians and specialists in many medical fields. There are a number of government as well as private hospitals. Health services are fairly expensive. Keep in mind that a visit to the doctor may not be as prompt as one is used to, and it is common to have to wait quite some time to be seen.
Visitors should expect a high level of quality in their medical service - it is comparable to the U.S. mainland. Drug stores are plentiful and very well stocked. Walgreens and El Amal are the biggest and most popular chains, although Walmart, K-Mart, and Costco offer medicines, as do numerous smaller local chains.
Politeness and a simple smile will get you far. Many locals are willing to help tourists provided no arrogance is shown. For either gender, it is very common to customarily kiss on one cheek when greeting a female. This is never done by a male to another male (except between relatives). Puerto Rican society is in general very social, and you will commonly see neighbors out at night chatting or gossiping with each other.
It is wise in some cases to avoid discussing the island's politics, especially with regards to its political status with the United States. Arguments are often very passionate, and can lead to heated debates. In the same manner it may be wise to neither discuss the political parties, as Puerto Ricans can be very passionate about the party they affiliate with. Puerto Rico has 3 political parties, marked (amongst other things) by different stances towards the relation to the United States: PNP (statehood), PPD (commonwealth) and PIP (independence). PNP and PPD share the majority of the voters, whilst PIP has a relatively small rating.
It is common for attractive women to have cat calls, whistles and loud compliments directed at them. These are usually harmless and it is best to just ignore them.
As with many other Caribbean nations, homosexuality is a taboo subject. Nevertheless, youth are usually more tolerant than the older generation.
The island also has widely available broadband internet access. High speed public wireless internet service in public areas (coffee shops, restaurants, hotels and malls) finally is also growing and free in most places. Look for Blue Zones or for [http://www.dmaxextremo.com/ DMAX] hotspots. Third Generation (3G) wireless internet access, through AT&T is widely available on the Island, especially in the major populated areas.
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