Overview
Puerto Rico (Rich Haven) has a most enticing natural wealth with its tropical rainforests, warm turquoise waters and soft yellow sand. The island is a fun-loving and multicultural travel destination, which is particularly evident in its rousing music and lively nightlife. Latin American rhythms combine here with musical influences from West Africa as well as swing and big band music. At the Cerro de Punta, Puerto Rico’s central mountain range reaches a height of 1,338 m. El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest of all US national forests. Just as unique as Puerto Rico’s ecosystem is its culture and way of life. In the capital San Juan, the Spanish heritage can be seen in the lovingly restored colonial buildings in many places, and Puerto Rico is otherwise an island of fiestas and paella. See other countries in North America on computergees.
Getting there
Arriving by plane
Condor (DE) flies once a week non-stop from Frankfurt/M. to San Juan; Austrian Airlines (OS) offers feeder flights to Frankfurt/M. from Vienna. Swiss (LX) flies from Zurich to Miami with the option of connecting to San Juan with American Airlines (AA). Iberia (IB) connects Frankfurt/M., Vienna and Zurich with San Juan via Madrid.
Flight times
Frankfurt/M. – Puerto Rico: 10 hours (non-stop); Vienna – Puerto Rico: 13 hrs 35 mins (with stopover); Zurich – Puerto Rico: 12 hours 35 minutes (with stopover).
Departure fee
None.
Arrival by car
Tolls: The well-developed freeways, including those from San Juan to Arecibo, Canóvas and Ponce and from Fajardo to Yabucoa, are subject to tolls. The toll is collected electronically via AutoExpreso; Rental cars are already equipped for this at most car rental companies. Documents: In addition to the national driver’s license, an international driver’s license must be carried.
Arrival by ship
San Juan is the largest passenger port in Puerto Rico, where numerous cruise ships from all over the world dock.
Cruise ships
Cruise ships from Cunard and Hapag Lloyd Cruises start their world voyages in Hamburg and call at Puerto Rico, among other places. Shipping companies such as MSC, Royal Caribbean, P&O Cruises and Holland America Line also have Puerto Rico in their program and depart from various European ports.
Ferry provider
Ferries del Caribe connects Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) with San Juan several times a week.
Transportation
Traveling by plane
The airline Vieques Air Link (VI) offers domestic flights; including from San Juan to the islands of Culebra and Vieques.
Traveling by car/bus
The road network of Puerto Rico connects all parts of the island. Tolls: The well-developed freeways, including those from San Juan to Arecibo, Canóvas and Ponce and from Fajardo to Yabucoa, are subject to tolls. The toll is collected electronically via AutoExpreso; Rental cars are already equipped for this at most car rental companies. Gas stations can be found everywhere.
Right-hand traffic/left-hand traffic
Right
Condition of the roads
Main roads and highways are well maintained. However, potholes are common on some downtown roads and on remote mountain roads. Highways 2 and 3, which run around the island, highway 10 from Arecibo to Ponce and highway 30 between Caguas and Humacao have been expanded to two or three lanes.
Road classification
The road network in Puerto Rico includes freeways marked with white letters on a blue background, country roads and mountain roads.
Car rental
Rental cars are available in San Juan at the airport and in the city, as well as in all major cities. Drivers must be at least 25 years old (varies by vehicle category) and have held their driving license for at least 1 year.
Taxi
The island’s white taxis, sponsored by tourism companies, are reliable; tariffs between the most visited tourist areas are set uniformly. These taxis are easily recognizable by the Taxi Touristico logo. The so-called publicós are much cheaper shared taxis, but travelers may have to wait longer for a sufficiently large number of passengers; they are marked publicó on their yellow number plates.
Bicycle
Bicycles and scooters are available from various suppliers, especially in San Juan.
Regulations
Traffic regulations: – Alcohol limit: 0.0 ‰. – Otherwise, the same regulations apply as in the USA. Speed limits: – in built-up areas: 40 km/h; – on rural roads: 72 km/h; – on motorways: 89 km/h.
Roadside Assistance
The ADAC foreign emergency call offers ADAC members and holders of ADAC foreign health and accident insurance comprehensive assistance in the event of vehicle breakdowns, traffic accidents, loss of documents and money, and medical emergencies. The emergency number is available around the clock; in the event of damage to the vehicle: Tel. +49 (0)89 22 22 22, in the event of illness: +49 (0)89 76 76 76. In the event of breakdowns and accidents with the rental car, the car rental company should be contacted first.
Documentation
In addition to the national driver’s license, the international driver’s license must be carried.
Traveling in the city
San Juan: The extensive bus network in the metropolitan area of San Juan is served by the Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses (AMA). Most bus routes operate between 5am and 9pm Monday to Friday and between 6am and 8pm on Saturdays and public holidays. The Tren Urbano is a fully automatic express train that serves the metropolitan area of San Juan with Bayamón and Guaynabo on a route of 17.2 kilometers, via 16 stations.
Traveling by ship
Ferry connections exist between Ceiba and the islands of Culebra and Vieques.
