Puerto Rico Travel Tips

View from Yokahú Tower Area El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System, is just 45 minutes from San Juan. But getting there has a catch: there's no public transportation, and rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft are prohibited from entering the forest. 📍 Quick Answer: No, you cannot Uber or take a Lyft to El Yunque National Forest. Rideshare apps are strictly prohibited from entering or picking up passengers inside the forest bou

If you already know San Juan and the east (and if you don't, I left you my east guide to start with), let me tell you what comes next. Because the real Puerto Rico, the one that stays with you, is almost always a little farther from where most people go: in the mountains, in the west, in those corners that don't make the typical three-day itinerary. Here are two of my favorite areas for going beyond. The mountains: Cayey, Guavate, and a view you won't forget Heading up into t

There are a thousand ways to explore Old San Juan, but there's a way to do it right: pacing your energy, knowing where to stop, and using the tricks only locals tell you. Let me walk you through my route. Where to start (and how not to wear yourself out) The first thing is deciding where you begin, and this choice saves you energy. You can start from Plaza Colón, which connects easily to everything, but be ready to walk uphill. Or you can start from El Morro and work your way

A local driver's guide to exploring Puerto Rico beyond San Juan Most people who visit Puerto Rico stay in San Juan, or rent a car and spend the trip glued to their GPS, hunting for parking and counting down to the next stop. And they miss the best of it. If you ask me where to start, I'd say the east. It's the area I know best, and for me it's the one that mixes beaches, culture, nature, and great food without straying too far from San Juan. Here are my places. Piñones Almos