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Posted: 1/29/2015 2:05:52 PM EDT
[#1]
Yes. Close, convenient, fun.
Eta: cost of living is similar to traveling within CONUS. US dollar is the currency. Airplane fares are more or less reasonable from the East coast. Crime targeting tourists is rare and mostly petty theft. |
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Posted: 1/29/2015 2:17:51 PM EDT
[#2]
Fly to San Juan. Be sure to book a rental with Charlie Car over the internet in advance. You can get a great car for about 113/week that way. Then, drive it straight to Fajardo and board the Ferry. You will need to leave the rental at Fajardo. When you get to Culebra about an hour later, rent a jeep. Drive around Culebra and see some of the most beautiful beaches ever. Tamarindo Beach is protected, so when you snorkel there, you will see turtles, Lobster, and all sorts of other fish and creatures. You will even see a tank at Flamenco beach, voted the #2 beach in the world. Drive all around, eat some food, maybe even spend the night in Culebra. There are many homes for rent there. After, take the ferry back to Fajardo, and drive up to El Yunque, the rainforest on PR. It is absolutely beautiful. Once there, hike to the waterfall seen here: http://youtu.be/eD8fdCL9j3k When you are done, you can drive wherever you please. The south coast, which I have not visited, is supposed to be a great place to spearfish. Roberto Reyes takes you offshore to spear wahoo, dophin, and even marlin. I had a great time there a few years ago and plan to go back soon. |
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Posted: 1/29/2015 2:27:27 PM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Fly to San Juan. Be sure to book a rental with Charlie Car over the internet in advance. You can get a great car for about 113/week that way. Then, drive it straight to Fajardo and board the Ferry. You will need to leave the rental at Fajardo. When you get to Culebra about an hour later, rent a jeep. Drive around Culebra and see some of the most beautiful beaches ever. Tamarindo Beach is protected, so when you snorkel there, you will see turtles, Lobster, and all sorts of other fish and creatures. You will even see a tank at Flamenco beach, voted the #2 beach in the world. Drive all around, eat some food, maybe even spend the night in Culebra. There are many homes for rent there. After, take the ferry back to Fajardo, and drive up to El Yunque, the rainforest on PR. It is absolutely beautiful. Once there, hike to the waterfall seen here: http://youtu.be/eD8fdCL9j3k When you are done, you can drive wherever you please. The south coast, which I have not visited, is supposed to be a great place to spearfish. Roberto Reyes takes you offshore to spear wahoo, dophin, and even marlin. I had a great time there a few years ago and plan to go back soon. I wish I would have had this advice when I went. Wife and I spend most the time in Old San Juan. Pretty cool place and architecture reminds me somewhat of the French Quarter. |
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Posted: 1/29/2015 7:30:11 PM EDT
[#4]
Thanks for all of the info, anyone else?
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Posted: 1/29/2015 7:39:46 PM EDT
[#5]
my brother went this past summer. I said why the fuck go down there when you can spend the money in FL or AZ or whereever. He said it was OK. Only complaint was the workers weren't that friendly.
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Posted: 1/29/2015 7:41:05 PM EDT
[#6]
I was born there and spent time between there and Chicago growing up. PR is getting really expensive now. It's still a good place to visit but nearly getting as expensive as Hawaii.
I usually go to Culebra Island as well. But I took a flight as the ghetto .Gov run ferrys suck. Did that once, never again. To buy tickets you have to be in line at least by 5am. Rent a car, it will be cheaper if your insurance will cover you when you are outside the country. Travel the coast and to the central mountains area. I like hitting up a place called Las Longanizas in a town called Orocovis. They have awesome spanish style smoked sausage with the typical PR fixings. Go hungry. You can also visit the Guabate which is a town that is famous for roast pigs. Hit up the Bio-luminecent bay in Ponce. Kayaking and depending on the waves maybe get in some surfing in Isabela, Aguadilla or Rincon. Hit up Fort El Morro, and walk around San Juan at night but stay close to the groups of folks. There is plenty of shopping and eating places. try out Pollo tropical. Its a chicken joint I always hit up. If you have any questions hit me up. |
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Posted: 1/29/2015 7:49:33 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Thanks for all of the info, anyone else? I got tons of info, what would you like to know? |
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Posted: 1/29/2015 7:50:01 PM EDT
[#8]
I would have to say no, because I felt it was "americanized" to such a degree that, a lot of times I felt like I was in areas of NYC rather than the Carribean.
Also I would say no to the rain forest, unless with a small group with a good guide, because all you will see is green forest, which then becomes like any other green forest. We stayed on either Culebra or Vieques, can't remember which (1996), which although tropical, was rustic. Although I ran out of time on that trip, I would recommend trying exploring the interior mountain towns for weekend nightlife, for a "authentic" cutural experience. PS: Also did not care for Jamaica or St Thomas(USVI) St Croix (USVI was ok for 3 days or so, then take seaplane (awesome) and ferry to St John (paradise) |
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Posted: 1/29/2015 7:58:10 PM EDT
[#9]
If you're an outdoors type, do it. Even right on the island there are places where you can do some good diving and snorkeling a stone's throw from shore. |
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Posted: 1/29/2015 8:05:50 PM EDT
[#10]
What kind of things do you like to do?
Snorkeling/SCUBA diving: Try the west coast. Specifically, the town of Rincon. For some spectacular diving, charter a boat to the nearby island of Desecheo. Historical sight seeing: Old San Juan is hard to beat, with the forts an old Spanish architecture. Nature: As mentioned, there is the tropical rainforest (El Yunque). The cave system at Camuy is quite a treat, as well. Surfing: Also at Rincon. This is highly dependent of the time of the year, since the waves can be quite good, or flat as a 12 yr old. Also, there is the radio telescope at Arecibo, with the 1000 foot dish (as 333 yds in diameter). |
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Posted: 1/29/2015 8:12:46 PM EDT
[#11]
Culebra is awesome. Kayaking Puerto Rico offers some cool tours there. Old San Juan is neat too - check out Fort San Cristobal if you go. I also did an ATV tour of some tropical forest area, but I have no idea what organization I went through, but it was a blast. I plan to go back soon.
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Posted: 1/29/2015 8:26:07 PM EDT
[#12]
F Puerto Rico.
Go to Costa Rica. Cheaper, more beautiful, way more cool stuff to do. 
Went there for 3 weeks in 2012. |
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Posted: 1/29/2015 8:29:19 PM EDT
[#13]
Go to Costa Rica instead. Thank me later.
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Posted: 1/29/2015 8:30:40 PM EDT
[#14]
Stay away from the caserios.
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Posted: 1/30/2015 6:58:13 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
F Puerto Rico. Go to Costa Rica. Cheaper, more beautiful, way more cool stuff to do. http://www.lookupmagazine.com/userfiles/Costa%20Rica.jpg Went there for 3 weeks in 2012. Thinking about taking the family there when my oldest son graduates high school next year. |
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Posted: 1/30/2015 7:18:31 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Fly to San Juan. Be sure to book a rental with Charlie Car over the internet in advance. You can get a great car for about 113/week that way. Then, drive it straight to Fajardo and board the Ferry. You will need to leave the rental at Fajardo. When you get to Culebra about an hour later, rent a jeep. Drive around Culebra and see some of the most beautiful beaches ever. Tamarindo Beach is protected, so when you snorkel there, you will see turtles, Lobster, and all sorts of other fish and creatures. You will even see a tank at Flamenco beach, voted the #2 beach in the world. Drive all around, eat some food, maybe even spend the night in Culebra. There are many homes for rent there. After, take the ferry back to Fajardo, and drive up to El Yunque, the rainforest on PR. It is absolutely beautiful. Once there, hike to the waterfall seen here: http://youtu.be/eD8fdCL9j3k When you are done, you can drive wherever you please. The south coast, which I have not visited, is supposed to be a great place to spearfish. Roberto Reyes takes you offshore to spear wahoo, dophin, and even marlin. I had a great time there a few years ago and plan to go back soon. Good info here except for Charlie Car. We have a house on the western coast and go to the island about 4 or 5 times a year, maybe more. Of friends and family that use the house, we average between 36-48 visits each year. Charlie Car is tempting due to the lower rates, but they have fucked each of us at least once - for a couple $100 each time. We now fly in to San Juan and take Cape Air to Mayaguez where we rent a car direct from Enterprise in the airport terminal. Ponce is the 2nd largest city on the island but was boring every time we've gone. Most American expats live in Rincon on the west coast and that area is pretty friendly to tourists and is beautiful to see. The satellite dish in Arecibo is interesting as are the caves in Camuy (I believe). Be sure to eat at any kioskos you find - there will be a roadside stop with about 20-30 mom and pop restaurants crammed in a long narrow strip center with open bays. Some of the best food I've eaten has been in Puerto Rico. |
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Posted: 1/30/2015 7:26:11 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Go to Costa Rica instead. Thank me later. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile I have been looking, but the reviews for snorkeling and scuba aren't very good. Any recommendations? |
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Posted: 1/30/2015 8:15:19 PM EDT
[#18]
Cueva Ventana is pretty cool. It's an easy cave to explore; there's a little bit of climbing, but no tight areas..it's big inside.
Cueva Ventana Location I lived on the west side of the island for a few years and enjoyed that area a lot. During the week, there's hardly anyone at the beaches. There's a ton of cool bars to hang out at in Rincon. This is Bahia Sucia (dirty bay) which is a short hike beyond the "Los Morrillos" lighthouse in Cabo Rojo.  " />
This is from the top of El Yunque, the rainforest on the east side. If you like to hike, this is a must do.  " />
You'll find beaches like this all over the island.  " />
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Posted: 1/30/2015 11:50:58 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I lived on the west side of the island for a few years and enjoyed that area a lot. 
 ?
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Posted: 1/30/2015 11:56:52 PM EDT
[#20]
I've been there six times in the last 5 years. Fun to visit, wouldn't want to live there. I know of a place in the hills just outside of San Juan that only sells rabbit empanadas. Most awesome empanadas you will ever have. That Medala sucks though.  Best Rican restaurant in San Juan  Good German restaurant in the hills.  My favorite hotel in PR. Never stayed there (always with my Brother in Law), but I loved to just hang in the lobby or at the pool.  View from BILs townhome.  Hope you don't need a wheelchair, the sidewalks aren't handicap friendly.  Hope you like pig.  There are some bad areas. Ok, a LOT of bad areas.  Unfortunately this place closed. Awesome Spanish food.  I discovered Passoa in PR. Awesome stuff.  Anyway, PR is almost like my 2nd home. But just to visit. Not live.  |
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Posted: 1/31/2015 12:18:53 AM EDT
[#21]
Hell yes, stay in San Juan, isla verde at the ritz carlton. Eat at Buddha Thai, go to old san juan, zip lining and vieques.
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Posted: 1/31/2015 12:23:08 AM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I lived on the west side of the island for a few years and enjoyed that area a lot.
http://www.rameyafb.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/1946pic.jpg ? Grew up there...... |
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Posted: 1/31/2015 12:35:24 AM EDT
[#23]
Well, found out I'm PCSing down to PR this year, so thanks for all the info everyone.
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Posted: 1/31/2015 1:04:50 AM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Good advise, What ever you do, stay out of La Perla, bad drug ghetto. If you can, go to Quattro, up by Caguas, It's a club in an A- frame on the hillside above San Juan, great music, good people, and a view of San Juan from above I wish I would have had this advice when I went. Wife and I spend most the time in Old San Juan. Pretty cool place and architecture reminds me somewhat of the French Quarter. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Fly to San Juan. Be sure to book a rental with Charlie Car over the internet in advance. You can get a great car for about 113/week that way. Then, drive it straight to Fajardo and board the Ferry. You will need to leave the rental at Fajardo. When you get to Culebra about an hour later, rent a jeep. Drive around Culebra and see some of the most beautiful beaches ever. Tamarindo Beach is protected, so when you snorkel there, you will see turtles, Lobster, and all sorts of other fish and creatures. You will even see a tank at Flamenco beach, voted the #2 beach in the world. Drive all around, eat some food, maybe even spend the night in Culebra. There are many homes for rent there. After, take the ferry back to Fajardo, and drive up to El Yunque, the rainforest on PR. It is absolutely beautiful. Once there, hike to the waterfall seen here: http://youtu.be/eD8fdCL9j3k When you are done, you can drive wherever you please. The south coast, which I have not visited, is supposed to be a great place to spearfish. Roberto Reyes takes you offshore to spear wahoo, dophin, and even marlin. I had a great time there a few years ago and plan to go back soon. I wish I would have had this advice when I went. Wife and I spend most the time in Old San Juan. Pretty cool place and architecture reminds me somewhat of the French Quarter. |
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Posted: 1/31/2015 4:39:57 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: Fly to San Juan. Be sure to book a rental with Charlie Car over the internet in advance. You can get a great car for about 113/week that way. Then, drive it straight to Fajardo and board the Ferry. You will need to leave the rental at Fajardo. When you get to Culebra about an hour later, rent a jeep. Drive around Culebra and see some of the most beautiful beaches ever. Tamarindo Beach is protected, so when you snorkel there, you will see turtles, Lobster, and all sorts of other fish and creatures. You will even see a tank at Flamenco beach, voted the #2 beach in the world. Drive all around, eat some food, maybe even spend the night in Culebra. There are many homes for rent there. After, take the ferry back to Fajardo, and drive up to El Yunque, the rainforest on PR. It is absolutely beautiful. Once there, hike to the waterfall seen here: http://youtu.be/eD8fdCL9j3k When you are done, you can drive wherever you please. The south coast, which I have not visited, is supposed to be a great place to spearfish. Roberto Reyes takes you offshore to spear wahoo, dophin, and even marlin. I had a great time there a few years ago and plan to go back soon. I wish I would have had this advice when I went. Wife and I spend most the time in Old San Juan. Pretty cool place and architecture reminds me somewhat of the French Quarter. La Perla, LOL. You have to TRY to go there. You won't just take a wrong turn. You do need to walk by the cemetery and then the street overlooking La Perla and check it out though. See how the 1% lives. The bottom 1%. |
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Posted: 1/31/2015 4:49:01 PM EDT
[#26]
The island of Vieques is just as pretty as culebra, not nearly as touristy nor over built. Picturesque beaches with NOBODY there. And you can also get there via he ferry in Rincon though I recommend taking a puddle jumper. The cab ride from San Juan is shit and expensive and the ferry schedule SUCKS to the point that you essentially lose a day on the arrival and departure leg of your trip.
Get there, rent a trail rated jeep, go run the trails and check out red, blue and green beaches and hit the biobay as well.
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Posted: 1/31/2015 4:55:43 PM EDT
[#27]
wife and I spent 11 days in PR this passed summer. We loved it. We stayed about 45 min outside of San Juan. We hung out in the city and enjoyed the nightlife, bars, and architecture. We also went into the jungle, to various beaches etc.
We had a blast, and have talked about going back. If I did it again, I would probably send a few nights in SJ and then a few nights outside of the city. Let me know if you have any questions. |
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Posted: 1/31/2015 5:07:57 PM EDT
[#28]
Fuck PR.
The FL keys are way better, cleaner and way way fucking safer. I'm sorry, but most of PR is dangerous from a mainlander perspective. |
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Posted: 1/31/2015 5:11:26 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Fuck PR. The FL keys are way better, cleaner and way way fucking safer. I'm sorry, but most of PR is dangerous from a mainlander perspective. Only if you are stupid and go where you shouldn't. I've been all over the island several times in the last few years. Not a single problem. |
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Posted: 1/31/2015 7:44:11 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The island of Vieques is just as pretty as culebra, not nearly as touristy nor over built. Picturesque beaches with NOBODY there. And you can also get there via he ferry in Rincon though I recommend taking a puddle jumper. The cab ride from San Juan is shit and expensive and the ferry schedule SUCKS to the point that you essentially lose a day on the arrival and departure leg of your trip. Get there, rent a trail rated jeep, go run the trails and check out red, blue and green beaches and hit the biobay as well. The ferry is in Fajardo, not Rincon. |
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Posted: 2/8/2015 11:34:03 AM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Fly to San Juan. Be sure to book a rental with Charlie Car over the internet in advance. You can get a great car for about 113/week that way. Then, drive it straight to Fajardo and board the Ferry. You will need to leave the rental at Fajardo. When you get to Culebra about an hour later, rent a jeep. Drive around Culebra and see some of the most beautiful beaches ever. Tamarindo Beach is protected, so when you snorkel there, you will see turtles, Lobster, and all sorts of other fish and creatures. You will even see a tank at Flamenco beach, voted the #2 beach in the world. Drive all around, eat some food, maybe even spend the night in Culebra. There are many homes for rent there. After, take the ferry back to Fajardo, and drive up to El Yunque, the rainforest on PR. It is absolutely beautiful. Once there, hike to the waterfall seen here: http://youtu.be/eD8fdCL9j3k When you are done, you can drive wherever you please. The south coast, which I have not visited, is supposed to be a great place to spearfish. Roberto Reyes takes you offshore to spear wahoo, dophin, and even marlin. I had a great time there a few years ago and plan to go back soon. Thanks for the info, and Thanks to OP for the timely thread! I'm going with family for 6 days in March, during spring break Booked at the Ritz Carlton in hopes of cutting down on the spring breaker types. I have a couple co-workers that are from PR and they tell me during spring break the college types have sex right on the beach (not the drink) but "it's usually later in the day". Since I'm taking my 13 year old daughter I'm hoping to avoid those types. They also recommended Charlie Car rental. |
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Posted: 2/8/2015 12:11:23 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Grew up there...... Quote HistoryQuoted:
Grew up there...... You probably wouldn't want to see it, if you haven't already. We had a lot of retirees come stay in MWR housing and talk about how heartbreaking it was to see what used to be a whole city of manicured lawns and fresh paint. Quoted:
Well, found out I'm PCSing down to PR this year, so thanks for all the info everyone. If BQN, the diving is excellent if you know where to go. If BSJ, good luck with that. 
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Posted: 2/9/2015 3:45:01 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You probably wouldn't want to see it, if you haven't already. We had a lot of retirees come stay in MWR housing and talk about how heartbreaking it was to see what used to be a whole city of manicured lawns and fresh paint. If BQN, the diving is excellent if you know where to go. If BSJ, good luck with that.
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Grew up there...... You probably wouldn't want to see it, if you haven't already. We had a lot of retirees come stay in MWR housing and talk about how heartbreaking it was to see what used to be a whole city of manicured lawns and fresh paint. Quoted:
Well, found out I'm PCSing down to PR this year, so thanks for all the info everyone. If BQN, the diving is excellent if you know where to go. If BSJ, good luck with that.
BQN, June-July timeframe. |
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