Errors Household Made Visiting Puerto Rico for First Time; Journey Suggestions

Puerto Rico, also referred to as the Enchanted Island, has been excessive on my listing of locations to go to for years.

I’ve at all times wished to discover the island’s rainforests, seashores, and colourful, charming outdated city. When I lastly made it to Puerto Rico for a weeklong go to with my household in July, we had a good time.

However, I believe our journey would’ve been higher if we had averted these 4 errors.

Solely counting on rideshares

Jamie Davis Smith

Puerto Rico is a comparatively small island — it is received fewer sq. miles than Connecticut, one of many tiniest US states — so I assumed it could be simple to get round and not using a automotive.

A good friend who had beforehand visited the island really helpful that my household simply use Uber, since visitors tends to be heavy and parking will be troublesome. Their logic appeared sound, and this largely labored, however we bumped into some hiccups.

After I arrived, I noticed that rideshare autos aren’t approved to function within the El Yunque National Forest, which I had been wanting ahead to visiting. Instead of heading there on our personal, we ended up reserving an expensive tour with transportation included.

Though I used to be thrilled to lastly see the glowing bioluminescent bay in Fajardo, which must be skilled after sundown, our household struggled to get again to our lodge after darkish.

Wait instances for a trip have been lengthy, and I ended up submitting a number of requests for a driver earlier than one lastly agreed to choose us up.

Ultimately, I ended up spending extra time ready for rides and extra money reserving excursions with personal transportation than I had anticipated.

Although I managed and not using a automotive, I remorse not simply renting one to keep away from a number of the charges and stress.

Dealing with visitors and parking would have been irritating in their very own methods, however a minimum of we might’ve explored extra of the island if we would had a rental automotive.

Not reserving excursions and excursions far sufficient prematurely

Jamie Davis Smith

One of the issues I really like about journey is spontaneity. Usually, this method works properly and makes my journey higher.

There are exceptions, equivalent to a visit to Tokyo that concerned reserving actions months prematurely. However, since I used to be visiting the Caribbean island in the summertime, exterior the island’s peak winter journey interval, I wasn’t nervous.

Perhaps I ought to’ve been, as not planning far prematurely made my journey to Puerto Rico harder.

Jamie Davis Smith

I discovered that reserving excursions on the final minute right here was practically inconceivable. That shocked me as a result of I’ve been in a position to guide last-minute excursions in lots of different locations I’ve traveled — even throughout the busiest journey seasons.

Though I used to be in a position to expertise the highest gadgets on my listing, like visiting the rainforest and a bioluminescent bay, doing so took hours of additional analysis.

Eventually, I began skipping some points of interest on my want-to-visit listing, like a espresso plantation, as a result of discovering last-minute availability was so irritating and time-consuming.

If I return to Puerto Rico, I’d make an effort to guide extra excursions and excursions earlier than even boarding my flight.

Significantly underestimating prices

Jamie Davis Smith

Prices have been greater than I anticipated, particularly in comparison with journeys I’ve taken elsewhere within the Caribbean — a distinction that makes extra sense given Puerto Rico’s US ties and labor prices.

Most of our meals, even at fast-casual eating places, value my household of 5 (two adults, three children) a minimum of $100.

At one level, I used to be shocked to search out that the most affordable order of mofongo (a Puerto Rican dish made primarily from plantains) on the menu at a fundamental restaurant close to the seashore was $25.

The dish was tasty, however my view was of a dumpster quite than the ocean. Back residence in DC, after I pay that a lot for one dish, it is normally at a nicer restaurant with a greater view.

After a few days, my husband walked to a grocery store close to our lodge to choose up some groceries and snacks, which helped us save on meals prices.

Jamie Davis Smith

Similarly, a number of excursions value greater than I anticipated.

We did a large-group kayaking tour I anticipated to value round $50 per particular person, which is what I’ve paid for related excursions elsewhere.

Instead, the tour value $70 per particular person, which added up for my household of 5. Our half-day tour to El Yunque National Park additionally value $625 for the 5 of us — plus a money tip for the information.

The tour was nice, and my children beloved zipping down pure rock slides and leaping off a cliff. I might’ve even appreciated to do the tour once more and see extra of the park, however it was too costly for us to contemplate doing it twice.

On the intense aspect, each resorts we stayed at on the island provided entry to seashores, swimming pools, and loads of actions (like biking and kayaking) for no added value. This helped us have enjoyable with out spending more money.

If we have been to do Puerto Rico once more, although, I’d set a extra lifelike finances for our trip.

Not visiting smaller islands

Jamie Davis Smith

During my journey, a number of locals and frequent guests to Puerto Rico really helpful visiting a minimum of one of many territory’s many smaller islands — it is received over 100 of them.

I attempted to see the island of Vieques throughout my go to, however all ferry tickets have been bought out by the point I checked. I thought-about visiting a distinct island, equivalent to Culebrita, as an alternative, however finally gave up on navigating last-minute logistics.

Seeing one in every of Puerto Rico’s smaller islands would have allowed me to expertise extra of the territory’s wealthy tradition and pure magnificence.

Next time, I’d make sure to plan out day journeys and guide ferry tickets prematurely.