Puerto Rico public transportation?
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So I'm having a surprisingly hard time finding any information about public transportation in Puerto Rico. Just about every source I consult says something vague about it existing and then just says "rent a car". That's just not practical for some folks who are, say, under 24 and/or Finnish. Does anyone have any experience getting around PR sans car? It sounds like it might be easier to find out actual schedules for longer distance (+30 min) trips. They're supposed to be fairly regular, with vans leaving from town squares. But how "regular"? Is there going to be some way to consult and actual time table? What about bringing backpacks / luggage on board? Any info would be great! (I'll be sure to fold it back into the guides). ~m
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By maj on 2007-04-10 02:04
Jonboy
San Juan
Within the greater San Juan area, I think you'll find no shortage of timetables, etc. It was very convenient and felt very safe to take the bus from our hotel into Old San Juan (and back).
Outside this area, my understanding (which must be derived from guidebooks, because we rented a car) is that there are designated meeting points, but the buses are privately operated. They leave when they fill up with enough people to make the trip worth the driver's while.
Jon
lherrero
Public Transportation in Puerto Rico.
There really is no such thing.
In San Juan there is a spanking new metro, with great rides, comfy cars and reasonable prices...that no one uses. The public buses are fairly good, cheap, and safe. You can ask any driver or passenger for directions, and most of the time they´ll kindly give them to you (i recommend asking a passenger, but beware because once puertoricans start talking they don´t stop). But once you leave the metropolitan area things get complicated.
There are plenty of colectivos in town squares, but like the other poster said they are privately own and dont run on fixed schedules. The colectivos, or pisicorre in local slang, are mostly there for people coming from the rural areas to run errands in San Juan. Thus, there are not that many routes leaving San Juan in the morning, but you´ll find plenty in the afternoon, say 2 or 3 pm. There is a fairly regular service, called La Sultana, that runs between San Juan and Mayaguez and is located very near the University, close to the metro station Universidad. Check the telephone directory for numbers.
The best ´terminal´ for pisicorres in San Juan is in Río Piedras. Just take the number 1 bus from San Juan to Río Piedras, the Expreso number 1 is faster but less frequent, till the end of the route in Río Piedras. When you arrive ask for directions to the Terminal de pisicorres, located a couple of blocks away. There you will need to start asking drivers where they are going and hop in one bus. They are cheap, and you can carry your luggage, but beware that they do not leave until they are full.
Exploring Puerto Rico via public transport is daunting, even for a local like me, but I believe you´ll have some of the best experiences in the pisicorres.
jani
Good info there, I'd tried
Good info there, I'd tried to summarize it for the Puerto Rico page on WT -- please chip in! And here's my own experience from earlier today...
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