Puerto Rico, also known as the Enchanted Island, has been high on my list of places to visit for years.
I’ve always wanted to explore the island’s rainforests, beaches, and colorful, charming old town. When I finally made it to Puerto Rico for a weeklong visit with my family in July, we had a great time.
However, I think our trip would’ve been better if we had avoided these four mistakes.
Solely relying on rideshares
Puerto Rico is a relatively small island — it’s got fewer square miles than Connecticut, one of the tiniest US states — so I assumed it would be easy to get around without a car.
A friend who had previously visited the island recommended that my family just use Uber, since traffic tends to be heavy and parking can be difficult. Their logic seemed sound, and this mostly worked, but we ran into some hiccups.
After I arrived, I realized that rideshare vehicles aren’t authorized to operate in the El Yunque National Forest, which I had been looking forward to visiting. Instead of heading there on our own, we ended up booking a pricey tour with transportation included.
Though I was thrilled to finally see the glowing bioluminescent bay in Fajardo, which has to be experienced after sunset, our family struggled to get back to our hotel after dark.
Wait times for a ride were long, and I ended up submitting several requests for a driver before one finally agreed to pick us up.
Ultimately, I ended up spending more time waiting for rides and more money booking tours with private transportation than I had expected.
Although I managed without a car, I regret not just renting one to avoid some of the fees and stress.
Dealing with traffic and parking would have been frustrating in their own ways, but at least we could’ve explored more of the island if we’d had a rental car.
Not booking excursions and tours far enough in advance
One of the things I love about travel is spontaneity. Usually, this approach works well and makes my trip better.
There are exceptions, such as a trip to Tokyo that involved booking activities months in advance. However, since I was visiting the Caribbean island in the summer, outside the island’s peak winter travel period, I wasn’t worried.
Perhaps I should’ve been, as not planning far in advance made my trip to Puerto Rico more difficult.
I found that booking tours at the last minute here was nearly impossible. That surprised me because I’ve been able to book last-minute excursions in many other places I’ve traveled — even during the busiest travel seasons.
Though I was able to experience the top items on my list, like visiting the rainforest and a bioluminescent bay, doing so took hours of extra research.
Eventually, I started skipping some attractions on my want-to-visit list, like a coffee plantation, because finding last-minute availability was so frustrating and time-consuming.
If I return to Puerto Rico, I’d make an effort to book more excursions and tours before even boarding my flight.
Significantly underestimating costs
Prices were higher than I expected, especially compared to trips I’ve taken elsewhere in the Caribbean — a difference that makes more sense given Puerto Rico’s US ties and labor costs.
Most of our meals, even at fast-casual restaurants, cost my family of five (two adults, three kids) at least $100.
At one point, I was surprised to find that the cheapest order of mofongo (a Puerto Rican dish made primarily from plantains) on the menu at a basic restaurant near the beach was $25.
The dish was tasty, but my view was of a dumpster rather than the ocean. Back home in DC, when I pay that much for one dish, it’s usually at a nicer restaurant with a better view.
After a couple of days, my husband walked to a supermarket near our hotel to pick up some groceries and snacks, which helped us save on food costs.
Similarly, several excursions cost more than I expected.
We did a large-group kayaking tour I expected to cost around $50 per person, which is what I’ve paid for similar excursions elsewhere.
Instead, the tour cost $70 per person, which added up for my family of five. Our half-day tour to El Yunque National Park also cost $625 for the five of us — plus a cash tip for the guide.
The excursion was great, and my kids loved zipping down natural rock slides and jumping off a cliff. I would’ve even liked to do the tour again and see more of the park, but it was too expensive for us to consider doing it twice.
On the bright side, both resorts we stayed at on the island offered access to beaches, pools, and plenty of activities (like biking and kayaking) for no added cost. This helped us have fun without spending extra money.
If we were to do Puerto Rico again, though, I’d set a more realistic budget for our vacation.
Not visiting smaller islands
During my trip, several locals and frequent visitors to Puerto Rico recommended visiting at least one of the territory’s many smaller islands — it’s got over 100 of them.
I tried to see the island of Vieques during my visit, but all ferry tickets were sold out by the time I checked. I considered visiting a different island, such as Culebrita, instead, but eventually gave up on navigating last-minute logistics.
Seeing one of Puerto Rico’s smaller islands would have allowed me to experience more of the territory’s rich culture and natural beauty.
Next time, I’d be sure to plan out day trips and book ferry tickets in advance.
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