Puerto Rico on a budget..?

Question

Im travelling to Puerto Rico in May with a friend and my sister for 10 days. Im taking about $1000 but my friend is only taking $500, I want to experience everything Puerto Rico has to offer but I dont think my friend can. I dont want her to feel left out. We already have our airline tickets and hotel paid for so that is covered, but I need to find cheaps tours or excursions.ANY HELP!?

Answer 1

To be honest with you $500 is nothing to spend 10 days anywhere in the world on vacation. Saying that, forget about tours all are expensive. Starting on $45 and more per person. Your best bet will be renting a car for at least 3 days. We drive on the same side of the road, signs are in both languages and mapquest works in PR.

Day 1: Drive to El Yunque Rainforest, you do not have to pay entrance, do the hiking trails, enjoy the waterfalls...if hike all the way to the top it can take 4 hours (the most) until you're back where you started. Then stop at Luquillo beach which is in your way back and eat at the kiosks next to the road. They are great, cheap, and very popular. You can have a great lunch or dinner with $10 each one.
http://www.elyunque.com/17.html

Day 2: Drive to Las Cuevas de Camuy Cave Park, http://www.travelotica.com/travelguide/107/puerto-rico/rio-camuy-cave-park-42962.htm, entrance $10 per person, stop on your way back at the Arecibo Observatory $5 per person, http://www.naic.edu/outreach/describe_fset.htm

Day 3: Drive to Fajardo and take the ferry to Culebra $4.50 per person roundtrip. http://www.culebra-island.com/CulebraIsland/Transportation/Ferry_Schedule.htm
Flamenco beach is just beautiful! A must see...http://www.elyunque.com/culebra.html

You can enjoy and relax the rest of your vacation in the area where you will be staying. Taxis to Old San Juan are not that expensive and the beach should be within walking distance from your hotel if you are staying in the main touristic hotel area. Check expedia and travelocity or in the car rentals websites for the lowest rates. Decide if want to enjoy 2 days and then rent the car, or what ever you want to do....

Once in Old San Juan get the ferry at Pier 1 to the Bacardi Rum Distillery. Ferry is $0.50 per person and the tour is free, plus they give you free samples.
http://www.casabacardi.org/

I almost forgot a must for us girls! You have to go to Plaza Las Americas in Hato Rey. The biggest Mall in the Caribbean, I live in Texas and have not seen one like it yet!

Thi slink will take you to the Que Pasa website. Official travel planner to PR.

There are fast foods everywhere and local rest or small "fondas" where you can find puertorrican food at good prices. Save the money for taxis, drinks if you plan to party, shopping, and gas. But your friend ain't buying any souvenirs with that budget.... :)

Have fun!

Answer 2

I am from Puerto Rico but live in Texas. Your friend will be very tight on the money, but people here gave you some very good advise. The yunque rain forest is free unless you want a guide. Most beaches are free or a minimal fee to go in. Walking in Old San Juan is free unless you statrt buying stuff, lol. El Morro castle, camuy cavern park, arecibo observatory. Maybe I can give you some pointers. Drop me a line if you need some ideas. Enjoy your trip.

Answer 3

So if I am reading you post correctly there will be 3 of you.

Your friend is going to have about $50 per day. So she will have to spend carefully. Try the local street vendors for local snacks, they are very good. Ask where do the locals eat in the area where you will be staying (then you will not need taxis)

One option is to rent a car for a few days. Typical cost in the region of $35 + gas (divide this by 3) and it will work out at around $12 per day + gas.

If you plan on taking any organised trips they will cost you about $45-50 per person (e.g. for El Yunque), which makes renting a car cheaper.

Without a car, you can see Old San Juan (probably cost you $10 each way for a taxi from the Condado area, slightly more from Isla Verde, again divide by 3).

You can easily spend a day in Old San Juan just walking around or jumping on the free trolley service. Check out El Morro, The Cathedral, San Juan Gate, Paseo de la Princesa Promenade. Streets are narrow with great architecture. You can spend as much as you want on food, but can definitely get a good main course for dinner for less than $20.

Prices for meals and drinks are on a par with a major city in the States.

Other places you should consider are:
El Yunque (rainforest) plus spend the afternoon at Luquillo Beach

Check out one of the grand hotels on a weekend evening and try your hand (feet) at some latin dancing.

Ponce (by car or organized tour) on the South coast for more Puerto Rican architecture

Arecibo Observatory (by car or organized tour). The James Bond movie Golden Eye and also the Jodie Foster movie Contact were filmed there.

There is also this: Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve (Tel:[phone]). I have not been, but I would like to (it sounds a cool place to visit). You can have an escorted tour through the reserve on an electric trolley, but you have to book in advance (about $5), but you will need to drive here.

Try the local food stands and just enjoy everything that the island has to offer.

Also check these sites for more info frommers.com, roughguide.com and visit-the-coqui.com/home

Answer 4

Try Le Lo Lai Tours...on this site www.welcometoPuertorico.org

You can rent a Car and Stop at the Turism Office at the Airport (downstairs) tell them what You want ..they will give You a "Que Pasa" book...



It has Maps, places to visit, restaurant... Then Rent a Car and share the cost between the 3...Beaches are Free..parking $2.00 The Rain Forrest is Free. The Bacardi Tour is Free..Parking also free and they will give you 2 Drinks for Free Also..


Right next to the Airport in the Baldorioty Castro Avenue is a Typical Puerto Rican Open restaurant called Bebo's BBQ...cheap and Great tasting food.

If You go to Piñones (Loiza)..there's a Beach and Puerto Rican Food Vendor at the Sea Shore....

Answer 5

ASk at the hotel but ask a local! You cansee most all in sanjuan , beautiful beaches too, tom go out on the island u will nedd reliable and certifiable transportation , as two giirls traveling alone must be on guard ,always.There is a boolet ,a tourist booklet right at the airport , at the tourism office , ask the stewardess at the plane , is right on the lobby. The best to you both! I pray us have a good, healthy trip! Hugs.

Answer 6

Get a copy of "Let's Go: Puerto Rico on a Budget" by Juliana Tolles. See if your library has it rather than spending the money buying the book.

Answer 7

First stay at one of the Canarios hotels.
Second rent a car and go to:
Day one................rain forest with beach
Day two ............... all day snorkeling -catamaran trip
Day three........... tour of old San Juan and rum distillery
Day four............. trip to caverns with observatory
day five.............. horse back riding
day six.........city of Ponce tour in the south
day seven........... night kayak at luminiscent bay
Then check out victor at [e-mail] he can tell you about stuff thats going on at the time you go.
as you think about it check out www.photsofpuertorico.com/movies.htm

Answer 8

You will have to budget yourself , $500 isn't alot of money for your type of holiday.......get a good travel guide and speak to the locals / hotel and try to get great rates, try fodors.com

=)

Answer 9

go to puertorico.com
check out the prices and tell ur friend to try to get more
and if she cant
then u need to adjust certain things
anyways when r u going out there
i will be in late may

Answer 10

www.gotopuertorico.com/www.portacaribe.com