Going to Puerto Rico alone

Question

Got a last minute trip to San Juan and am going alone-anything I need to be careful of? Go to or avoid? thanks!

Answer 1

Avoid housing projects called "caserios"

Avoid a little community called La Perla in San Juan

Avoid giving money to "homeless" aka druggies in the streets

Avoid walking in lonely places at night in San Juan(you can go out and walk in town, but go where there is a crowed, or people around).

Avoid leaving laptops or things of special value in any place(if u have a laptop or camera, take it with u even to the bathroom).

Avoid local  taxis high rates (regular cars with taxi signs, not the tourist ones), use the tourist taxis in San Juan (or rent a car).

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Go to local places as well, you dont need to stay in a tourist area for safety. any high crimes are internal (meaning usually from drug dealings and personal issues). so, people dont get kill for the heck of it. PR is one of the safest places in the caribbean. the only problems in the island are robbery (usually in a sneaky way, you dont get

attacked or harmed in any way) and druggies asking for money. otherwise the rest is safe.

Answer 2

If you're planning to staty in San Juan check this hotels, take care Raul

http://www.puertoricocheaphotels.com/

Answer 3

I did PR alone.  I don't speak spanish and it was a much bigger issue than what I'd thought.  I was assured by the Bureau of Tourism that everyone spoke or at least understood english, because they are taught in school.  Not so.  But a large percentage of the people do speak english.  I would say that the must sees are:

1.  the El Yunque National Forest - it's a rain forest, the only one on US territory - spectacular hiking.  

2. Bio Bay - do the one in Fajardo and kayak rather than take a paddle boat or something.  Be close to the water - it's very cool

3.  Arecibo - pretty cool science museum and the big dish and all

4.  Old San Juan - there are some good forts and big tourist area.  The Forts are cool if you like that sort of thing (I do).  The tourist area is very touristy.  Lots of food, lots of bars, lots of shopping and lots of tourist.

Have fun!  And beware of driving in San Juan.  The signage isn't great and rush hour is equivilant to NY or DC - except without well marked streets or good signs.

Answer 4

Go Ecoturism and you will always find other people.. The first place I would go is El Yunque Rainforest

This is the National Rainforest in PR. When you get there go to El Portal (this is the information center at the entrance of El Yunque) and they have trail maps, the trail of LA MINA has a beautiful waterfall and you can get in. You can go to this website http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/caribbean/index....

to find info on all the activities & adventures you can do in el Yunque.

PR has one of the longest system of Caves in the world. Sure you can go to the Natinal Parks "Cuevas de Camuy" and "Cavernas de Camuy" but if you want adventure on rapelling and cool stuff inside the caves ask for ecoturismo (ecotours) to go on a really fun trip into the caves that is not for kids.. This site might help you with those kinds of tours:

http://www.meetpuertorico.com/about_pr/a...

The most paradisiac beaches are in a little island in the southeast of the main island. The name is CULEBRA and the beaches there are too beautiful to not see, you can take a ferry from Fajardo...

If you want kayaking in a bioluminiscent lagoon go to "Las cabezas de San Juan" in Fajardo. There are only like 6 or 7 of those lagoons in the world, there are three in PR, but the one in Fajardo is fun to visit because you go on kayaks in the dark.. Its fun!

Puerto Rico is really an amazing island in terms of nature. It has a dessert, (Bosque Seco de Guanica), Rainforest (El Yunque), Caves, Kayaks, Surfing in Rincon among many places, turqoise blue beaches, coral reefs. Its a great island to visit if you want nature..

For hanging out: start fridays in "La Placita" in Santurce for bar hoping, then Old San Juan. Sorrounding the University of Puerto Rico (Rio Piedras campus) there are a lot of cool bars also..

I really hope this helps, but Im pretty sure you will find adventure in Puerto Rico