Visiting Puerto Rico do and don't s.

Question

I am thinking about visiting Puerto Rico to shoot some pictures. Is it a safe place to wander around? I've traveled extensively in Europe and Asia, but will be a first to the Caribbean side.

By the way, what is the best way to get around the island? Taxi's a decent rate, and safe?

Would appreciate all advice on do and don't s in Puerto Rico. I guess my biggest concern is my photo equipment.

Answer 1

its safe to wonder around, but not in ghetto areas, but u can go beyond the tourist areas, like any other local. its safer than some europe and asian countries, and its one of the safest islands in the caribbean.

the best way around the island is to rent a car, its a must.

taxi will come out expensive and they go only to certain areas of the island, mainly the tourist parts.

dont leave your equipment with anyone or anywhere without supervision, not even in hotels or you will never see it again.

dont wear hot clothes, be as comfortable as possible, its hot.

and dont miss out on all the beauty around the island.

Do's are so many, you will have to find out yourself, because its fun!

Answer 2

Best way is to rent a car. It's pretty safe if you know where a re u going. Asak the locals, use your instinct.  

Answer 3

Do's

- Rent a car .. no taxi's on the inner island. Public cars are cheap, but don't come around as often as you might need them or go to the places where very beautiful pictures can be found

- Travel to the inner island. Get out of the cities and you will end up spending much less money

- Do visit the beaches, they are usually safe but make sure that there are other people there as well.

- Do trust your instict. If you see someone that doesn't look right, he/she probably isnt beware.

Don'ts

- Don't stay in San Juan. Many travellers make this mistake and they end up paying a fortune for a trip without getting to see the most beautiful parts of the island

- Don't travel alone at night. Just like any other place, we have our spots that it isn't recommended to stay alone at night.

- Don't travel to La Perla. If you intend to shoot some photos in San Juan then I imagine that you are going to end up at El Morro and San Cristobal. If this happens, La Perla is near there. It is a VERY bad area... DON'T GO.

One last do.. enjoy your trip!

Answer 4

DO:

Explore Old San Juan & el Morro Fort

Go to el Yunque rain forest & swim in the waterfalls

See the Arecibo Telescope & Camuy Caves

Kayak in a bioluminescent bay

Go out & enjoy the nightlife

Dance

Eat the local cuisine (comida criolla)

Relax on the beach (lay on a hammock, drink from a coconut)

check out culebra or vieques islands

Go surfing or try some watersports

Check out what Ponce & the south coast has to offer

Do something cultural (go to a festival or a cockfight)

Drive through the mountains just to see the view

Listen to the coqui frogs sing at night

Rent a car & drive around yourself (much cheaper & more convenient)

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DON'T:

dont go to any bad neighborhoods or caserios

dont do anything dumb (use common sense)

dont stay in one place (there is too much to see)

dont forget the suncreen or bugspray

dont leave your camera equipment unattended or in an un-locked car

Answer 5

First taxi is not a good option. I would rent a car at the airport and drive arround the island, and that way you'll photo equipment would be safe. Be careful, and cover it so nobody cant see it from outside the car.. Nothing will hapen if you are wise and careful, its just common sense.

For pics PR is a MUST.. I am kind of a photographer myself.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 and want to take cool pics, plus evrything is within not more than 3 hours away, so in the same day you can visit Rainforest (Yunque) and Dessert (Bosque Seco de Guanica)..

FOR NATURE PICS..

I would start in EL YUNQUE. 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, but im not sure if you should slide, it might be dangerous. 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... But even in the parks you can take great pics

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 the town of Fajardo to Culebra... also the islando of Vieques has the paradigm of tanks and mines, and old navy equipment and the white sand beaches..

Mainland nice beaches: Oceanpark (although very turisty), Crashboat in Aguadilla is beautiful, in Cabo Rojo, in the north coast of Lajas you will find nice spots with dunes and beaches, Guanica beaches are beautiful as well since is very dry..

Through the "Panoramica Rute" a street that goes through the Central Mountains theier are 2 or 3 points were you can see the North and South Seas of Puerto Rico, (Atlantic ocean at the north and Caribbean Sea at the South).

You can also check out the Coffee Haciendas (Hacienda Buena Vista) and the Native-indigenous parks..

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!

For hanging out to have a little fun and take some pisc as well: start fridays in "La Placita" in Santurce for bar hoping (This is the town market during the day, and at night it becomes a mini bohemian timesquare), then Old San Juan is beatiful and different during day and night. Sorrounding the University of Puerto Rico (Rio Piedras campus) there are a lot of cool bars also.. and the University itself is a cool place to photograph, the Mudejar style tower of the university has a Spanish but yet moorish (arab) style..

I really hope this helps, but Im pretty sure you will find adventure in Puerto Rico and great pics, there is so much more, but just write to me about what you are looking for specifically and I will tell you since their are a lot of local spots without name or instructions that are great for pics, but I wouldnt want to reveal them online ;-)!!

Answer 6

I ve to agree with see_ya, Rent a Car is the better way of transportation, is easy to drive, and find places.

www.gotopuertorico.com (Tourism Information Web Page)

Old San Juan (the forts El Morro, the governor house, the cathedral, the streets)

Ponce is a great town, The Cathedral, The FireHouse Department.

Arecibo - Obsevatory

Camuy - The Caverns

Guayama - The Cautino House

Answer 7

Yes, Puerto Rico is safe to visit. You'll love the scenery. In my opinion, Puerto Rico is the pretties island in the caribbean.

The best way to get around the Island is to rent a car and use a map. I recommend the westside of the island for the best beach shots. I've used Angelo's car rental in Rincon. There number is [phone].

Do take a flight to Aguadilla (if your going to the west side of the island).

Do rent a car. (Angelo's Car Rental)

Do go to a spa ( Alteri Salon and Spa in Rincon [phone] )

Do stay at Rincon of the seas.

Dont leave the car or hotel room open.

Dont trust anyone with your equipment.

Dont take a taxi

Dont leave your laptop (Puerto Rico is wireless almost every where).

Do have a good time!