Transport and driving in Puerto Rico can be a challenge. Those living in San Juan will be in a better position than most, thanks to the city's compact size and the availability of the only metro in the country.
Public transport in Puerto Rico, outside the main cities, is lacking. Driving can be risky due to unpredictable local drivers and the occasionally heavy traffic.
Public transport in Puerto Rico
Metro
Only San Juan has a metro, known as the Tren Urbano. It is the first of its kind in the Caribbean. As of 2025, it consists of one line with 16 stations, but there are plans to expand it in the future.
Bus
The bus is cheap, with San Juan being serviced by Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses. Operating hours and frequency of service vary by route and the day of the week, but generally buses run from around 5am to 8pm or 9pm.
Públicos
Públicos are public minibuses. This is the cheapest form of public transport, but offers little in the way of comfort. Públicos tend to leave only when full, so there is no set schedule.
Ferries
Passenger ferries operate with limited capacity from the main island to the smaller surrounding islands. You should book tickets well in advance.
Taxis in Puerto Rico
Taxis are available in larger cities. White tourist taxis with turístico logos congregate around tourist areas of San Juan and charge by zone rather than by meter. Non-tourist taxis have meters, but drivers don't always use them, so it is best to establish a rate before you begin your journey.
In larger cities such as San Juan and Ponce, you can make use of ride-hailing applications like Uber.
Driving in Puerto Rico
A car is not essential in Puerto Rico, as driving can be dangerous, due to somewhat reckless local drivers. However, if you are interested in exploring the island and taking weekend trips, a car can certainly be useful.
In Puerto Rico, cars drive on the right-hand side, and road signs are often in Spanish.
Driver’s licences
You will only be able to drive on your foreign driver’s licence in Puerto Rico for 120 days. After this period, you will need to obtain a local licence. The complexity of this will depend on where the initial licence was issued. In some cases, licences can simply be swapped, while in others, written and practical tests may be necessary.