Driving to rainforest - El Yunque

[lekisha20]

We will be in SJ from 7-3:30. It seems like the best way to visit the rainforest is to rent a car and drive up. Two questions 1) how far is the rainforest from the port and 2) what are the rental car options?

 

Also, has anyone toured the rainforest without a guide? Is it safe, and is the map pretty simple to follow?

[Lard Greystoke]

We will be in SJ from 7-3:30. It seems like the best way to visit the rainforest is to rent a car and drive up. Two questions 1) how far is the rainforest from the port and 2) what are the rental car options?

 

Also, has anyone toured the rainforest without a guide? Is it safe, and is the map pretty simple to follow?

 

Rainforest is 3/4 or 1 hour from the port. Highways are clearly marked. Similar rental options as in mainland US, can't personally tell you which are close to the pier.

 

The part of the rainforest you will be seeing is visited by hundreds of thousands of people a year. It's user-friendly.

[Loving My Life]

We used Charlie's in January, although we did this at the end of the cruise when we stayed an extra day. They picked us up in a parking lot directly across from the terminal, drove us to their office, filled out paperwork, and we were on our way. It took us 1 hour to get to El Yunque. You can drive through and stop at various spots (e.g., observation tower, waterfall, etc). They also have clearly marked hiking trails. We felt completely safe and had a great time. Leave plenty of time to get back as there may be more traffic later in the day.

[flowers44]

Because of the distance to the rainforest and back, we decided to do it through a ship excursion. The traffic is bad at certain times of day and if you are on your own and get held up in traffic, the ship is not going to wait for you. If you are on a ship excursion and get held up, the ship will waite until you get back. By the time you rent the car and return it, you will loose time doing that and it is nice to have a guide to tell you about the rainforest. It is one excursion I would say is worth the price you pay for a ship excursion.

[lekisha20]

Good information. Thanks all.