Best way to site see the day before and the day of cruise?

[ycartracy]

The wife and I are arriving at 3:00 p.m. on a Saturday. Our cruise leaves at 10 p.m. on Sunday. We've got a lot of time to explore SJ / PR but we don't know the best way to do it.

 

We want to go to El Yunque rainforest, Bioluminescent Bay, and Bicardi.

 

Should the bioluminescent bay be done in the evening/night? Should we book a tour to do this or can we just get a taxi to take us out there near it? If a tour is needed, who do yall recommend?

 

Any recommendations for a rainforest tour?

 

Is Bicardi in SJ? Are they open for tours on Sunday?

[RayInPR]

Yikes! You want to do a lot in a short period of time.

 

Let's see if I can offer some info to help you decide ...

 

You'll need to do the biobay on Saturday night, and the rain forest on Sunday. Personally, I'd skip Bacardi.

 

The biobay must be done at night, in the dark. Preferably a moon-less night, or one on which the moon rises late (after 9pm). Check our biobay/moon calendar to see if the night you're going to be here will even be any good -- http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/2008/03/18/biobay-and-moon/

 

Where will you be staying on Saturday night? Given that you want to do the biobay and the rain forest, you'd be best off staying somewhere in the Rio Grande / Luquillo / Fajardo area. If you stay in the San Juan / Isla Verde area you'll spend a lot more time driving back and forth.

 

Given what you want to do, renting a car will probably be less costly than taking a taxi. If you're staying in San Juan, a taxi to Fajardo (for the biobay) is a flat rate of $80 one way.

 

And taxis can't go up into the rain forest.

 

So, rent a car and get yourself to Las Croabas to meet up with your biobay tour operator. Read this article in our travel guide for more info on the Fajardo biobay and for contact info for a bunch of the operators -- http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/2007/04/07/bio-bay-in-fajardo-by-kayak-or-boat-a-glowing-experience/

 

When you're ready to go to the rain forest on Sunday, there's no need for a "guided tour". Just get in your car and drive up road 191 in Rio Grande. You can choose to stop at El Portal visitor center if you want. It's optional. They have a 10 minute movie, and "educational" displays, and a short trail just off of the parking lot.

 

You'll want to drive up 191 until you get to the Palo Colorado ranger station. Most of the trails start a short distance from that parking lot. This artice -- http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/2007/02/19/el-yunque-rain-forest-an-overview-of-the-carribean-national-forest/ -- will give you some orientation info on El Yunque, and pointers to other articles about most of the trails.

 

Hope this helps get you started in your planning!