Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
» Puerto Rico has the best roads in the Caribbean.
» Watch out for island animals - dogs, chickens, horses, pigs - that wander across the roads,
particularly in the mountains, and on Culebra and Vieques.
» Secondary roads through the mountains are in generally poor condition, with lots of
rough surfaces and very narrow passes.
» Carjacking was a problem in the mid-1990s, but incidents have decreased in recent years.
» Police always keep warning lights on. Emergency situations are signaled by a siren.
Puerto Rico's best roads are its Expressway toll roads; these include numbers 22 (San
Juan-Arecibo), 66 (San Juan-Canóvanas), 52 (San Juan-Ponce) and 53 (Fa-
jardo-Yabucoa). You must pay a fee on these roads at a booth at one of various entry/exit
checkpoints. Prices for two-axle vehicles range from 50¢ to $1.50. It is wise to have the
right money available.
The next best roads are the main highways such as Hwys 2 and 3 (which effectively ring
the island), Hwy 10 (Arecibo-Ponce) and Hwy 30 (Caguas-Humacao). These roads have
two to three lanes in either direction but are infested with traffic lights and are often jam-
packed with cars - especially during rush hour. With their ubiquitous shopping malls and
unsightly concrete satellite towns, they're hardly the best advert for the island's scenic at-
tractions.
Lesser roads are far more charming, but considerably narrower (often only 1½ lanes
wide). Crisscrossing the island's precipitous inland terrain, they are also invariably slow
and winding. Bank on an average speed of 25mph in the mountains.
Basic Road Rules
» Driving rules here are basically the same as they are in the US; traffic proceeds along the
right side of the road and moves counterclockwise around traffic circles.
» You must be at least 16 years old to drive a car in Puerto Rico.
» It is legal to turn right at a red light, except where signs state otherwise.
» It is legal to ignore red lights (if safe to do so) between midnight and 5am.
» Going more than 10 miles an hour over the speed limit will likely lead to a speeding tick-
et.
» In rural areas, where speed limits aren't always posted, use common sense.
» Watch for school zones, where the speed limit is 15mph (strictly enforced during school
hours).
» Most highway signs employ international symbols, but distances are measured in kilo-
meters, while speed limits are posted in miles per hour.
» Seat belts and motorcycle helmets must be worn; and children younger than four years
must travel in child safety seats.
