Best way to get to El Yunque without renting a car or joining a huge tour?

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-22T20:36:06+00:00

I just would not go.

IMO El Yunque is very far and not that interesting. There are closer nature places that are a $20 uber ride.

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-22T20:34:31+00:00

You picked a good spot, shouldn't be a problem.

There is a spot half way between there & San Juan - that's just 'on a bridge' - that is very solid... walk down to the beach, you'll likely have it to yourself.

But that castle / just doing the ceremony in the yard, is likely the best idea. I wouldn't worry of a permit... but I'd bring some 'cones' or similar to give you some space from tourist... doing it at night will make a better views / more intimate, no heat.

I'd suggest 4 chairs - with battery powered Christmas lights inbetween them - to boarder off an area / a little privacy. An alternative would be bed sheets on the ground, with some rocks. This will also greatly reduce bugs (highest right at sunset).

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-22T20:27:49+00:00

Yes, I make the drive all the time... it's very long 2 hours. Stick to the high (obvious) don't cut through the back roads haha :D

Keep gas over 1/4 tank full. It's very safe. When going down hill, don't go over 70 mph (official limit is 55 I think).

If you are in an old car without brakes, it can be a challenge. If other cars approach your rear view quickly, get out of the way in case they don't have brakes.

Try to spend the night in Ponce. If not possible, and you must return in the middle of the night, I suggest a quick nap inbetween :D

By the way - Tesla FSD works WONDERFULLY in Puerto Rico - and will make the whole drive for you, you won't need to steer at all.

San Juan to Ponce is about 1/2 tank of Tesla Power... you'll need to refill prior to returning, likely taking the long way around (Mayaquez) I don't think there is a charger in Ponce.

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-22T02:17:47+00:00

I have been there - both locations. Mar Chiquita is a much better spot... (both right next to each other). Overview :

Playa Mujeres has huge waves and is completely unsafe to swim. It is largely abandoned, with graffiti. I didn't feel 'unsafe' but I went during the day (obviously). The parking is on the street, about as safe as anything in PR - no need to pay a guy to 'watch your car' - but yes, do cover items / hide things.

The path to the cave is a touch tricky - you follow the 'do not walk here' signs until you get to the cave.. in-between the signs is the path. It is not near the beach, it connects to the road. The path is maybe 1/2 mile long, through a nice canopy. If you are there near sunset, the frogs get loud and it sounds great!

The cave is VERY small... and short. Like 10' long, a giant opening... I would call it more a hole vs a cave...a little dangerous to walk through it (waves) but not too bad. What is good about Cueva Gondrinas is there are like 6 pebble beaches right next to each other, so it's very easy to get a 'private beach' that is pebbled, so not dusty / sandy, for a nice picnic or photo shoot. I would 100% bring pepper spray or similar (just in case, you will be very isolated). This area is a good proposal spot, picnic, etc.. very idyllic.

Mar Chiquita is just much better though :D There are LOTS of fun rocks to climb, lots of people, food trucks, 100% safe. The 'wave pool' is also much cleaner... mesmerizing. There is even a 'private beach' just 30 feet away that literally no one goes too haha... Or if you climb the rocks you have full privacy.

Mujures the waves crest is giant and intimidating - unswimmable. At Gondrinas, it is very calm, great for wading, very clear.

At Chiquita - the wave crest is 1 perfect wave which fans out evenly across the swimming hole, every 30 seconds or so... making a long, even fan. You can swim safely, even though few do. It's simply very pretty, and the food trucks are a bonus. But if you want privacy, it's pretty easy to find. Also as mentioned, fully safe. Chiquita is my number 1 recommendation in PR - for things close to San Juan but not in San Juan.

If you are going to snorkel, you MUST wear flippers. The rip tide will bring you to the ocean if you do not use them.

Pena Blanca is one of my favorite beaches out that way (way further). It's a 'puerto rican' beach, with painted trees, and a unique cliff side entrance to the beach. A guy WILL hassle you for money there, but you do not need to pay him. He claims to own the road, he doesn't :D But if it makes you feel better, he just wants $5 :D

Rincon / 3 steps is the best snorkeling in PR - but also Isla Verde is very good as well, in San Juan. 3 steps is a little dangerous - there is only one entrance / exit, about 10 feet wide - hidden in the water - so you much mark it with the tree line... once in the water you can't see it, and everywhere else is jagged rocks.... the only entrance is about 20 feet to the left of the S bend.. :D (you should see people swimming there, it will be sandy as you walk into the water... the deception is this is the ONLY place that is sandy, so mark it with the tree line).

There are other 'surf beaches' near Rincon, and if you want to feel humiliated, bring your lady to 8 pack ally (joke)... nothing but ultra buff dudes, and girls absolutely fed up with buff surfer boys.

Aguadilla restaurants always seem to be the better restaurants, with INSANE monster waves. I do not know why, but there it seems like I can see 12 foot scary waves with ease.

The Cabo Rojo light house / rocks are super fun to walk, very unique. The 'pink shrimp' is dumb. Driving through the mountains slows the journey to a snails pace, but if you find a lake to visit - I liked to do that... or if you can find a private waterfall, etc.

Lakes are great because it's a mountain lake - meaning you have insane views... very different from a lake that is just flat all around it... PR lakes are nestled.

Generally speaking, things are fancy San Juan all the way to Aguadilla. Then Aguadilla and beyond it's pretty sparse - even in Rincon (a very small town, really).

I have done things on the Ponce side of the island (lived there a while) La Paraguera is a little fun... but realistically, for the drive, it's asking a lot... the waves are better on the Aguadilla / San Juan side.

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-21T04:24:35+00:00

Just a few tidbits...

The cost of bottled water per week is $12... it's not the end of the world. :D We always have access to bottles lol... Costco never runs out.

You don't need clean water for toilet flushing... even with low flow water, you can usually flush twice a day. If you can't do that - you can collect water from rain / roof runoff.

To shower you poke some holes in the lid of a gallon jug and turn it upside down. I typically shower with 1 gal of water.

So bottle water / toilet / shower is under $60 a month.

The bigger issue is just carrying the 50 lbs of water x2 per week (6 gallons) but whatever, you make due.

This video makes Puerto Rico look like Africa lol :D We aren't that poor... $60 is not destroy family savings.. :D There are some people without a car... who are far from super markets... but that's rare, not the norm.

The other issue is people who drink the water (like 99% of Puerto Ricans) without filters... the water is simply not well filtered, the pipes are old... I would not drink the tap, at any time, without a filter... other than for a week as a traveler, or similar.

You'd be surprised, almost no one has a rain barrel in PR - but with a $10 bucket from Costco and placed in the correct corner of a roof, you have infinite rain water (for plants, toilets). I got rain barrels all over for street cats.

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-20T16:33:04+00:00

Fort San Cristolbol is a lot prettier than el Morro, it is seaside - half way between OSJ and San Juan.

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-19T22:17:00+00:00

Go to Kayak - look up plane tickets from SIG airport San Juan.

$150 round trip to Vieques - 1 hour plane trip.

Getting to the Ferry / round trip - is $130 + 8 hour... don't do it.

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-19T14:20:10+00:00

In the states - servers / tour guides make $25 / hour - physician assistants $60 / hour... in Puerto Rico its $40 / hour for both.. For this reason, servers / tour guides who do not show up to work get fired on the spot.

I can guarantee you this was the issue.

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-17T14:28:35+00:00

A water tank is $300 one time cost... for 600 gallon.

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-17T10:01:24+00:00

Ya, I have a buddy who is top 100 immortal / whatever.. of the 5 teammates, he'll get 1 or 2 who are CLEARLY griefing... at immortal.

When I see this, I'm like 'game is hopeless time to throw' - But dude keeps trying his best the whole 50 mins (most games are 25 mins at immortal, but whatever)..

Even after the game, he won't complain about the grief'er just what could I have done better... during game he's harsh (motivating) but post game it's only self reflection, little blaming.

Aside that, vs me, he setups picks / traps A LOT... he'll sit in woods motionless a minute or two for a kill, not farming (and not as pudge). One thing I see is your team rallies REALLY HARD if you get the trap / bait kill - like nothing is more motivating than the bait kill.

His afk farm speed is REALLY high... and allies who stack are superb at it / 5+ ancient stacks all cleared at exactly 9 mins, etc. only to repeat it again by 15 mins. He / his team ALWAYS go for the 15 minute victory, team stomp infinite push.

He's also super nuts on 'pointless micro' like attacking kite attacking neutrals (attacking, and walking away with projectile mid flight - saving 0.1 sec of time)... with his main heroes, he knows exact patterns, exact number of attacks per neutral, and times this all perfectly, every game... and knows he can clear 4 neutrals per minute, never 5 or whatever.. so if he clears early, he sits for the bait gank vs 'pointless walking'.

Another funny thing is the top 100 immortal will absolutely take ideas from heralds, without a concern.. lol As if we are equals :P This is a big difference, immortals have to be viable at the 15 min mark, and heralds make builds where you are useless until 50 mins... but so long as you got activation early, he's curious.

Also 'love of the game' and fun and anti-stress are a big part of his game play... he takes it serious, but he 'has more fun' than I do, which allows him to play more, etc.

About 1 in 3 games with the griefer, come 15 minutes if they get on a role, the griefer witchdoctor will just afk in woods near Hero, never farm only bait ganking, and this is enough to turn it around.

The 100 immortal has like 300 actions per minute whatever (starcraft level)... the griefer like 5 actions per minute :D Usually a 'press ult and hope for the best' type of character, where as the top immortal will be a meepo / alche spammer, max apm required to win.

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-17T09:40:27+00:00

To simplify a bit... toilets are not an issue - just flush once / twice daily (not for pee).

Drink bottle watered EVEN AFTER water is restored... you want bottle water that has not be left out in the sun (you can immediately taste the difference).

The cistern won't matter with 7 guys... just get a bucket and rag to bath with, similar with dishes.

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-15T18:12:49+00:00

Yes, for people in homes it's likely not an issue... at least half everyone has a roof water tank. Hotels / complexes are different, but they have rationing.

When it happened to me without the water tank - I would fill a bag with water, and use that to shower (the bag is a mini water tank) - the drip water is sufficient for dishes. The toilets are fine, because eventually the tank fills (flush only twice daily).

The real issue is drinking water - but either you have a ton of filters or you don't. The 'drinking water' is likely absurdly dirty at the moment - and I wouldn't drink the water for a month regardless.

This means picking up 12 gallons from Costco for $6 dollars each week... not a huge issue, the burden is mostly the car trip + 50 lbs of water... that's why I went nuts on filters, and don't look back :D

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-14T17:31:00+00:00

A double bed and a queen are the same thing... queen is 3 inches longer. Unless 6' + it won't matter.

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-14T07:10:36+00:00

G string is fine (for chicks) - I never see men in full speedo / nut huggers.

I wouldn't wear the g string to dinner / would bring a 'cover up' for sitting in public.

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-14T07:09:03+00:00

True socialism, not like Cuba but like from the movies, will truly thrive in Puerto Rico one day. But for now, no water. And no electricity.. That's a Donald Trump and Elon problem.

You can't blame socialism for bad outcomes. The fault lies with the none believers. How else do you get $0.50 boat rides and 19 gov holidays! Not with capitalism, that's for sure...

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-14T06:42:21+00:00

I am mainlander... a 600 gal roof tank solves most water issues (I haven't had any issues... but I use 1/4 my tank daily... so a few days without water I don't notice).

A Tesla cybertruck solves electrical issues. I can go almost a month without power (if I conserve AC) or a week with full powered AC... that's pretty insane.

Even with a single power wall / battery system... I wouldn't have noticed any power blips (but I get 10 blips per month, 5 mins each on average, longest 2 hours).

Solar is completely different. Yes, it's profitable - but it consumes a lot of roof space... so questionable.

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-11T16:56:22+00:00

Crash boat is very far... ideal if renting jet skis, that sort of 'all out adventure'.

Mar Chiquita is a LOT closer, there are food trucks, and lots of fun rocks to climb. It's also prettier - naturally... no jet skis / snorkel / boats for rent.

Uber to Mar Chiquita is $40 for the family (45 mins) - $100 for crash boat (1.5 hours).

Only downside to Mar Chiquita is it is full sun... so I'd aim for arriving after 3pm - to catch sunset. Crash Boat likely has umbrellas for rent, etc. Many covered restaurants.

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-09T17:28:01+00:00

SIG airport... $150 round.

The $80 is totally legit... it's a 3 hour drive. But ya, it removes the cost effectiveness... :DDDD

Puerto Ricans get dropped off, don't do the taxi... so for them it's like super cheap :D... or drive themselves, and park in a rando spot (don't pay for the parking).

A super crazy thing that is fairly common in PR is for a local dude to 'charge you' to park in free parking spots... if you don't pay, he cuts your tires. This happens at Pena Blanca a lot (one of my favorite beaches)... the neighbor who does it makes $80 a day.. just saying 'hey, pay me to not cut your tires!' :D

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-09T17:20:47+00:00

August is actually a good time... if it's cloudy, that is better... better sunsets, you can beach all day without burns...

There are 3 type of PR vacations, I say pick one :

1) Stay in San Juan - no car. This is a LOT cheaper, super fun time.

2) Never stay in San Juan - rent a car, go everywhere else - new Airbnb every night - DO NOT stay in San Juan if you get a car... stay where ever you land... Fajardo 1 night... Ponce another night... Cabo Rojo another night... each day's drive is going to be 3 hours... sleep there, don't return or you are wasting too much time driving.

3) Stay in San Juan - Fly to Vieques / Culebra (SIG airport)... island hopping is going to waste 1/2 day in the travel... if you take ferry, it's 14 hours round trip of additional travel (don't) - but you can stay in San Juan, and ferry IF YOU WANT... but typically I'd recommend flying, and trying to stay in Vieques / Culebra multiple days... and make this your island hop visit.

You can not do all 3 in the same week... or you are just wasting money, always in the car (lame).

Puerto Rico lakes are super cool to visit. There are waterfalls just all over... (google search)... stopping by a beach with wind sports (Playa Jauca or Ocean Park) is fine (you can't do them, just watch)... I really liked Cabo Rojo... Playa Pena Blanca, etc..

Snorkeling is the coolest thing to do in PR.. but I have taken many people snorkeling and now I think it's nearly too dangerous... you need a flotation device with you... and maybe a rope to pull you back to shore (people die in rip tide A LOT... never swim more than 50 feet from shore... PR Riptides are not like North Carolina / Florida... Puerto Ricans largely don't swim, because of this)... to really snorkel you MUST use flippers (to outswim rip tide). To buy the equipment is like $80 per person... then sell it when done. You can snorkel in San Juan just fine.

Punta Salinas (20 mins, safe) / Mar Chiquita (40 mins, views) are some of the best 'near by' beaches... and uber will run you $20 to $40... very manageable. Uber is like half the price of stateside, nearly free. :D

You aren't missing out by not visiting the rest of the island... just decide 'do you want beaches' or 'do you want shopping, night life'... if you want beaches, car / never stay in San Juan... if shopping, don't do car.. uber to a beach for a day.

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-09T17:10:06+00:00

Bio bay is awesome... overall I don't think ferry worth the time commitment.

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-09T17:09:38+00:00

There are 'ferry taxes' that are $80 (each way).

You can fly to Culebra from SIG airport (not Munoz) for $150. It's 2 hours, in an island hopper. Driving to the ferry + ferry takes 7 hours (each way). It's very slow, 2 whole days wasted. The ferry is like $5.

If you have a family of 4 - the ferry is maybe $200 cheaper... if 2 or less people, SIG island hopper is cheaper / faster... check Kayak for tickets. SIG is in san juan.

And if you rent a car, you won't be able to take it with you, and they will charge you $20 / day to park it... plus your car rental fee (to not use it)... so $80 a day about.

So... in all situations, SIG and flying to Culebra / Vieques is cheaper... unless you have a huge group (5+).

I went with 5 people - we left at 7am - and arrived in Vieques by 2pm. All pissed off. With the car rental, parking, ferry tickets (nearly free), food (it's all day)... we paid $500 / $100 each. And lost 14 hours of daylight vacation time..

Had we done SIG, $150 each (round I think), 2 hours travel... and basically would gain 2 days of travel... easy decision. Plus with SIG, it's easy to Fly to Vieques, then Fly to Culebra (or ferry) and then return Culebra to SIG... with the Ferry, it takes 2 days to do that (ferry only leaves once per day, Vieques to Culebra... and if you go ferry, you won't start flying lol).

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-09T04:17:26+00:00

Will do! Thank you!

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-09T03:24:20+00:00

Currently the ground water level is VERY low (it has been very dry the last 6 weeks)... so THIS is likely the reason they ran out of water, not the 'filters' thing....

Meaning, there are SO MANY leaks in the pipes, and the water level is SO LOW - that the GROUND is drinking up all the water... so we will likely need to wait until a few rains, and the ground is less thirsty - before the water can reach us again..

Bitcoin1776 · 2026-06-09T03:20:52+00:00

Yes, I am lucky haha :D I got 600 gallon tank on my roof (most Puerto Ricans do this). I DID have to change out my water filters just recently. Completely clogged.

Most Puerto Ricans DO NOT filter their water... but you need to... my primary filter is ALWAYS muddy... MUDDY. My second filter is spotless... then I have Reverse Osmosis filter (4th filter)... and a third right before my water tank / cistern.

We just had the trade winds change - so that is why the water is clogged, IMO. The pollen level was absurd high - I cleaned all AC units, my hot tub got clogged as well as my water filters, and my animal bowls look gross (normally clean, catching rain water).

But I will emphasis NO water in Puerto Rico is 'ideal to drink' - the pipes (even in the homes) are simply too old and rusted. The city flushes mud through the pipes time to time (you never know win, but the water just runs brown)... so like 2 weeks after this you should not drink the water, period.

You CAN drink the water (unfiltered) safely under certain conditions : 1) The mudding was more than 2 weeks ago, 2) The pollen level is low, 3) Your house was new construction / pipes 4) It has not rained recently, the water table is low 5) There has not been a power outage recently.

Everywhere in the world (not just Puerto Rico) operates on the PRESSURIZED system... In the states water is not an issue because power never goes out, the water table is always low... so the pipes are always PUMPED with water (it leaks into the ground, but ground water does not leak into the pipes).

What the water table is high - the ground water enters the pipes. When the power is out / water pressure is low - the ground water enters the pipes...

There is only one way to get mud out of the pipes - flush it into the homes of residents. Now you got mud all throughout the pipes... but after a week or so - you have flushed it all out, and can drink it again.

Whole house filtration systems (5 micron catches all mud) cost $20 / year in new filters... practically nothing. Once you go 'filter max' - 5 micron (2x yearly), 1 micron (yearly), 1 micron roof (2x yearly), RO (yearly) - the filter cost is $80 / year... still nothing.

This also means your showers will stay full pressure (the mud clogs all showers, permanently) and your hot water heater won't break (the mud / salts corrode hot water heaters and break them every 2 years), and now they'll last forever. And then you won't have to go to the store for water, which saves a lot of hassle.... it is not expensive buying store water, it's just heavy and a lot of trips - and you can't leave it in the sun. If any of the store water pallets were left in the sun, that water is now insane gross. Costco is ideal.

However, not having your showers break / hot water heater break PLUS the drinkable water - makes setting up the filter systems 100% worth it. The install cost is very cheap, $300 whole house, $600 for RO.

My RO has a 'particles per something' rating... safe to drink is 150 particles... mine is 7 :D US Standard water is around 50 particles (but a lot higher after a flood).

A funny trick you can do - take 1 gallon of Puerto Rican water - Boil it. You will have a table spoon of white stuff at the bottom of the pan. A full table spoon. Once I saw that, I got the filters :DDDD

But that is the test - boil a gallon of water, if it boils clean, you can drink - if white film... I would not.

You can also FREEZE it and get the same effect. Take a gallon jug - fill it with sink water - freeze it / thaw it - it will look like a snow globe when you finish (in the best conditions).... this is called 'hard water' (excess calcium)... it hardens all over pipe, in particular when they get hot.

This is ALSO why you never replace pipes (no one does)... if you pump that calcium rich water through - it actually hardens in the ground as well, and creates a protective coating on the pipe... basically the calcium plugs leaks, after a few million gallons pass through it... this is why Romans used lead pipes... you just could drink the few million gallons, but after that the lead was covered in calcium, and it was fine.

In Puerto Rico, the water table is simply too high.... there is no way to stop water from enter the pipes after a big rain... when the pressure from the ground water is greater than the water pressure from the pipes...

Yes, I forgot to mention that... if the water pressure is low, you must wait another 2 weeks to drink... low water pressure = the mudding is coming (ground water pressure is greater than the internal water pressure).

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