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Car Travel

Several well-marked multilane highways link population centers. Route 26 is the main artery through San Juan, connecting Condado and Old San Juan to Isla Verde and the airport. Route 22, which runs east-west between San Juan and Camuy, and Route 52, which runs north-south between San Juan and Ponce, are toll roads (35¢-50¢). Route 2, a smaller highway, travels along the west coast, and routes 3 and 53 traverse the east shore.

Five highways are particularly noteworthy for their scenery and vistas. The island's tourism authorities have even given them special names. Ruta Panorámica (Panoramic Route) runs east-west through the central mountains. Ruta Cotorra (Puerto Rican Parrot Route) travels along the north coast. Ruta Paso Fino (Paso Fino Horse Route, after a horse breed) takes you north-south and west along the south coast. Ruta Coquí, named for the famous Puerto Rican tree frog, runs along the east coast. Ruta Flamboyán, named after the island tree, goes from San Juan through the mountains to the east coast.

Gasoline

All types of fuel -- unleaded regular, unleaded super-premium, diesel -- are available by the liter. Most stations have both full- and self-service. Hours vary, but stations generally operate daily from early in the morning until 10 or 11 PM; in metro areas many are open 24 hours. Stations are few and far between in the Cordillera Central and other rural areas; plan accordingly. In cities you can pay with cash and bank or credit cards; in the hinterlands cash is often your only option.

Road Conditions

Puerto Rico has some of the Caribbean's best roads. That said, potholes, sharp turns, speed bumps, sudden gradient changes, and poor lighting can sometimes make driving difficult. Be especially cautious when driving after heavy rains or hurricanes; roads and bridges might be washed out or damaged. Many of the mountain roads are very narrow and steep, with unmarked curves and cliffs. Locals are familiar with such roads and often drive at high speeds, which can give you quite a scare. When traveling on a narrow, curving road, it's best to honk your horn as you take any sharp turn.

Traffic around cities -- particularly San Juan, Ponce, and Mayagüez -- is heavy at rush hours (weekdays from 7 to 10 and 4 to 7).

Road Maps

Most car-rental agencies give you a free map with your car; more detailed maps are available in bookstores, drugstores, and souvenir shops. Look for the $6 Mapa Vial y Turístico by Metrodata Maps, which features an island map; a large metro map of San Juan; and insets of Aguadilla, Mayagüez, Arecibo, Ponce, and other large towns. The free maps given out at tourism officers and information booths are often outdated or not detailed enough if you're traveling on anything but the major highways.

Rules of the Road

U.S. driving laws apply in Puerto Rico, and you'll find no problem with signage or directionals. Street and highway signs are most often in Spanish but use international symbols; brushing up on a few key Spanish terms before your trip will help. The following words and phrases are especially useful: calle sin salida (dead end street), cruce de peatones (pedestrian crossing), cuidado (caution), desvío (detour), estación de peaje (toll booth), no entre (do not enter), prohibido adelantar (no passing), salida (exit), tránsito (one way), zona escolar (school zone).

Distances are posted in kilometers (1.6 km to 1 mi), whereas speed limits are posted in miles per hour. Speeding and drunk-driving penalties are much the same here as on the mainland. Police cars often travel with their lights flashing, so it's difficult to know when they're trying to pull you over. If the siren is on, move to the right to get out of their way. If the lights are on, it's best to pull over -- just be sure that the vehicle is a marked police car before doing so.