El Yunque without a car
Dec 2nd, 2008, 04:52 PM
#1
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El Yunque without a car
It seems every post recommends renting a car to go to El Yunque, but we would really prefer not to. Does this scenario seem possible? We are thinking of taking a taxi to Casa Cubuy from San Juan, spending three nights there (it seems they serve meals if you book in advance) then getting a taxi to the ferry to Vieques where we have reservations for seven nights at Casa La Lanchita and flying back to San Juan the day of our flight home. (We will rent a car part of the time we are in Vieques) Thanks.
Dec 3rd, 2008, 09:46 AM
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Taxi vs. Rental to El Yunque... either way PLAN YOUR DAY ahead of time because the Ferry has specific schedule.
Taxi: Figure that from San Juan (where the Airport is) to Fajardo (where you take ferry to Vieques) is about 1 1/2 hours at best and Taxi one way probably around $70-$100. Then Taxi to go to El Yunque which is about 45min to 1 1/2 hours from Fajardo (depending which point in El Yunque you are going) should be about the same $70 to $100 (x2 because you need to go back to Fajardo). Then having to call the Taxi to pick you up (not many phones in a mountain, if you know what I mean?).
Rental: they always say to pick up the car rented in Vieques not in the main island, also to rent a jeep or SUV since they won't let you take the cars to the beaches (road too rough). The day you go to El Yunque, you would have MAKE RESERVATIONS and pay for the car to ride in the ferry. Cost should not be more than what you would pay for the taxi for that one day and with rental you can do sight seeing on our way up the mountain (if that interests you).
**make sure you lock all the doors when you park.
Both options have their own challenges but I would still go for the rental (if rental place let you take the jeep/SUV out of Vieques) because it gives you options to deviate from original plan in case you need to.
I always check schedules before venturing to Vieques or Culebra once you get tickets ask the Clerk at what time they recommend to get to the gates(ferry is tricky, last time I went about 5 years ago, having a ticket did not guarantee you'll get in).
This site may help:
www.elenas-vieques.com/ferry.html
Good Luck and enjoy; It's beautiful outhere.
Taxi: Figure that from San Juan (where the Airport is) to Fajardo (where you take ferry to Vieques) is about 1 1/2 hours at best and Taxi one way probably around $70-$100. Then Taxi to go to El Yunque which is about 45min to 1 1/2 hours from Fajardo (depending which point in El Yunque you are going) should be about the same $70 to $100 (x2 because you need to go back to Fajardo). Then having to call the Taxi to pick you up (not many phones in a mountain, if you know what I mean?).
Rental: they always say to pick up the car rented in Vieques not in the main island, also to rent a jeep or SUV since they won't let you take the cars to the beaches (road too rough). The day you go to El Yunque, you would have MAKE RESERVATIONS and pay for the car to ride in the ferry. Cost should not be more than what you would pay for the taxi for that one day and with rental you can do sight seeing on our way up the mountain (if that interests you).
**make sure you lock all the doors when you park.
Both options have their own challenges but I would still go for the rental (if rental place let you take the jeep/SUV out of Vieques) because it gives you options to deviate from original plan in case you need to.
I always check schedules before venturing to Vieques or Culebra once you get tickets ask the Clerk at what time they recommend to get to the gates(ferry is tricky, last time I went about 5 years ago, having a ticket did not guarantee you'll get in).
This site may help:
www.elenas-vieques.com/ferry.html
Good Luck and enjoy; It's beautiful outhere.
Dec 3rd, 2008, 02:19 PM
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I would contact Casa Cubuy to find out if it's even _possible_ to get a taxi to take you way up there!
You're going to spend a small fortune on taxi fares. Do you spend on visiting the north side of El Yunque (the main tourism area of El Yunque National Forest)? Or will you spend all of your time on the undeveloped south side where Casa Cubuy is located? You will need to factor in taxi to the north side if you intend to visit there (keeping in mind that taxis cannot travel up into the rain forest on Road 191 -- you'll have a 13KM walk to the trailheads!).
You're going to spend a small fortune on taxi fares. Do you spend on visiting the north side of El Yunque (the main tourism area of El Yunque National Forest)? Or will you spend all of your time on the undeveloped south side where Casa Cubuy is located? You will need to factor in taxi to the north side if you intend to visit there (keeping in mind that taxis cannot travel up into the rain forest on Road 191 -- you'll have a 13KM walk to the trailheads!).
