Going to Puerto Rico for the first time is an experience that no one will ever forget. If during the trip you also decide to include a road trip from San Juan to Rincon it is going to make that trip even better. The gorgeous beaches , the beautiful sunsets and the picturesque surf breaks are just a few of the reasons why people decide to add the city of Rincon to their Puerto Rico itinerary. Rincon has so many things to offer that it would be amiss to take a trip to Puerto Rico and not go to the city.
I have been to Rincon many times at this point and know of the best ways to get from San Juan to Rincon. Many people assume that to get from San Juan to Rincon you have to rent a car and drive yourself. That is untrue. There are many ways to get from San Juan to Rincon. You can rent a car or take a shuttle or a flight.
How to get from San Juan to Rincon?
There are three ways you can go from San Juan to Rincon – by car, by plane or by a taxi. Each of them have their own pros and cons.
San Juan to Rincon by Car
You can get from San Juan to Rincon by renting a car and driving yourself. You can rent a car from multiple places in the city all of which are inside or right next to the airport. For travelers flying into the international airport at San Juan, the easiest way to rent a car would be the offices on the ground floor of the airport. The rental offices are right in front of the Uber pickup zone.
Keep in mind that renting cars in Puerto Rico is very expensive because of the import taxes. Car rentals cost anywhere between $50 to $150 per day during high season. The high cost of renting the car is offset by the fact that you have freedom to take the car anywhere and can operate on your own schedule. People usually prefer to rent a car for a few days and do all the road trips around the island during that time.
Budget and Avis are two car rental companies that have offices at San Juan International Airport and the Aguadilla airport. This means that you can pick up and drop the car at either of these two locations. If you want to rent a car from San Juan and take it to Rincon you either have to drop it off at Aguadilla airport and take a taxi from there to Rincon or you will have to keep the car with you the entire time you are in Rincon.
San Juan to Rincon by Flight
You can also fly from San Juan to our by taking a flight from San Juan to Mayaguez or Aguadilla airport. The flights are under 45 mins. From the airport you can request a taxi or rent a car that can take you to Rincon. You can also fly directly to Mayaguez or Aguadilla from some airports in the mainland United States.
San Juan to Rincon by Taxi
The third way to get from San Juan to Rincon is by taking a taxi. This is a good option for those that are on a budget and do not want to spend huge amounts on renting cars or taking a flight. Private taxi companies can pick you up and drop you off in either of these two cities. The taxis pick you up from the local of your choice and drop you off at any location that you want. Our taxi cost $200 from one city to another. If you take a private taxi from one city to the other it is a little bit more expensive then if you take a shared taxi with other people. I have listed the lady that we asked to drive us. She has her own taxi service and probably knows a few other.
How to rent a car in San Juan?
You can rent a car in San Juan from any of the car rental companies if you have a valid drivers license. Valid driver licenses include those from the mainland United States and international driving permits. You can make a booking in advance on the car rental companies’ site and choose the car of your liking and book it. I recommend doing this because during high season a lot of people are also requesting cars and if you don’t book a car in advance you might not get one.
It is much cheaper to get a car if you are above the age of 25. Renters below the age of 25 have to pay a surcharge to rent cars. The entire car rental payment is up front at the start of the trip. If you pick up a car in one location and you drop it off at another location there is a surcharge. To avoid this, you can choose to pick up and drop off the car at the same location. When we went to rent our car it was about one hour from the time we got to the rental office to the time we left with the car. This is because there are a lot of people and it takes time to fill the forms and understand all of the terms.
Why go from San Juan to Rincon?
Rincon is one of the best cities on the island of Puerto Rico. It would be terrible to miss the city on your trip to Puerto Rico. You would miss some of the best things to do in Rincon. The west coast city of Rincon is also famous for its breathtaking sunsets. I personally have seen people getting married in front of the sunset in Rincon and it is absolutely beautiful.
Best Puerto Rico Tours
Adventure Tours
Puerto Rico has some really cool adventure tours that take you around the island. If you are into hiking then visit the El Yunque Rainforest with insane waterfalls and hikes. Another really fun day trip is a Catamaran Cruise to Culebra island where you get to party and relax on the sea. And finally, come swim with turtles in San Juan Bay.
Can you do a day trip from San Juan to Rincon?
Yes it is possible to do a day trip from San Juan to Rincon. Even though it is possible it would be a very hectic road trip. You would have to leave San Juan very early to get to Rincon by mid morning. You will then have only 6 hours that you can spend in the city before you will have to head back to San Juan. I do not recommend doing this because its hard to enjoy such a rushed trip. I recommend staying at least one night in Rincon and then returning the next day. On my last trip to Rincon I stayed for one night and it was a very pleasant trip.
Is there a shuttle/bus from San Juan to Rincon?
There are no public buses that run from San Juan to Rincon. However, there are private taxis that go from San Juan to Rincon. These private taxis are operated by private companies or individuals that are driving their own private vehicles. The easiest way to find them is on Facebook.
Is Rincon worth visiting?
Rincon is definitely worth visiting. It is my favorite city in Puerto Rico and it is one of the most beautiful places on the island. The pristine beaches you see in magazines and the best snorkeling also happens to be in Rincon.
How much is a taxi from San Juan Airport to Rincon
A taxi from San Juan International Airport to Rincon will cost you $200. If you share a shuffle with other people the price goes down significantly.
Adventure Tours in Puerto Rico
The craziest and most adrenaline filled tours to get your heart pumping. These tours combine the best of the natural wonders the island has to offer with great activities.
What airport to fly into Rincon?
There is no airport in Rincon. The nearest airport to Rincon is in Aguadilla which is one hour away from Rincon by car. The Aguadilla airport code is BQN. You can fly from San Juan to Aguadilla with Cape Air Airlines.
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