UPDATED* Can someone look at my PR itinerary?

[cransplash]

My BFF and I are heading to PR in early March for a friend's wedding (staying at the Caribe Hilton). We will not have a rental car, but are not opposed to getting one if needed (self park @ hotel is $17/night, and we're staying for 4 nights).

This is what we still have on our agenda to do, but not sure what/where we can incorporate- can you help? (Paging bimbi284
- * El Yunque
- Fajardo

Here is our itinerary so far (all times include transportation pickup/dropoff times):
Wed
- Arrive in PR around 2:15pm; head to Caribe Hilton hotel
- Afternoon: Luquillo Beach?
- Night: ??

Thurs
- 8am-4:30pm- Toro Verde (Zipline + The Beast tour)
- 6:45pm-11pm- Kayaking @ Bio Bay (through a tour)

Fri
- 8am-5pm- Sailing Catamaran & Snorkeling Tour (visiting Isla Icacos)
- Walk around Old San Juan?

Sat
- Morning- Culebra? Flamenco Beach?
- 5pm- Friend's wedding

Sun
- Morning: Leave PR

[bimbi284]

I'll be back later with some thoughts. I've gotta head out right now but feel free to tag or quote me again in case I forget haha.

[bimbi284]

Ok...you should do El Yunque on the same day you do Loquillo. We usually hike starting in the morning, and then head to Loquillo for some food at the kiosks and a dip in the beach.

I'm on my phone so I need to go back and look at the rest of your plans, lol.

[bimbi284]

You could do OSJ on Wednesday and then have dinner there?

I'll be back later, or feel free to PM me and we can discuss more!

[Moe]

When you arrive on Wednesday, if you want to go to the beach, just stay in CH. Luquillo is a 45min -hour drive from Condado, that's too much of a hike. Especially if you want to come back. I agree with Bimbi, leave Luquillo for the day you go to El Yunque/Fajardo.  You could just walk around Condado too, it's cute and while touristy, very Art Deco and vibrant.

I'd also switch OSJ to Wednesday, then go to La Plazita in Santurce on the Friday.

There is VERY low probability that you'll make the bio bay and Toro Verde in one day. Orocovis is in the middle of the island, are you driving there? I mean, it's a great drive and all, and I love people going there, but it's further away than you think. I think that day is way too hectic. Pick one.

Are you flying to culebra or are you taking the ferry? You should think about it, since going to Ceiba is also like an hour away from the metro area, without traffic, so just be mindful if you want to plan to be back in time for your friend's wedding. The ferry is also ~2 hrs each way.

I love that you're going to Icacos. Sunscreeeeeeeen! Check and see if you can also go to Palomino (not Palominito, that one is owned by El Conquistador).

I love that you're trying to get a different and extensive flavour of the island, just pace yourself, and tryntomremember distances, since you're going all over the place. Traffic, unfortunately, is a bitch.

[sarahsas]

I would say definitely not do Culebra on the day of the wedding. The ferries are very iffy and if you fly, the flights can be too, especially if bad weather. Wouldn't risk it.

For the short time you just can't do it all. Icacos will be a good alternative for Culebra.

I agree with the PP who said don't do Luquillo beach the first day. By the time you get out of the airport, check in, and traffic to get out of San Juan you'll have no time. I'd move Luquillo to the day of the beach (go early and leave ample time to get back to the city for the wedding).

You could try to squeeze El Yunque in before or after Luquillo Beach. If you want to hike or do more than a quick drive through you probably will have to choose between Luquillo beach and El Yunque or drop one of your day trips.

IF IT WERE ME... I would drop the zip line... do El Yunque and Luquillo Beach on that day.. and then bio bay at night. All are on a driving trajectory that works well. I agree that the zipline and biobay will be difficult to make.

[cransplash]

I really appreciate everyone's feedback. I really want to go to Culebra/Flamenco Beach and also El Yunque/Luquillo Beach, but I feel like our activities during the day take up so much time.

I'll have to ask my BFF if she'd rather do El Yunque/Luquillo vs Toro Verde. Also, all times include pick up and drop off per the tour operator. Thus, when it says we'll be back by 4:30pm for Toro Verde, we actually finish there around 3pm, and the tour operator said we should be back to the Caribe Hilton by 4:30pm.

If we did El Yunque/Luquillo, is it best to take a cab there?

[cransplash]

Flamenco Beach or Luquillo Beach?

[sarahsas]

Are you confirmed on the snorkel excursion to Icacos? Why not just do that at Flamenco Beach instead? That's what we did. You can go to Flamenco and snorkel right off the beach.

[cransplash]

Jan 26, 2014 20:54:27 GMT -5 sarahsas said:

Are you confirmed on the snorkel excursion to Icacos? Why not just do that at Flamenco Beach instead? That's what we did. You can go to Flamenco and snorkel right off the beach.

Yes, but I know we can still cancel. However, it was the 1 thing my BFF wants to do so I want to stick with the excursion.

[orangeblossom]

The only thing I would question is the bio bay trip. Is it "working" again. It had gone black during the time we were there in November. They thought if had to do with some construction.

Therefore, we did it in complete darkness, and it really wasn't enjoyable like that, at least going through the mangroves. Once we got out to open water it wasn't as bad.

[scout8]

I loved Flamenco, but I don't think you can fit it in unless you give up one of the tours. I also agree that you shouldn't try to do Luquillo on the day you arrive. If you start early, you probably could do Luquillo and El Yunque on the day of the wedding. I would just rent a car for that day. Make sure to leave some time to walk around OSJ.

[daisypaloma]

I think you have gotten great feedbacks.

I would keep Wednesday low-key; and just roam around OSJ (Forts, Fortaleza shopping, Paseo De La Princesa, etc.). Maybe do Bio Bay that night.

Then Zipline on Thursday, then hang out at Condado/Isla Verde/more OSJ at night.

Friday may be best reserved for Isla Icacos or Culebra.  I don't know much about either, but it sounds like it will take up most of your day.

Then maybe rent a car for El Yunque and lunch at Loquillo Beach on Saturday.

[cransplash]

orangeblossom- I read more recent reviews that it wasn't black (I remember reading that construction had "leaked" into the waters making it pitch black).

Great feedback on doing Bio Bay that first night. I'm going to call the tour company and see if I can switch the date. That way, if we end up doing Toro Verde all day Thurs, we aren't rushing back to have dinner just to rush out to Bio Bay. Now we can relax a little more.

If we were to do El Yunque/Luquillo Saturday morning through lunch, is it worth it to rent a car for a day, or just cab from Carobe Hilton--> El Yunque--> Luquillo Beach? We have the wedding that evening in OSJ, so we would need to be back at the hotel by no later than 2pm to shower, get ready, and still have time to go to the ceremony. Now, I'm beginning to wonder if it'd be worth it to rent a car to only be used for 1/2 day...

I really appreciate everyone's feedback!

Also, I did email my BFF and asked her which she wanted to do the most on Thurs:
1. El Yunque/Luquillo
2. Toro Verde
3. Culebra/Flamenco Beach

I'll see what she says...

[scout8]

Jan 27, 2014 5:09:41 GMT -5 cransplash said:

If we were to do El Yunque/Luquillo Saturday morning through lunch, is it worth it to rent a car for a day, or just cab from Carobe Hilton--> El Yunque--> Luquillo Beach? We have the wedding that evening in OSJ, so we would need to be back at the hotel by no later than 2pm to shower, get ready, and still have time to go to the ceremony. Now, I'm beginning to wonder if it'd be worth it to rent a car to only be used for 1/2 day...

It is a bit of a drive to get to El Yunque & Luquillo. I would think it would be cheaper to rent a car for the day than it would to take a taxi.

[Moe]

Rent a car.

[orangeblossom]

Jan 27, 2014 5:09:41 GMT -5 cransplash said:

orangeblossom- I read more recent reviews that it wasn't black (I remember reading that construction had "leaked" into the waters making it pitch black).

...

Oh, that's wonderful. It would have been sad if it didn't come back.

. It was so disappointing that it was Black. The guide made it seem like there was still luminescence before we went out there and warning us that it would be darker. Darker was an understatement. It was pitch black, and if you got too far behind a boat with their glow stick, you really couldn't see.

Like I said, I'd do it again, but only if if was operating at or near normalcy.

[daisypaloma]

I think renting a car is fairly cheap ($30+ incidentals) v. cabbing, which will be about $60+ for 2 places. You can also make the most of it by picking it up on Friday night, and drop off after lunch Saturday.  But book it asap; to lose the risk of it getting sold out on the day you need them.  Not sure when you're going in March, but besides port days, March is a big deal in PR due to Easter Holiday.  I think El Yunque is best done early in the morning due to your itinerary.  Make sure to bring mosquito spray and comfortable footwear. 

 

 

[bimbi284]

I wouldn't do anything too far away on the day of the wedding. I would leave something that's closer like going to OSJ or just hanging at the beach/pool at CH and maybe walking around Condado. If you have to be back to CH by 2pm that day, its just not worth it to try and squeeze anything in like that without feeling rushed.

Unfortunately, with the time you have there, you just won't be able to do everything you want to do. I say just work on planning another trip there soon .

[cransplash]

Thank you so much! The more I think about it, I think it's just best if we hang out OSJ/Condado on the day of the wedding. I don't want to feel rushed around.

Is there a nice beach near Caribe Hilton we can go to on the day of the wedding?
Will it be warm enough in the morning to lay out?

[scout8]

I think that is a good plan to stay in SJ on the day of the wedding. I don't think any of the beaches right in San Juan are all that fabulous, but nice enough. I thought the Caribe Hilton had a beach, no? I haven't stayed there, but we did tour it during our wedding planning, The grounds were beautiful.