Getting Around, Bayamon Travel, Transport and Car Rental
(Bayamon, Puerto Rico)
Despite being the second-largest city in
Puerto Rico, Bayamon is well-known for its woeful lack of public transportation and generally poor travel infrastructure. The bus stops are not designed well, the footpaths are hard to negotiate and there are virtually no pedestrian areas.
There is, however, one bright spot when it comes to travel options - the Tren Urbano. This new urban train can get you into
San Juan proper from Bayamon, with ease. Otherwise, stick to taxi transport for getting around Bayamon and San Juan - you don't want to be out walking in this part of the metropolis.
Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) / Arriving by Air
Address: Expreso Loiza PR-26, Carolina, Puerto Rico, PR
Tel: +1 787 791 4670
San Juan's international airport is the main transportation hub of the Caribbean. The airport lies on the eastern side of the metropolis, in the city of Carolina and next to the Laguna La Torrecilla, and is just a few kilometres to the south-east of the Old City, Isla Verde and Condado. Many of the nicer hotels and resorts around San Juan provide vans to pick up their arriving guests. If your accommodation doesn't offer this service, you can hire a taxi outside of the terminal. The taxi journey to Bayamon should take between 30 and 45 minutes. Car hire firms also have offices in the terminal, should you wish to rent your own vehicle during your visit.
Car Rental
All of the big car hire firms have kiosks in the arrivals area of the international airport, in Concourse E. Avis, Budget, National and Thrifty are among the main companies. You can also rent cars in the city itself, at local branches of the same car hire firms. Driving around the San Juan metropolitan area can be daunting for those who don't have experience with erratic driving conditions and heavy traffic. Bayamon is particularly bad for traffic jams.
Buses and Coaches
The Metropolitan Bus Authority operates the public buses around San Juan and its suburbs. Bus stops have yellow posts or metal signs saying PARADA, but in Bayamon these are not particularly well laid out. All buses marked ATI connect with the Tren Urbano rail network that travels between Old San Juan and Bayamon. The main bus terminal is in Old San Juan, next to the Treasury Building.
Trains
The Tren Urbano is Puerto Rico's first attempt at a mass transit project. This network opened in 2005 and connects San Juan with all of its main suburbs, such as Bayamon, Guaynabo and Santurce. The Tren Urbano is a good role model for the future of San Juan, providing a quick and easy way to travel across this sprawling city. During rush hour, trains run every eight minutes or thereabouts. Otherwise they run every 12 minutes. Train transport stops between 23:20 and 05:30.
Taxis
Taxis are the easiest way to get around parts of San Juan. Only Old San Juan is ideal for walking around. To get between any two points in the city, you will need transport of some kind. There is an effective flat-rate taxi charge for most of the common destinations around San Juan. Drivers are supposed to use their meters for trips outside the zoned areas, but you will find that most don't. Instead they will offer you a flat rate of their own. Public cars called 'publicos' are shared vans that cruise a circuit. These can be either overcrowded or pleasantly comfortable, depending on the time of day.
Boats and Ferries
There is a high-speed ferry running from Pier 2 in Old San Juan to Vieques and Culebra during the high season, from December to April. Of note, Ferries del Caribe operates international passenger and vehicle ferries from the Dominican Republic.
More information about
San Juan travel and transport.
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