The easiest and quickest way to get around San Juan is by taxi. Most trips are metered with the exception being trips to or from the international airport and the cruise piers in Old San Juan. The rate from the airport to the cruise terminals in Old San Juan is about $20. There is an additional charge for luggage.
If you are cruising from San Juan I would suggest that you consider a taxi as it will be much quicker than waiting for the cruise line bus to fill up. By the way – it will be less expensive if you are two or more persons.
If you are on a cruise departing from Old San Juan and you have a good part of the day and early evening free to explore, one way to get around is by the free trolley. The trolley runs frequently and takes both locals and tourists around the cobblestone streets and hills of the old city. Yellow banners mark the stops. Passengers can get on and off at any stop. My wife, son and I took the trolley from the main cruise pier by the Sheraton right up to the El Morro Fortress. The day was very hot and we figured this was a great way to save our energy. Afterwards, we walked down through narrow streets of the old city, exploring shops and stopping to dine on our way back to the cruise pier. Beware, on weekends with so many cruise ships around the trolleys can get very crowded and will even drive pass designated stops if they are full.
After our cruise it was quite simple to find a taxi just outside the terminal. We were back at the airport in twenty minutes. FYI – During the week the rush hour traffic in San Juan can be very bad so allow extra time if your cruise is departing Monday – Friday.
El Morro
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