San Juan to Fajardo (A Practical Transport Guide)

Looking for the best ways to get from San Juan to Fajardo, Puerto Rico? 

Fajardo is a city in eastern Puerto Rico that attracts plenty of tourists. But, because it’s located an hour from the capital city, many visitors wonder how to get between the two cities easily and efficiently to explore Fajardo’s best attractions.

I’m a Puerto Rico local who’s been to Fajardo, and this article contains my best tips to help you travel between San Juan and Fajardo to enjoy your vacation. I’ve also got a guide to staying in Fajardo, in case you plan to stay overnight.

Now, let’s break down the best ways to get to Fajardo and back to San Juan!

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4 Ways to Get From San Juan to Fajardo (& Back)

There are four different ways for visitors to get from San Juan to Fajardo including rental cars, private shuttles, taxis, and carros públicos.

Although all these options are by land, which method you choose will depend on your budget, time, and flexibility. 

Let’s break them down:

From San Juan to Fajardo by Car 

🚍 Best for: Freedom to explore, and comfort
💵 Cost: $$
👉 Where to Book: Discover Cars

Renting a car in Puerto Rico is your best option if you want to explore and make stops at some fun Puerto Rico attractions like El Yunque National Forest before reaching Fajardo.

The driving system in Puerto Rico is similar to the United States so it’s fairly easy to move around and, depending on the season you visit Puerto Rico, you can find cheap fares for rental cars.

Pros of Going to Fajardo via Car: 

• Flexibility to explore
• Cheapest way in the long run
• Not being limited by transportation hours

Cons of Going to Fajardo via Car: 

• Pricey if only one person is paying
• Differences in driving in Puerto Rico

From San Juan to Fajardo by Private Shuttle

🚍 Best for: Comfort
💵 Cost: $$-$$$
👉 Where to Book: Viator,  Luquillo Taxi, Go Puerto Rico Shuttle

If you hate the idea of driving in a foreign country and you’d rather sit back and enjoy the view, then using a San Juan to Fajardo shuttle is your best bet.

Private shuttles depart from different points in San Juan, including the San Juan Airport and Old San Juan.

But, you can arrange different hours and location pick-ups depending on the company you choose.

Shuttles can accommodate larger groups than a taxi, which is convenient if your party exceeds the usual taxi passenger allowance.

Pros of Going to Fajardo via Private Shuttles: 

• Stress-free trip to Fajardo
• Great for large groups
• Cheap if paid by multiple persons

Cons of Going to Fajardo via Private Shuttles: 

• Limited stops
• Pricey if it’s for one person

From San Juan to Fajardo by Taxi

🚍 Best for: Comfort
💵 Cost: $$-$$$

Taxis are similar to private shuttles when traveling to Fajardo as they offer flexibility with pick-up and drop-off places and hours, but they can be a bit more expensive.

Taxis base their prices on distance and charge additional fees for late hours, luggage, and extra passengers, so a ride from San Juan to Fajardo can quickly add up. 

Pros of Going to Fajardo via Taxis: 

• Flexibility with pick-up and drop-off
• Stress-free trip to Fajardo
• More private than a large shuttle

Cons of Going to Fajardo via Taxis: 

• Can be pricey
• Additional fees for extra luggage 
• Additional fees for extra passengers

From San Juan to Fajardo by Guagua Pública

🚍 Best for: Saving money
💵 Cost: $

Visitors sometimes have a hard time understanding how the carros públicos transportation system works in Puerto Rico.

While there aren’t fixed hours, and they’re often unreliable, a carro público can indeed take you from San Juan to the Fajardo town center for less than $50. 

The fare could even be under $20 if you have good negotiating skills and you catch a full van, as the price lowers if there are more passengers.

If you want to go to Fajardo by carro público, then you’ll need to head over to the Terminal de Carros Públicos del Este in Río Piedras before 7 am and find the van heading to Fajardo.

The vans makes between two and three trips a day. Don’t let the Carolina drivers convince you the route isn’t longer available. But if you do miss the Fajardo route for the day, you’ll have to negotiate with them a trip to Fajardo.

Keep in mind that guaguas depart only when they’re full, regardless of how long people are waiting to depart.

Pros of Going to Fajardo via Guagua Pública: 

• Cheapest way to get from San Juan to Fajardo
• Daily routes

Cons of Going to Fajardo via Guagua Pública: 

• Don’t run after 3 pm
• Don’t run on weekends
• Big luggage isn’t allowed on board
• Lack of comfort
• Drivers hardly speak English

3 Tips For Getting Between San Juan and Fajardo

Stop at El Yunque National Forest

On your way to Fajardo, make a stop at one of the top Puerto Rico attractions, El Yunque National Forest.

El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the National Forest System and it houses beautiful waterfalls, rivers, flora, and fauna.

Check out my local guide to El Yunque National Forest for more information.

Stay a Few Days

If you’re traveling to Fajardo from San Juan, then I recommend taking a few days to tour the northeast area.

Book a night at El Conquistador Resort to explore Fajardo’s beaches, known for their turquoise waters, and Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve, perfect for spotting local wildlife and kayaking in one of Puerto Rico’s bio bays.

Head over to the border with Ceiba to Las Tinajas and dip in one of the best waterfalls in Puerto Rico.

Take a Tour to an Outside Island

Once in Fajardo, take a Puerto Rico boat trip to offshore islands like Icacos.

You can also find boat day trips to Culebra and Vieques if you don’t want to spend a few days at these offshore municipalities.  

Find the perfect trip departing from Fajardo’s multiple marinas, including snorkeling trips and diving trips to some of the most popular places for diving in Puerto Rico.

Escape to Vieques and Culebra

After you’re done exploring Fajardo, make your way to the new ferry terminal in the neighboring town of Ceiba.

From here, you can catch a ferry to Culebra and Vieques, where you’ll find the brightest bio bay in the world.

You can also find shuttles that offer transportation directly to the Ceiba terminal from San Juan if you don’t plan on stopping in Fajardo.

My guide on getting from San Juan to Culebra will tell you exactly how to make the journey.

Negotiate the Fee

If you’re planning on using carros públicos to reach Fajardo from San Juan, then know you’re in for a real local adventure that will require patience, basic Spanish, and negotiating skills.

To catch a bus from San Juan to Fajardo, you’ll need to do so in Terminal de Carros Públicos del Este before 7 am.

The fee will depend on how full the bus is and how good you are at negotiating.

The fuller the bus, the cheaper your trip will be. Regardless, you shouldn’t be paying anything over $60 so make sure to negotiate if it’s more and be ready to pay in cash.

Carolina drivers will try to convince you the route to Fajardo is no longer operating so you make special (and more expensive) arrangements with them.

Even if you don’t see the van in the terminal, know that the route exists and that you might have missed it.

Learn more in my guide to how to get around Puerto Rico.

👉 Local Tip: If you miss the van to Fajardo, depending on the hour of the day, you can wait for the next trip (which can take hours) or negotiate a trip with another driver.

FAQs About Getting from San Juan to  Fajardo

How do I get from San Juan to Fajardo?

Visitors that fly into San Juan can reach Fajardo by renting a car, taking a private shuttle or taxi, or using public transportation from the Terminal de Carros Públicos del Este in Rio Piedras.

Is there a bus from San Juan to Fajardo?

There is a van that goes directly from the Terminal de Carros Públicos in Río Piedras, San Juan to Fajardo. Although it’s cheap, it’s often unreliable, and it’s mostly locals that use them. Visitors should opt for other transportation methods like a taxi or a private shuttle.

Is Fajardo worth visiting?

Fajardo is worth visiting as it features some of the best beaches in Puerto Rico, a nature reserve, a bioluminescent lagoon, and a historical lighthouse.

How much is a taxi from San Juan to Fajardo?

The cost of a taxi from San Juan to Fajardo ranges between 120 and 180 USD. The price depends not only on the meter, but also on how many people are using the taxi, how much luggage they have, and the pickup place in San Juan.

Map of How to Get Between San Juan and Fajardo

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Thanks for reading my guide on how to get from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Fajardo! 

If you want to explore more things on the island, then check out these popular activities to do in Puerto Rico.

Happy exploring!