Frequently Asked Questions
Booking
How do I book a tour with Tours To Do PR?
You can book directly on this website with a credit or debit card: pick your tour, choose a date and the number of guests, and pay at checkout. Your confirmation arrives by email straight away. If you would rather talk to a person first, call or WhatsApp +1 787-226-9049 between 8am and 8pm Atlantic Standard Time, any day of the week.
How far in advance should I book?
Book at least three days ahead when you can. Some tours need that much notice, and the popular departures fill first, especially El Yunque in the morning and anything on a weekend or a cruise-ship day. If you are already on the island and something is open tomorrow, the checkout will let you book it.
Can I book a tour for tomorrow or for today?
Sometimes. The booking calendar only offers dates that are genuinely available, so if tomorrow appears you can book it. Same-day is rare because guides and vehicles are assigned the night before. For last-minute plans, call or WhatsApp +1 787-226-9049 instead of using the website, and we will tell you straight away what is still running.
What payment methods do you accept?
Credit and debit cards on this website, processed securely by Stripe. We never see or store your card number. Bookings made through Viator, GetYourGuide or FareHarbor are paid on those platforms under their own terms.
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
Cancel three or more days before the tour starts and you get a full refund. Cancel less than 48 hours before and you get 80 percent back. Cancel less than 24 hours before and no refund is issued. Refunds go back to the original payment method. If you booked through Viator, GetYourGuide or FareHarbor, start the cancellation on that platform rather than with us.
What happens if it rains?
Most tours run anyway. This is a tropical island, rain is usually brief, and El Yunque is a rainforest that is often at its best wet. We only cancel for conditions that make a tour unsafe, such as flash-flood warnings in the river canyons or a storm at sea for the boat. If we cancel, you choose between another date and a full refund.
Do I get a confirmation and what should I do with it?
Yes, by email, immediately after payment. It carries your booking reference, the date, the start time and the meeting point. Keep it on your phone. If it has not arrived within a few minutes, check your spam folder and then message +1 787-226-9049 so we can resend it.
Can I change the date or the number of guests after booking?
Usually yes, if there is room on the date you want. Message +1 787-226-9049 with your booking reference as early as you can. Changes made with more than three days' notice are straightforward; closer to the date they depend on what is still open.
Do you offer private tours?
Yes. Any of our tours can run as a private departure for your group only, which suits families, couples and corporate groups who want their own pace. We also build custom itineraries from scratch. Message +1 787-226-9049 with your dates, group size and what you have in mind.
Do you have discounts for groups or repeat guests?
Yes. Guests who have already taken a tour with us can use a returning-guest code at checkout, and guests who arrive through one of our partners get a discount applied automatically without typing anything. For larger groups, message +1 787-226-9049 with your numbers and we will quote you.
The Tours
What tours does Tours To Do PR offer?
Six regular tours: El Yunque Rainforest and Waterfalls with transportation, 6 hours from $85; Charco Azul and Arenales Cave, 6 hours from $85; the Private Party Boat to Icacos and Palomino, 5 hours from $125; the Pork Highway and Guavate food tour, half a day from $65; the Old San Juan walking tour, 2.5 hours from $35; and a Sunset Salsa beach class in San Juan, 1 hour from $30. We also run private cooking and chef experiences.
Which tour is best if I only have one day in Puerto Rico?
El Yunque, if you want the thing the island is famous for. It is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Forest System, the tour includes transportation from the San Juan area, and in six hours you see waterfalls, swim, and get back in time for dinner. If you are staying in Old San Juan and do not want to travel, the 2.5-hour walking tour covers five centuries of history on foot.
What time do the tours start?
El Yunque runs twice a day, at 7am and at 12pm, and you choose which suits you when you book. Charco Azul starts at 7am. The Old San Juan walking tour starts at 10am. The Sunset Salsa class starts in the late afternoon and shifts through the year because it is timed to the sunset. Your confirmation email carries the exact time for your date.
How big are the groups?
It varies by tour, and the booking page for each one shows how many places are available. The cave and canyon tours run smaller because the terrain demands it; the walking and food tours take more. If group size matters to you, book a private departure and it is only your party.
How physically demanding are the tours?
Each tour is rated. Charco Azul and Arenales Cave is challenging: expect uneven ground, rock scrambling and water. El Yunque is moderate, with walking on trails and some steps. Old San Juan, the Pork Highway, the party boat and the salsa class are leisurely. If you are unsure whether a tour suits your mobility, message +1 787-226-9049 and describe the situation rather than guessing.
Can I swim on the tours?
Yes, on El Yunque, Charco Azul and the party boat. El Yunque has natural pools and waterfalls, Charco Azul is a blue river pool, and the boat anchors off Icacos and Palomino. Bring a swimsuit and a towel. You do not need to be a strong swimmer, but you should be comfortable in water.
What should I bring?
Closed shoes with grip for the rainforest and cave tours, a swimsuit and towel if the tour includes water, reef-safe sunscreen, a refillable water bottle and a dry bag or waterproof case for your phone. For the boat, add a hat and sunglasses. For Old San Juan, comfortable walking shoes for cobblestones.
Is food or drink included?
On the Pork Highway tour, the food is the tour: you eat your way through Guavate. On the others, check the listing for your tour, as what is included differs. Bring water on every tour regardless, and expect to buy lunch yourself on the full-day tours unless the listing says otherwise.
Are the tours suitable for children?
The walking, food, salsa and boat tours work well for families. The cave and canyon tour is challenging terrain and not suited to small children. There are child rates on some tours, which the booking page shows when you select guests. Tell us the ages when you book and we will say plainly whether it is a good fit.
What languages are the tours given in?
English and Spanish. Our guides are Puerto Rican and switch between the two comfortably, so a mixed group is not a problem.
Transportation
Do you provide transportation from San Juan?
The El Yunque Rainforest and Waterfalls tour includes round-trip transportation, which is why it is named that way. For the other tours, check the listing: some include pickup and some meet on location. Your confirmation email states exactly where to be and at what time.
Where do the tours meet?
It depends on the tour and on whether transportation is included. Tours with pickup collect you from your hotel or a nearby agreed point in the San Juan metropolitan area. Tours without pickup meet on location, such as Old San Juan for the walking tour. The meeting point is on your confirmation email, and we message you the day before to confirm.
Can you pick me up from my hotel or Airbnb?
On tours that include transportation, usually yes, within the San Juan metropolitan area including Condado, Isla Verde, Santurce and Old San Juan. Add the address when you book. If you are staying further out, such as Rincón or Ponce, message +1 787-226-9049 before booking so we can tell you honestly whether it works.
Do you pick up from the cruise port?
Yes, the cruise terminals are in Old San Juan and well within our pickup area. Tell us your ship and its departure time when you book. We will say plainly whether the tour fits inside your window, because missing a ship is not worth a tour.
Do I need to rent a car to take your tours?
No. That is rather the point: tours with transportation included exist so you do not have to drive unfamiliar mountain roads or find parking at a trailhead. If you have a car, you can drive to the tours that meet on location.
How far is El Yunque from San Juan?
About 45 minutes to an hour by road from the San Juan metropolitan area, depending on traffic and which entrance you use. The tour includes that drive in both directions, which is part of why it runs six hours door to door.
What happens if I am late for pickup?
Call +1 787-226-9049 immediately. A tour with several guests cannot wait long without spoiling the day for everyone, so the guide will usually wait a short while and then go. Letting us know early gives us the best chance of sorting something out.
Is there parking at the meeting points?
For the tours that meet on location, there is paid parking nearby, though Old San Juan fills early and the garages are the reliable option. If parking worries you, pick a tour with transportation included.
About Our Guides
Who are your guides?
Puerto Ricans, born and raised on the island, with eight to ten years of experience leading tours here. They are not reading a script written somewhere else: they grew up with these trails, these towns and these stories, and the difference shows in what they point out and what they tell you about it.
Are the guides bilingual?
Yes, English and Spanish, and they move between the two during a tour as the group needs.
Is tipping expected?
Not required, always appreciated. If your guide made the day, the usual range in Puerto Rico is 10 to 20 percent of the tour price, in cash, at the end.
Can I request a specific guide?
You can ask. Message +1 787-226-9049 with your booking reference and the name, and we will match it if that guide is working your date. On a private departure it is easier to arrange than on a shared one.
How many reviews do you have?
More than 900 reviews on Google with a 5.0 rating. They are public and worth reading before you book anything, ours included.
Health & Safety
Are the tours safe?
Yes, with the ordinary caveats of outdoor activity in the tropics. Guides carry phones, know the terrain and turn back when conditions call for it, particularly in the river canyons where water rises fast after rain. The judgement that keeps a tour safe is local knowledge, which is the main argument for going with a guide rather than alone.
Do I need to be fit to join a tour?
For the leisurely tours, no more than you need for a day of walking. For El Yunque, moderate fitness: trails, steps, uneven ground. For Charco Azul and Arenales Cave, genuinely challenging: scrambling over rock, moving through water, and a cave. If in doubt, describe your situation to us at +1 787-226-9049 and we will tell you honestly.
Can I join if I have a medical condition or an injury?
Often yes, but tell us before you book, not on the morning. Message +1 787-226-9049 and describe it. Some tours are easy to adapt and some are not, and knowing in advance lets us put you on the right tour rather than turn you away at the trailhead.
Are the tours wheelchair accessible?
The rainforest, canyon and cave tours are not: the terrain rules it out. Parts of Old San Juan are manageable but the streets are steep cobblestone. Contact us at +1 787-226-9049 before booking and we will be straight with you about what is realistic rather than sell you a tour that will not work.
What should I do about the sun?
Bring reef-safe sunscreen and reapply it through the day. The boat has no shade to speak of, and the Caribbean sun burns faster than visitors expect, even on a cloudy day.
Is the water safe to drink?
Tap water in Puerto Rico is treated to United States standards and is safe to drink across the metropolitan area. Bring a refillable bottle rather than buying plastic, and fill it before you set off, because there is no tap on a trail.
Do you require a waiver?
Yes, for the tours involving water, rock or a boat. You sign it digitally before the tour, and it covers the ordinary risks of outdoor activity. It takes a minute and is easier done at home than in a parking lot.
Visiting Puerto Rico
Do I need a passport to visit Puerto Rico?
Not if you are a United States citizen. Puerto Rico is a United States territory, so travelling there from the mainland is a domestic flight and a driver's licence or other government photo identification is enough. Visitors from other countries need whatever they would need to enter the United States, including an ESTA or a visa where that applies.
What currency is used in Puerto Rico?
The United States dollar. Cards are accepted nearly everywhere, but carry some cash for food kiosks, small vendors, parking and tips, particularly on the Pork Highway where the best places are the least formal.
What language do people speak in Puerto Rico?
Spanish is the everyday language and English is widely spoken, especially in San Juan and anywhere tourists go. You can get through a trip comfortably in English, and a few words of Spanish are received warmly.
When is the best time to visit Puerto Rico?
December through April has the driest, mildest weather and the biggest crowds and prices. May and November are the sweet spot: warm, green, cheaper and quieter. Hurricane season runs June through November, with the real risk concentrated in August and September. It is warm all year; the island does not have a cold season.
What is the weather like?
Warm and humid year-round, generally 24 to 31 degrees Celsius, or 75 to 88 Fahrenheit, near the coast and cooler in the mountains. Rain tends to arrive as short heavy showers rather than grey days, and El Yunque is wetter than the coast by a wide margin, which is why it is a rainforest.
What time zone is Puerto Rico in?
Atlantic Standard Time, UTC minus four, all year. Puerto Rico does not observe daylight saving, so for part of the year it matches Eastern Time in the United States and for the rest it is one hour ahead.
How many days do I need in Puerto Rico?
Four to five days covers the island properly: a day for Old San Juan, a day for El Yunque, a day for a beach or the islands off Fajardo, and a day for food and the mountains. Three days is enough for a good trip if you choose rather than rush. A single day means picking one thing and doing it well.
Do I need a rental car in Puerto Rico?
Not if you are staying in San Juan and taking guided tours. The metropolitan area works on foot, taxis and rideshare, and tours with transportation cover the rest. A car makes sense if you plan to explore the west coast or the mountains on your own schedule.
Is Puerto Rico safe for tourists?
Yes, with the common sense any city asks for. The tourist areas of San Juan, Condado, Isla Verde and Old San Juan are well travelled and policed. Watch your belongings on the beach, do not leave anything visible in a parked car, and ask a local before swimming at an unfamiliar beach, because the currents on the north coast deserve respect.
What is there to do in Puerto Rico besides the beach?
More than most visitors expect. El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Forest System. Old San Juan is five centuries of fortified colonial city you can walk in an afternoon. There are bioluminescent bays, cave systems, the food towns of the Pork Highway, salsa on the beach at sunset, and the islands off the east coast. Our tours exist because none of it is obvious from a hotel lobby.