In Puerto Rico the common transportation mode is the automobile. Most people have their own car. Collective public transport includes the Metropolitan Bus Authority or AMA buses, the Urban Train, the ferries to Vieques and Culebra, and the Cataño ferry. In addition, most institutions have on-campus transportation. To check the schedules and routes of the collective public transport, click here. (este enlace está disponible?
To buy ferry tickets to Vieques and Culebra, click aquí.
When choosing your housing, we recommend that you look for places that are near or well connected with the different public or private transport services available to ensure an easy and convenient ride to school. Your university will give you this information during the initial orientation before you start studying in Puerto Rico.
Bicycles are also a widely used means of transportation. But you will not always be able to get to your destination by bicycle. It is possible to use bicycles to get to some educational institutions, depending on the location of your housing. In many towns there are bicycle lanes and routes.
Another very popular means of transport is Uber. This private company service is offered throughout Puerto Rico; to use it you must download the app on your mobile phone.
After you decided to study in Puerto Rico, one of the first questions that you will have will be “Where will I live?” During your stay in Puerto Rico, the most important decision you will make is the housing you choose, since the location of the housing will determine where to shop, where to take the public transport, the nearest train station, among other matters.
There are several housing options whose cost vary according to their characteristics: private, public, individual, shared, time of stay, services included, etc. Given the many possibilities, we created a series of questions to help you make the best decision as to what type of housing to choose while you study in Puerto Rico.
There are several public and private institutions on the island that have student dormitories, such as the University of Puerto Rico (Río Piedras campus), the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico (San Germán and Bayamón campuses) and the University of the Sacred Heart. This type of housing is convenient in terms of economy and proximity to the campus and usually includes a variety of amenities such as private bathroom, study areas, closet, air conditioning, Internet, kitchen, laundry, and parking, among others. Most educational institutions provide advice on finding different types of housing to their international students. Ask your educational institution about these services.
Some students prefer living in quiet environments that are appropriate for concentrating and reading. Others choose to live in urban centers or areas that offer many cultural or entertainment events (classes, conferences, artistic performances, etc.), even if it means living away from campus. Some others value their independence more than an economic investment, so they choose private housing that allows them to have completely open schedules and provides them services. Others join in a group to share the rent of one same housing, which allows them to reduce expenses and make friends. There are those who seek to take advantage of their time outside of classes to do tourism in the island, which is why the issue of transportation is especially important. In short, there are options for all tastes and budgets. There are many private housing rental websites on the Internet. Contact your educational institution and ask for guidance on your housing possibilities based on your interests and needs. Finally, you should know that you may apply for public housing through the Department of Housing of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In addition, you may check the housing inventory by region here.
One of the most important things to know before arriving in Puerto Rico is the kind of health insurance your university require, if any. The health system in Puerto Rico, like that of the United States, is private. Most educational institutions in Puerto Rico require that every enrolled student have health insurance. Although some institutions do not require their students to have health insurance, we recommend that you have a local medical insurance plan during your stay in Puerto Rico. Generally, it is required that said insurance include medical emergencies, accidents, illnesses, and repatriation. Some educational institutions offer their own insurance, but it is up to you to choose whether you prefer to buy the university’s insurance or another insurance. We recommend that you access the webpage of the university you will be attending to learn if you will need medical insurance to study there.
Remember that if you are traveling to the U.S. on a J-1 or F-1 visa, you are required to have medical health insurance for the duration of your program. Many sponsored programs offer both their students and their dependents health insurance, or they will be required to enroll in a private health insurance plan. Either way, the U.S. Department of State has minimum J-1 health insurance requirements that your medical insurance plan must meet. To access them, click here.
In addition, you should know that Puerto Rico has a many excellent public and private hospitals. To access the list of Hospitals in Puerto Rico, click here.
