Wondering if I need cash for taxis in Puerto Rico or if I can just pay with card or app like in other countries?
I found Puerto Rico somewhere in between. In San Juan, Uber works fine and lets you pay by card through the app, but the regular street taxis asked for cash every time. Drivers didn’t have readers, and they didn’t seem interested in cards either. Outside the city, it’s 100% cash-based. So if you’re sticking to Uber in the metro area, cards will work. Otherwise, be ready with dollar bills for regular taxis anywhere else on the island.
In Puerto Rico, cash is still the main way to pay taxis. I didn’t see card machines in cabs when I visited, and even though Uber is an option in San Juan, it doesn’t cover everywhere. If you’re traveling around more rural parts of the island, cash is a must. The fares aren’t huge, but drivers prefer small bills. Card use is growing, but it hasn’t taken over the taxi scene yet, so cash is definitely safer.
Taxis in Puerto Rico lean heavily toward cash. Only in the San Juan airport area did I see drivers mention card acceptance, and even then, machines didn’t always work. Uber operates there, and it’s by far the easiest way to pay digitally. Still, I’d carry some cash, because once you’re outside the main city, card isn’t a reliable option at all. Puerto Rico feels modern in many ways, but taxis themselves remain pretty old-fashioned in payment methods.
Puerto Rico is mixed when it comes to taxis. At San Juan airport and some hotel zones, you might find drivers who accept cards, but the majority of taxis I took only took cash. Apps like Uber are available on the island, and those are much easier if you want to pay by card. Outside the main tourist spots, cash is the safe bet. I’d say download Uber for convenience, but always keep some dollars for regular taxis.