Puerto Rico Tour Desk  Knowledge Base
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Our excursions are all very safe; we never compromise on safety, as we wish to maintain our record of zero accidents.

If it is a minor issue, such as a cut, we can provide assistance using our first aid kit. If the situation is serious, we contact the appropriate authorities—such as the Forest Service—and call 911 to have an ambulance with paramedics dispatched.

All our tour guides are trained in CPR and first aid for working in natural areas.

To legally operate a tour company in Puerto Rico, we are required to carry insurance for our services. The Forest Service also requires it.

Accidents are unforeseen events that can always occur due to a moment of carelessness, a misstep on the trails, or a cut from a rock in the river. We can always offer to take the person to the hospital if deemed necessary. In the event of a serious injury, we call 911 to summon an ambulance. Generally, the places we visit are quite safe, and the risk of accidents is not a major concern.

Our tour guide keeps a close eye on the group (which is why we prefer working with small groups); if someone slips, we immediately attend to them with our first aid kit for minor issues. We can also take the person to the hospital if deemed necessary.

In the event of a serious injury, we call 911 to summon an ambulance. Generally, the locations we visit are quite safe, and accidents are not a major concern.

There is coverage in many of the places we visit in the forest; the areas where we usually lack coverage are along the river. We would estimate that you will have a signal about 75% of the time.

Fortunately, there are no venomous or dangerous animals in Puerto Rico that we need to worry about. While there are endemic and exotic animals, there is absolutely no cause for concern.

Puerto Rico is home to several species of snakes and boas; none are venomous, nor are they large enough to harm anyone. Our boas and snakes are primarily nocturnal, so our active hours do not overlap with theirs.

Surprisingly, mosquitoes in the forest are not as common as people think, thanks to the many predators that keep the population in check. We do not provide mosquito repellent (as we consider it unnecessary), though you are certainly welcome to bring your own.

Occasionally, other tourists donate theirs at the end of the tour, so we might have some available in the vehicles (though we cannot guarantee it).

You can find all our services—including prices, descriptions, schedules, and operating days—on the tours page on our website. We invite you to review the full details there.

Our services are secured with full payment, similar to other travel services such as airlines and major hotel chains. We understand that large groups often need to coordinate with everyone involved; in such cases, you may pay a 50% deposit, with the remaining balance (the other 50%) due one week before the service takes place.

We can accommodate large groups in various ways, so we recommend contacting us via phone or WhatsApp to discuss the best option for you.

For large groups, we arrange an initial deposit, with the balance due one week prior to the event to secure the booking. This applies exclusively to groups of 25 people or more.

Nowadays, there are many payment methods available, and Puerto Rico Tour Desk is no exception. We accept all major credit cards, as well as PayPal and Venmo.

If you book more than one service with us, you may pay for the second service in cash during your first appointment.

We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa, and Discover credit cards. If you have a PayPal or Venmo account, you can also make the payment that way by contacting us.

Yes, we always ask that you contact us to ensure the booking registers in our system.

Our services begin early (8:00 AM); our tour guides pick up the vehicles early and send messages to the number provided during booking. It helps us a great deal if you book at least one hour before the service starts. We always recommend contacting us to ensure the booking has registered in our system. For afternoon services, we also recommend booking an hour in advance, although we are usually fully engaged with reservations by then, making it less likely that your booking would be overlooked.

You must contact us to change or modify your reservation. You can call our office at 787-710-1109, message us via WhatsApp, or send an email to info@prtourdesk.com.

Please bear in mind the high volume of emails and spam we receive; we may not be able to reply immediately, so we ask for your patience as we respond within 24 to 48 hours. Depending on the situation, management will determine the best course of action to handle the reservation modification.

We have a 48-hour cancellation policy. You can contact our office at 787-710-1109, message us via WhatsApp, or send an email to info@prtourdesk.com.

Please note that due to high email and spam volumes, we may not be able to reply immediately; we ask for your patience, as it may take 24 to 48 hours to respond. Depending on the situation, management will determine the best course of action regarding your reservation cancellation.

We understand that last-minute situations can arise. We would appreciate it if you let us know, as we might be able to adjust the pickup route. We always recommend arriving at the pickup location 10 to 15 minutes early.

Please keep in mind that we are traveling with other tourists. You will receive a confirmation via the email address provided at the time of booking, as well as a reminder confirmation 24 hours before the service. Our guide will send you a text message—either that morning or sometimes the night before—to introduce themselves and let you know what to bring, along with other details.

We can accommodate large groups in various ways, so we recommend contacting us via phone or WhatsApp to discuss the best option for you.

If you do not arrive on time for any reason, we wait a maximum of 10 minutes (depending on the situation). Please keep in mind that there are other people on the tour, and we must respect their time as well. Each situation can be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Occasionally, if there is space available on another tour, we would let you know (though this is not guaranteed).

We only cancel for specific reasons:
If we do not meet the minimum number of participants (4 people), if the forest authorities issue a notice stating that the site cannot be visited for safety reasons, or due to an uncontrollable event that prevents us from providing our service.

Yes; with private tours, we have the flexibility to tailor the service to your preferences and convenience. We always recommend starting early to avoid large crowds of tourists and locals, allowing for a more enjoyable experience. Please keep in mind that with a private tour, you are paying to ensure no one else is in the vehicle, effectively covering the cost of the unsold seats.

The price is calculated based on the specific service, distance, and duration. Please feel free to contact us for pricing on private experiences. This is an excellent option for enjoying the tour with your group of friends and family.

Private services can be 100% customized, as that is what you are paying for.

Our expert tour coordinators will always provide recommendations to make the experience more enjoyable and convenient for your group.

We offer flexible scheduling for private services; our expert excursion coordinator will always present the best options based on their experience regarding routes and timing. Generally, the earlier, the better, to avoid large crowds of locals and tourists.

Our standard reservation system accommodates up to 14 people (vehicle capacity). If you have a larger group, please contact our office at 787-710-1109, message us via WhatsApp, or email info@prtourdesk.com. Please note that due to high email and spam volumes, we may not be able to reply immediately; we ask for your patience as it may take 24 to 48 hours to respond to your email.

Yes, it is suitable for all our services. The only exception is our El Yunque Rainforest Hiking tour; that excursion requires a certain level of physical fitness, so we recommend it for children aged 6 and up.

Children under the age of 3 travel for free; however, if you have multiple children under 3, we offer a “2-for-1” deal where both children pay the price of a single adult ticket. Like many tour companies and airlines, we charge for the seat. When you pay for a child, you are guaranteeing their seat.

Mobility limitations will always be taken into account. Depending on the severity of the limitation, it might be best to consider a private excursion (please bear in mind that we want the entire group to have the best possible experience with our services).

We consider these to be very personal items, and unfortunately, we do not provide them. Here in Puerto Rico, there are several companies that rent them out and deliver them to your accommodation. If you are bringing a car seat, we ask that you please notify us so we know where to position it in the vehicle. Please note that, regardless of the child’s age, a charge applies for the seat occupied by the car seat. Booking a private tour is often recommended; please check with the office for pricing.

Our standard reservation system accommodates up to 14 people (vehicle capacity). If you have a larger group, please contact our office at 787-710-1109, message us via WhatsApp, or email info@prtourdesk.com. Please note that due to high email and spam volumes, we may not be able to reply immediately; we ask for your patience as it may take 24 to 48 hours to respond to your email.

For safety reasons, our tours do not include visits to waterslides, and they are not located within El Yunque. These places are a lot of fun, but they are not within the federal portion of the forest. We have the credentials and permits required by the Forest Service to operate in their facilities; permit number YNF-4019

These places are located on private land, and the companies that visit them are usually operating illegally, mostly because they lack the permits and insurance required by the Forest Service to work in the federal portion of El Yunque National Park.

Simply as a marketing strategy, because the word “El Yunque” sells, but you’ll never see any signs that say “El Yunque,” nor will you see any iconic landmarks like the observation tower or the trails with their maps and signage.

Our tours include hikes along trails, providing interpretations of the flora and fauna. You’ll have time to enjoy and cool off in the river, and we’ll stop at the observation tower for spectacular views and the famous La Coca waterfall (not necessarily in that order).

There are two waterslides, and both are more crowded than El Yunque National Forest. They are relatively small areas visited daily by hundreds of tourists. We are in a quieter, more relaxed learning environment with fewer people. Many tour operators who lack the necessary insurance and permits from the Puerto Rico Tourism Company pay landowners for access to their properties where the waterslides are located.

Something that isn’t talked about much, for fear of scaring tourists, is the accidents and deaths that have occurred on the waterslides. There are several articles that mention the hundreds of accidents that happen annually in these places. It’s almost inevitable that you’ll end up with a bruise or a scrape on your hips or shoulders from the rocks you’re sliding down. It’s very unfortunate because that area experiences frequent flash floods, and tourists and companies have been seen trapped waiting for rescue.

We have firsthand knowledge of the emergency management performance in rescues at these locations. You can confidently search for articles in local news outlets across the country.

If this situation is common, they are two very different services. Ours is more educational and takes you into El Yuqnue and includes everything involved in visiting a forest managed by the US Forest Service, as well as all the attractive places it offers. The waterslides tours involve going down the waterslides and waiting in line with other people before and after you who want to do the same. You can do both services on two different days and see the difference. We would be happy to explain it to you.