Is Puerto Rico back to “normal”?

Absolutely not! People around the island are strong and have adapted for what is now looking like a long-term situation, but it can still be taxing living without running water and yes there are still plenty of people around the island without running water or power. The island as a whole has seemed to accomplish “manageable” but it’s been really hard to push beyond that for a lot of municipalities. Compared to how things were immediately after the storm, “manageable” is a notable accomplishment! Several improvements have been achieved throughout the island, but the sad reality is that PR still has a lot of restoration work on its hands. Because Rincon bounced back so well, it’s easy to get caught in a bubble and forget that the rest of the island just isn’t as well off. Therefore, if you’re coming to visit PR, please be extra patient and kind – it will go a long way. For some areas, people’s entire way of living has had to change in an instant.

Rincon really is a special place.

If you’ve been here before you know this already and it’s probably why you’re reading about how things are going down here. Rincon has bounced back well. It is true, some people are still without power or water in certain parts of Rincon, but Rincon seems to still function very well. And yes, Rincon is doing better than several other parts of the island. Rincon still remains a work in progress and it will most likely stay that way for a while, but at least there is progress. The progress is as follows:

1. Communications and connectivity have improved drastically. Most carriers are working 80% of the time within the past month. Some towers will still go down when they run out of diesel, but it’s normally just for a day or so. Cable internet is now operational at most places near the 115 south of the plaza through to Calvache. In my opinion, this has become the most notable improvement since the last update. Internet over the Claro LTE network is possible in the majority of Rincon.
2. You can finally pay for things with credit cards here in Rincon.
3. Many restaurants and shops are operational.
4. Grocery stores are operating pretty much as they were before the hurricane.
5. Gas stations have gas and many take cards.
6. Drinking water can be purchased at the grocery store.
7. Aguadilla airport appears to be back to normal.
8. Rental cars are more available.
9. The weather is finally cooling down and it’s not 100+ degrees everyday.
10. The surf has been awesome!

The “Bad”

1. The roads are very roughed up from this whole ordeal and continue to get more roughed up. They were terrible to begin with and the storm itself with it’s flooding made matters worse. Then the heavy machinery took it’s toll on the roads and still continues to damage the streets. Also, in many areas including Rincon, you will still have random roadblocks and delays while workers clean-up debris and trees. I cannot stress enough the importance of PAYING ATTENTION while driving. The roads are bad and everyone drives crazy here.
2. Traffic can get way worse than it was before the hurricane in some areas. Some places where street lights were completely destroyed and removed have actually seen a major improvement in traffic flow. This is especially true for the north side of the island. However, some areas are severely congested where poorly timed traffic lights have become operational again (MAYAGUEZ).
3. Electricty and water will still experience outages in areas where they have already been restored. The duration of the outages will always be uncertain and there is always the possibility that the outages can become long-term again.
4. The crowds in the line-up just don’t seem to diminish. In fact, on some days they’re worse. Rincon isn’t just a destination enjoyed by the US and international travelers. Many people from different parts of the island are regularly visiting or staying in Rincon now. And why wouldn’t they? A steady flow of visitors is good for the economy of Rincon, but inevitably adds more surfers to the water at the same time. Let’s all play nice.

What Rincon Looks Like Two Months After Hurricane Maria

This is what everyone wants to know. Here’s some drive-around videos I was able to make with Meryl’s help to try and answer this question. You will see that we still have work to be done, but it’s not the zombie apocalypse the news would have you believe.

The Beaches of Rincon After Hurricane Maria as of November 2017

At first not all of the beaches in Rincon were accessible. Thanks to a lot of hard work, all of the main breaks are currently accessible and are still as beautiful as they ever were. Some seem more “open” since many trees have fallen and been removed, but so many new trees have grown new branches and leaves, it’s only a matter of time before no one will think twice. The public beach near town is still a bit messy but that is improving little by little as well.

The Roads in Rincon After Hurricane Maria as of November 2017

The roads are 10000% percent better than they were after the storm. Rincon really has been on the ball about this. However, the roads are still not without their hazards and not as “good” as they were before the storm. Be prepared for random delays as heavy machinery operates at random places clearing and transporting debris. Clean-up doesn’t just magically happen and you’ll often find yourself waiting for a bit to get to whatever destination you have. I drew the short straw on the way to autozone in Aguada one morning when the 115 had multiple stops while heavy machinery cleared some canals and ditches in both Rincon and Aguada. Once I made it to Aguada, I ran into a stop due to the arrival of FEMA supplies. In addition to the other problems of collapsed road areas and other road hazards the 5 mile trip from my house from Rincon to Aguada took 2.5 hrs. I have since traveled the same distance many other times since that day with no where near the same amount of wait time. The point is that you have to be prepared to be patient should the situation arise. Are the roads safe? Depends on your standards. At no point can you even for a split second stop paying attention to what you’re doing while driving. There are still holes in the road, trees sticking out into the road, low lying cables, power poles broken over, etc… so you must pay attention to what you’re doing. Everyone who has driven in Puerto Rico understands this concept already and as long as you stay vigilant you should be alright. Driving in Puerto Rico was already like playing a video game, it’s just at a more challenging level now and of course you only get one life. Be safe.

Gasoline and Food Availability in Rincon as of November 2017

Gasoline is available without a wait in all of Rincon. However, the ability to pay with credit card is often difficult. Some days you can, most days you can’t. Food is available at the Grocery stores without any more waiting than you would have experienced before the storm. At Econo, the selection of items can be limited and fresh fruits and vegetables can be harder to find. For these items, the outdoor fruit stands seem to be better stocked. Edward’s has had the most solid supply of canned goods pretty much throughout the whole event. Most restaurants in town are open and operational. Pools bar was open last time I surfed there this past weekend and Bohio and Calypso were open too. The little kiosks near the surfer statue in town have been open and everyone’s favorite pizza places were back up and running within a few days after the storm so there’s plenty of pizza – once again though, don’t expect a variety of toppings as most are limited to just cheese or pepperoni.

Can I pay with a credit card?

“No! Cash only!” That is the answer you will get 98% of the time no matter where you are or what you’re trying to pay for especially gas or food. ATM machines at banks are working and rarely have a line anymore. At first getting cash from the bank was a pain, but now things are much better! Just be prepared to pay for everything with cash unless you have somehow pre-purchased online with a credit card. Sometimes, some places will have their credit card machines working, but you can’t depend on that because it truly is random.

Cell Signal and Connectivity Frustration

Just because you had full signal and were able to make a voice call in one spot yesterday doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to do the same today. Just because you had working data on one carrier the day before at a specific time and place doesn’t mean you’ll have it in the same spot and time of day today. Seriously, this is VERY frustrating and will drive you mad if you actually need to get ahold of someone or really need to check your email. It’s also why it’s hard to upload the report each day even though i’ve gone to the beaches and taken pictures. It seems the random difficulties occur more frequently when you really need connectivity. In person communication is still the only way to not have your call dropped. Also note that all iDevices don’t like not being connected to the internet. Your iPhones and iPads will get mad at you and not work like normal while you’re down here. The iOS was designed around a fully functional 1st world – not the third world or disaster areas. Android phones don’t seem to care and are more versatile and function better on a general level.

Flying into San Juan

You will most likely have to fly into San Juan to come to Puerto Rico. It will be very difficult to rent a car and if you ARE able to get a vehicle it will be EXPENSIVE! One way around this is to the take the little plane from SJU to Mayaguez and then try to get a rental car over here on this side. I recommend the little plane no matter what since traffic in San Juan is far worse than it was before the storm. I hate it! https://www.capeair.com/ If Aguadilla airport (BQN) starts operating more normally, things may improve in this department. Things at SJU (San Juan) might improve as well. This is just what people have been encountering as of right now.

Power and Water Situation in Rincon after Hurricane Maria as of November 2017

Puntas still has no power or water. Several parts of Rincon have both power and water, but there are still many areas that have neither. The place where you’re staying may have a backup generator and cistern so it wouldn’t be that bad, but make sure you know if they do before you book your stay. Even if they do they might be on a regimen of run times. Some areas even get water a couple of days a week within a certain time-frame to be able to refill cisterns. Make sure you know this information ahead of time. Your other options is to just be prepared to not have power or water and not care. For the most part areas near town and areas on the 115 south of the old Econo should have power and water. I went to a place in Estella for an appointment the other day and they’ve had power and water for a while, but the whole area smelled very bad of raw sewage. This is something to consider if you were staying in Estella. I wouldn’t recommend drinking the tap water right now as some people have gotten sick from doing so. Drinking water is available for purchase at the grocery stores now (for a long time you couldn’t buy drinking water at the store). One vacation rental that was ready very early is the Casa Canal. They had everything cleaned up, minimal damage, commercial generator and kept running water from early on. They’re currently already back on grid power and city water. It’s walking distance to most of the open local businesses. http://www.casacanalpr.com

Is Rincon the right vacation spot for you right now?

Don’t get me wrong. Rincon NEEDS tourism because much of our economy depends on it. However, if you’re reading the above and your initial reaction is “Absolutely not!” then you’re better off somewhere else. If you can see past the inconveniences and respect the situation, Rincon still has a lot of island beauty to be safely enjoyed and plenty of waves. For most people who have been regulars over the years, things won’t be that different from “normal”. First timers might want to wait until more conveniences come back online unless you’re the adventurous type. For the later, it could be the trip of a lifetime and a chance to experience something really cool. If you’re not the adventurous type and absolutely need all the comforts and conveniences of the states, then PR probably wasn’t the right fit for you before the storm anyways, much less after it. I’ve tried to give the facts and give any useful parts of my opinion. Feel free to email me on the contact page and I’ll do a follow-up post if needed.