½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Rv parks are plentiful here, like Adlin states, they reside mostly towards the coastal areas. There is one less than a couple of blocks from us and we are 1 mile from the beach.

Less than 800 a month is going to be a challenge for sure unless you get some other added income.

Where is Boquerón?   I will sell my rv, as way to much to ship it.  The reason for my short trip is to check out everything I can.  Maybe I wont want to move there. Tomorrow I will be in San Juan and cant wait to get out of the big city.  I didn't know they had RV parks, but I will check it out. Thanks.

Boqueron is in the west of the island, all the way south, in the town of Cabo Rojo.
I think you will like the area, check this link and after you see it chick on cities to see other towns in PR.
This every March they have a Fish celebration called "El Festival de el Pescado" in Cabo Rojo

Demographics *
50,917
Population
50,846 (July 2013 est.)

Land Area: 70.37 sq mi

Density: 723.6 per sq mi

Median Age: 39.3

Economics *
$7,235
Per capita income (2013)
Puerto Rico: $11,068
Median household income: $17,228
Puerto Rico: $19,624

Persons below poverty line: 49.30 %

Housing, families and educational attainment *
19,816
Number of households
Housing units density: 429.2

Persons per household: 3.07

High school grad or higher: 67.4%

* U.S. Census Bureau 2010 data unless otherwise noted.

Map References
Coordinates: 18.0867° N, 67.1458° W

Zip Code: 00622, 00623

Driving Distance from San Juan: 112.4 miles

Driving Time: 2 hours, 36 minutes

What to Do in Cabo Rojo
Displaying 15 results.

1.  Boqueron Beach
Boqueron beach is excellent for swimming. Admission US$1, parking for hundreds of cars ($2), camping, changing rooms.
How to get there: From San Juan take Road 52 towards Ponce, which will connect you to Road 2 towards Mayaguez. Take the exit onto Road 100, then take Road 101 into Boquerón.
Cabo Rojo
(787) 851-1900
2.  Boqueron Forest Reserve
Located in Cabo Rojo just west of Boqueron. The reserve consists of 400 acres of mangroves wetlands.
Carr. 307 Km 8.8
Cabo Rojo, PR 00622  Map this
(787) 724-3647
3.  Buye Beach
Just north of the village of Boquerón, on route 307 at Km 4.8.
Cabo Rojo
4.  Cabo Rojo Lighthouse ("El Faro")
The Cabo Rojo Lighthouse located on Route 303, was built in 1881 over limestone cliffs that drop 200 feet into the sea. It is also known as "Faro de Los Morillos". This old lighthouse was automated and electrically charged in 1967.
Rt 301 Km 11.5.
Cabo Rojo
(787) 851-1025
5.  Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge
Located along the coastal plain of southwestern Puerto Rico, the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge, a subtropical dry forest, has a visitors center and interpretive displays as well as bird-watching trails.

An interpretive trail totaling 2 miles passes through the refuge and approximately 12 miles of hiking trails are available for birdwatching, photography and wildlife observation. Some 50 bird species occur in and around the refuge, including the endangered yellow-shouldered blackbird. No camping allowed. Open Mon-Fri from 7:00am to 4:00pm.

How to Get There
From Mayaguez, drive south on Route 2, take exit Route 100 towards Cabo Rojo. At the end of Route 100, turn left onto Route 101. Drive .8 mile, then turn right onto Route 310. Drive approximately 3 miles and look for the sign to the entrance of the refuge on left.

Rt 301 Km 5.1, Box 510
Cabo Rojo
(787) 851-7258
Fax (787) 851-7440
6.  Combate Beach
Rt 3301 in the Combate area
Cabo Rojo
7.  Isla Ratones
A small island reached form a roadside dock. Open Tue-Sun 9am-5pm.
Cabo Rojo
(787) 851-1025
8.  Joyuda Beach
Cabo Rojo
9.  Las Salinas
Discover how we get the salt from the sea water.
Cabo Rojo
10.  Museo de Los Proceres
The museum includes a sculpture exhibition of national leaders, an Indian Culture gallery, exhibits of Puerto Rican contemporary artists, a collection of paintings and a theater for plays and conferences. Free admission. Open Mon-Sat 8am - 4:30pm.
Rt 312 Km 0.4
Cabo Rojo
(787) 255-1580
11.  Phosphorescent Bay
Cabo Rojo
12.  Plaza de Recreo
Visit the town's main square.
Cabo Rojo
(787) 225-1580
13.  Punta Arenas Beach
Cabo Rojo
14.  Punta Guaniquilla Reserve
This 388-acre reserve protects a diverse landscape that includes an arid promontory, a dry forest, palm and mangrove fringes, unique limestone formations in two lagoons, a cave system, cacti, and swamp areas. The tract is notable as the habitat of the endangered West Indian Whistling Duck, the Ruddy Duck, and the Caribbean Coot. The site is also recognized as a migratory bird sanctuary and an important wintering ground for shore birds.
Cabo Rojo
15.  Punta Real Beach
Cabo Rojo

dianec333 - We are Victor and Karen Glass and we live in Rincon. We'd be glad to show you around when you arrive. We have done this for other people. We have been coming to Rincon since 2002 and have rented an apartment for the last four years. I will use messaging to talk about this with you.

Do you have a number where I can reach you. I think my phone will work there. My number is xxx. Thank you so much. Help is much appreciated. Should be in San Juan about 2.30, then rent a car, then drive to Rincon.

Post your adventure on a new subject specific to your trip, this way you can let us know how things are going and maybe we can advice.

ok.

Assuming you arrive at 2:30pm it then will be a 2.5 hour ride to Rincon plus the time it takes to get your rental car. So you should be at the Rincon Inn before 6pm. I bet you'll be ready for dinner. Right next to the Rincon Inn, part of the building, is a good restaurant named Lucky where you can have dinner. They are also good for breakfast or lunch.

To make your journey from SJU to Rincon as painless as possible I recommend the following. First in a nutshell you will take PR 22 (a toll road) from the airport and heading west. This eventually turns into PR 2 (not a toll road). Just so you know you are making progress towns that you will pass (in this order) are Arecibo, Isabella, Aguadilla. Near Aguadilla (before or after I don't remember) you'll see exit signs for the Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN) - at this point you are 30 minutes from Rincon. If you know how to use Google Maps and have it, your best bet is to pull over and get direction from "current location" to "Rincon Inn Puerto Rico" - there should be two route choices (1) PR 2and 2) PR 115. Choose number 1, PR 2. Then follow the instructions.

If you do not have or can use Maps follow these instructions. Continue on PR2. Exiting onto PR 402 can be missed easily. You will make a right hand exit just before McDonalds (keep your eyes out for the golden arches!) which is also on the right. Then take PR 402 until it ends in a T and make a right onto PR 115 and drive into into Rincon, your hotel will be on the right. Look for a small shopping center on the right (the signage will say "Edwards" for Edwards Supermarket) and your hotel is directly across.

If you get lost and can't find anyone to help please give me a call at 908-581-1537.

On Monday morning Karen and I do yoga until 10:30am or so. We could me after that if you like. Let me know.

Have a safe journey.

Correction, your hotel will on the left on PR 115.

Thanks for the directions. Will talk to you Monday.

Dianec333-
  Have a great trip, hope you will Love Rincon.

leaving today

Hi dianec333,
Just out of curiosity, what made you realise that PR was not for you?

The weather is perfect, the people are great. The traffic is worse than snowbird season in Florida, but with only 1 road out. I don't need  the stress, even though it may be minor to some.    I may return to southern Oregon on the coast. Weather not bad in the south, and pacific ocean is beautiful.

I have no idea what traffic stuff you are referring too.  I lived in nh and have worked in boston Chicago Atlanta and San Francisco
Traffic here is nothing .

Try the traffic here in California! Went to the mall Sunday 20 minutes for 15 miles. Did the same on Monday 55 minutes!!!

We seem to be going off subject, guys. Yes, I did too.

I just need peace and quiet. It may be ok for you, but for me it is not the place to live. I was really hoping it would work, as I love the people, the weather and the country is beautiful. I have lived in big cities, London, Paris,  Myers, Tampa, Denver etc. I prefer laid back country.

I posted response at: Diane's Trip to not continue off subject! 

So ..... Who else wants to share their budget or ask questions about living modestly in PR?

How to live well and at an affordable price for  me is a process of individual discovery.   I find free range chickens freshly butchered at an agricultural store including eggs. Fresh fish as most know by now is at the fisherman's coops. I find the best produce via way of street vendors to supplement what I do not have on the farm or have not grown yet. As far as traveling about I know when not to go out and do my shopping. Fortunately I can do all my shopping on foot or bicycle. We only use the car for going to the beach and the farm all are 20 minutes away at the most. I can travel many place from my location and not have to deal with a signal light. Knowing what needs someone might have then go about and spend a little time doing some discovery is the best approach from my experiences. I have shared discoveries with local Puerto Ricans and even they have been surprised.  We do not need air conditioning or central heat. If it is too hot in town we go for a 15 minute ride to the farm and can have temperatures 7-10 degrees cooler. I think to live on this Island a person needs an adventurous spirit to 'really enjoy life here. Personally I am not too interested in hanging out with folks from 1st world perceptions who attempt to compare what I feel is more of a 2nd world reality. I can not think of any place that can give me equal or more in return for the investments I have made here to meet very specific requirements that I hold important.

I found ( so far ) that the best help in locating the best price or value on stuff or such is the advice we get from our Puerto Rican friends.  They know the local markets and have contacts that really make a difference.

People in PR have been living there for many years, know the area well and have learned out of becesity how to stretch a dollar. They are the best choice.
They also have learned to go to multiple stores to get the most value and know at what time the store stock the shelves with the specials. You go too late and the specials are gone.

We do that at home in the states and shop multiple stores each week for the best pricing after scouring ads.  We are in Rincon currently and are doing the same. 

Hi guys,
I have been following, but not commenting on this topic.  Probably because my philosophy about a budget is simple: spend less than my income.  My concern is that none of the proposed budgets seem to have a line designated for fun.  Trips to Old San Juan and museums, hobbies, fishing tackle, bicycle tires, etc.  Spreading joy is part of 'the good life'.

frogrock wrote:

My concern is that none of the proposed budgets seem to have a line designated for fun.  Trips to Old San Juan and museums, hobbies, fishing tackle, bicycle tires, etc.  Spreading joy is part of 'the good life'.

This is true - I don't see a lot of living, just a lot of existing on budgets some people present.  No thanks.

A lot of people retire on a FIXED income. Others want to know if they can move and work in PR. It is one of the main questions in peoples mind, how expensive is it to live in PR.

With that in mind, everyone has a fix set of income, from which one has to subtract the amount of money for EXISTING and the rest is for fun. So once we know our income and expenses , we now know the fun factor.

For some it may be a lot and for some it may be little since they live frugally. It could turn out that there is not enough left over for fun and people may not want to move to PR but instead go live elsewhere.

It is best to make informed decisions and this is one tool to do just that. I plan to do some island hopping and a trip or two overseas, a little dancing, a little drinking, get a scuba license and do some diving, exploring the forests, watching the birds, all sorts of things. But first we all need to know if we have enough left over for fun.

I shall throw all care to the wind as soon as my non-existing rich uncle dies or I hit the power ball, mean time I have to check my numbers.

But in reality a lot of what one can do for fun cost little to nothing, my budget did have a column for entretainment based on what I normally spend.

Sawman and frogrock bring up good points. Picking up their point of view another way to approach this topic, to provide another angle to helping people understand what they might spend living on the island, is to break "Budget" into two types, (1) subsistence, and (2) some disposable capital. Some people go to the island because they cannot or would have a hard time living in the States (I'm focusing on the States, but could be any country). Some of these people will live on a subsistence budget, just getting by. I am speaking of Budget #1 here. Others will come here because they choose so over other options, they could live in the States but choose not to because of various reasons, e.g. climate, culture, vibes. People in situations #1 and #2 may or may not be on a fixed budget. It's not the "fixedness" that counts but the amount of the fixed budget.

I think people can identify with either situation #1 or #2. Of course there are other ways to break "Budget" down, but this is the way I'm doing it.

I place my wife and I into category #2. And here is my budget. By the way I am going against my wife's wishes because she disagrees with putting our personal financial situation on the Internet - the rule of thumb is to assume everyone in the world will have access to it. But I think this might help others. Anyway here is our monthly budget plus some other information:

Gasoline: $56
Groceries: $536
Coffee Beans (I have my own espresso machine): $70
Eating Out: $288
Medical (we are both on medicare and part B and D are gratis): $270
Rent: $300
Utilities (are included in the rent): $0
Yoga (we both practice yoga): $132
Misc (fun, occasional plane fares, day trips and an ocassional overnighter, clothing, auto repairs, etc.): $800

Total Monthly Budget:$2,452

In addition we bought a car four years ago for $7,000.

We live very comfortably on this budget. Our rent really helps. And we like our apartment very much.
Oh, and we have a fixed income.

One of the good things about the island is how inexpensive it is to enjoy it. Beaches, river, hiking, sight seeing can be done for little or no cost. Even the places where you have to pay are relatively low cost. Caguana indigena park in Naguabo was less than $10, the one in Tibes was $3 entrance, Ponce museum is less than $10 for example and there are days you can go in for free. That's without counting the towns activities that are free. Tons of "ferias  artesanales " and activities to enjoy in the island. With summer around the corner, watch out for beach parties all over with good music to enjoy.

You all are correct, fun is important also, there is no point in living in a paradise if one can not enjoy it.

I tend to try to help out the people that are in a low fixed income by showing that it is possible to live in that paradise without busting their budget.

I tend to group interested parties into the following groups:
1) Low budget - those that may be able to make it in the states or would have a hard time giving the cost of living and marketing where everything cost money.
2) Those that can make it in the states but just want to have a place in a paradise but may find it a stretch to live in Hawaii.
3) Those with high income that can live anywhere in the world, but for a number of reason choose to live in PR.

But in all cases, for all income levels, knowing how much you need to live on, will let you know how much fun and luxury you can afford and in my book knowing that is helpful and does not in any way hurt.

My budget is closest to Victor's in total amount, I just expend it in different things. My budget assumes I am not touching my IRA and 401K, there are there for FUN, for emergencies and for leaving to the kids and grandkids in the future, I expect the IRA to outlive me.

I grew up in PR and my family and I were dirt poor, my family considers me to be the rich one, from their point of view they are to some degree correct. I fall in the #2 group but I tend to think like the #1 group due to having a very modest upbringing.

I believe in preparing for the worst and hoping for the best so all surprises are always pleasant.

Rental property, opening a business, doing part time consulting and many other activities can further increase the amount of disposable income one may count on, so the amount used for fun can increase above the initial amount originally expected.

Some people are lucky enough to have received properties or money from their parents, some saved a lot, some had high incomes and set aside money, but others for a number of reasons were unable to save little or nothing yet they still want to retire and want to be able to survive.

I really love this discussion.  Of course, everyone has different lifestyles and expectations of what they need to make a happy life.  There are so many lovely free activities to do in PR as my husband and I have found.  I appreciate everyone disclosing their monthly expenses as it is very helpful.  We are in Rincon currently and are having a blast...we made are stay this time for 4 weeks which are ending soon, Boo!  We want to do longer stays each time.

I am neither rich nor poor and I do have a budget that I check periodically to see if I am on track.  When I was considering moving to Puerto Rico, I created a spreadsheet. I recommend that everyone look at the budgets that are being provided in this thread and use it in planning their move.  I broke down my budget projections into four phases.  The first phase was my living expenses and income when I was living in New York.  Phase two was the LEAVING NEW YORK time period.  Phase three was MOVING TO PUERTO RICO, BUT NOT YET SETTLED.  Phase four, THE FINAL TRANSITION, in which I am living where I want to live and tying up loss ends from my past life. 
My projections showed time periods when my costs would exceed my income, so I used a method of income and expense averaging that spanned a three year period.  I created a contingency plan which would get me through the rough spots and keep me on the path to my goal.   And, of course, there were some unexpected major hurdles. When those things happened, I would look at my spreadsheet and my timeline, to reassure myself that I was on the right track.
Yes, budgeting and projecting is a very important part of the decision process.  It is a tool that will give you confidence as you are moving forward toward your goal.

Yes, so true, frogrock!

I agree with you frogrock. There are periods like when purchasing a property, or just renting (first, last, security deposit), electricity last bill in states, new electric bill in PR, new furniture, new appliances, all of those can easily bust your budget, but like Frogrock said they are transitional or a phase in the processes. It is a good idea to include those in your special budget that is set aside for that purpose.

There will always be surprises, hopefully pleasant ones.

yes, we are experiencing the costs of establishing a new home.  Appliances, furniture, etc, and because we are rebuilding and refurbishing the building, a lot of expenses that we didn't anticipate. 

We have found some second hand stuff on the classified ad web site.  I am going with LED lights throughout the house to try and reduce the power bill.

Cable tv and internet service has been a third world experience.  Liberty is very slow to fix a problem, the net has been off more than on.  Perhaps the worst is behind us now.

Hey Sitka,
How r u finding Liberty to run on internet when it's working? Speed?

I just ran three tests from three different sites (download)
1. 40.80 Mbps
2. 41.11 Mbps
3.  44.12 Mbps

Seems to be running the best since it was worked on.

How do these numbers compare to the mainland?

Sitka,
Did Liberty give you the supporting hardware?  I had problems with my internet, but after replacing the coax cable and splitter, the performance improved significantly.  I probably got recycled hardware, and doing some research, the humidity can cause problems, particularly with the spitter.

Sitka wrote:

I just ran three tests from three different sites (download)
1. 40.80 Mbps
2. 41.11 Mbps
3.  44.12 Mbps

Seems to be running the best since it was worked on.

How do these numbers compare to the mainland?

Those speeds are EXCELLENT. I live in Saint Paul, MN and my wired speed is in the ballpark of 40mbps. My devices that are wireless are closer to 16mbps.

Those are excellent numbers for a 40-50 Mbps connection, so it depends on what they promised. Also those are download speeds, what about upload speed? Sometimes upload is close to download, but most times are 1/2 to 1/4 of the download speed. So you could download a movie in 1 minute but sending somebody a picture or a movie you made at home can take significantly longer. I don't do a lot of upload so not picky about it, but I have Verizon Fios in MA and I get about 70 Mbps both up and down.
When I get to PR I may only wind up with 2 or 4 mbps in "El Campo".