Vieques
Discover Vieques
Vieques is a Caribbean island belonging to Puerto Rico, also known as Isla Nena or Little Girl Island. It is a relatively small, rural island about 8 miles east of Puerto Rico. It is about 22 miles long and 4 miles wide. Vieques maintains a rural character, despite increasing tourist interest. Horses and chickens run wild in the streets. Expect to hear roosters and dogs during the night and morning while you're trying to sleep.
What to Experience in Vieques
Famous Beaches
Taste of Vieques...
Vieques has developed somewhat of a bad reputation in terms of petty crime, especially at the beaches. While overall this is a pretty safe island, use common sense when visiting the more remote beaches, especially when there are many bushes around. Leave all valuables such as passports, credit cards, and any other important documents and electronics at your place of lodging. Take enough cash for you to buy drinks and lunch on a beach day. Most car rental agencies ask their clients to not leave anything in the car and to always leave the doors unlocked. Locked cars are likely targets for break-ins (often with broken windows), as potential thieves may suspect that there are valuables inside. Most people head over here from the main island of Puerto Rico and will take that direction out as well. The ferry to Fajardo and regular flights to Ceiba and San Juan airport make those the most obvious next destinations. There are however some flights and - if money is not an issue - expensive charter boats to nearby Culebra. If you've been lucky enough to be here with your own boat, you might consider heading out to St. Thomas, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other Caribbean destinations in the area.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsVieques has ferry service several times a day from Ceiba. While the ferry suffers from a bad reputation due to it regularly being sold out in high season and to its service being intermittent at times, it often enough makes for a cheap and convenient way to travel, especially for groups and in low-season. A one-way journey costs $2/adult and $1/child and takes 60-90 minutes. Tickets can be purchased online here. While obtaining tickets it usually no problem in low season, the ferry does sell out in high season. In low season, arriving an hour before departure should be fine. Vieques inhabitants get preference, and in weekends and holidays, Puerto Ricans flock to the island as well. If you're travelling in these times, buy tickets ahead of time or arrive very early. Even when you have your ticket, be sure to arrive at least an hour in advance. The ferry usually begins loading 30 minutes prior to departure....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The most convenient way to get around the island is by renting a car. You may also get around by using the publico (taxi) system, but the taxis will only take you to easily accessible beaches around the island. There are bicycle rentals on the island. Public transportation is nonexistent except for publicos, which are independent. Publicos (vans that are loaded up like sardines) are waiting at the ferry for tourists. The fare paid by locals is $3 each way/per person to get to anywhere on the island, although as a visitor you may have to negotiate to get near that price. The Navy bunkers at the west end of Vieques provide a glimpse into that era. Beware: the roads are unmarked, single lane dirt roads that wind around. It is easy to get lost but also relatively easy to eventually find your way out, since it is an island. It is unlikely that you will meet another person so make sure you have enough gas and the number for a local service station in the event you break down.
Where to Stay
Vieques has developed somewhat of a bad reputation in terms of petty crime, especially at the beaches. While overall this is a pretty safe island, use common sense when visiting the more remote beaches, especially when there are many bushes around. Leave all valuables such as passports, credit cards, and any other important documents and electronics at your place of lodging. Take enough cash for you to buy drinks and lunch on a beach day. Most car rental agencies ask their clients to not leave anything in the car and to always leave the doors unlocked. Locked cars are likely targets for break-ins (often with broken windows), as potential thieves may suspect that there are valuables inside. Most people head over here from the main island of Puerto Rico and will take that direction out as well. The ferry to Fajardo and regular flights to Ceiba and San Juan airport make those the most obvious next destinations.
Money & Budget
Vieques has developed somewhat of a bad reputation in terms of petty crime, especially at the beaches. While overall this is a pretty safe island, use common sense when visiting the more remote beaches, especially when there are many bushes around. Leave all valuables such as passports, credit cards, and any other important documents and electronics at your place of lodging. Take enough cash for you to buy drinks and lunch on a beach day. Most car rental agencies ask their clients to not leave anything in the car and to always leave the doors unlocked. Locked cars are likely targets for break-ins (often with broken windows), as potential thieves may suspect that there are valuables inside.
Language & Talk
Spanish is the working language of locals. However, with a population of U.S. mainlanders English is known by most but not all residents. Residents appreciate visitors that try to speak Spanish; knowing a few words will make a difference. Vieques has ferry service several times a day from Ceiba. While the ferry suffers from a bad reputation due to it regularly being sold out in high season and to its service being intermittent at times, it often enough makes for a cheap and convenient way to travel, especially for groups and in low-season. A one-way journey costs $2/adult and $1/child and takes 60-90 minutes. Tickets can be purchased online here. While obtaining tickets it usually no problem in low season, the ferry does sell out in high season.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Vieques has developed somewhat of a bad reputation in terms of petty crime, especially at the beaches. While overall this is a pretty safe island, use common sense when visiting the more remote beaches, especially when there are many bushes around. Leave all valuables such as passports, credit cards, and any other important documents and electronics at your place of lodging. Take enough cash for you to buy drinks and lunch on a beach day. Most car rental agencies ask their clients to not leave anything in the car and to always leave the doors unlocked. Locked cars are likely targets for break-ins (often with broken windows), as potential thieves may suspect that there are valuables inside. Most people head over here from the main island of Puerto Rico and will take that direction out as well. The ferry to Fajardo and regular flights to Ceiba and San Juan airport make those the most obvious next destinations.
Glimpses of Vieques
Raindrops stream down a window with greenery outside.
Woman sits on a black sand beach.
A golf cart offers a watery, mountainous view.
a boat on the beach with a small island in the background
View of Vieques island from ferry.
Woman enjoys the beach next to a cliff.
Cozy bedroom with a mosquito net.
Woman relaxes on a couch inside a cozy cabin.
A woman stands on a beach near a cliff.
Ocean and land seen through a square hole.
Raindrops stream down a window with greenery outside.
Woman sits on a black sand beach.
A golf cart offers a watery, mountainous view.