Vieques is an island located off the coast of Puerto Rico.
It is home to a bioluminescent bay (Mosquito Bay) and black sand beach.
I lived in Vieques for several years and explored every corner of this magical island.
In this article I will share:
– What is Vieques?
– Where is Vieques located?
– Do you need a passport to go to Vieques?
– Why is Vieques famous?
– How much does it cost to visit Vieques?
– Can you visit Vieques without a tour?
– How much time do you need in Vieques?
– Is Vieques worth visiting?
Vieques is a small island located off the east-coast of Puerto Rico’s main island.
Puerto Rico is made up of more than one island. The main island is the largest. However, there are smaller islands such as Vieques and Culebra.
Vieques is known for its undeveloped beaches, wild horses and bioluminescent bay.
Known locally as “La Isla Nena,” this nickname refers to Vieques as the little sister of Puerto Rico’s main island. Vieques island is only 21 miles long and 3 miles wide.
There are two towns you need to know about when you visit Vieques. One is Isabela II on the north shore, where the ferry will drop you off, and the other is Esperanza on the south shore.
There is very little development taking place on Vieques each year.
A visit to the island transports you back in time, and its slow pace makes it easy to relax.
Below is a video tour of Vieques:
Vieques is located less than ten miles off the coast of Puerto Rico’s main island.
The island is close to the US Virgin Islands, so you are likely to meet people from St. Thomas or St. Croix on your trip. The islands of Vieques and Culebra are sometimes referred to as the “Spanish Virgin Islands.”
The only way to get to Vieques is by air or sea.
Air carriers include Cape Air, Seaborne Airlines, and Vieques Air Link.
If you take the ferry, reserve your tickets before your trip to guarantee your spot.
Below is a Google Map that shows the location of Vieques:
Vieques is a part of the United States. Residents do not need a passport. For international travelers, it is required.
The currency is the United States Dollar.
The first language of the island is Spanish. Many residents are bilingual, especially the younger generation and people working in tourism.
People travel to Vieques to visit Mosquito Bay.
Mosquito Bay is a bio bay which contains a high concentration of single-celled plankton, known as Dinoflagellates.
Dinoflagellates emit light (bioluminescence) when disturbed in the water at night.
Mosquito Bay has a very narrow opening to the ocean, so many of these organisms have a hard time escaping.
This fact combined with the bay being surrounded by mangroves that act as a nursery for the organisms results in the largest concentration of bioluminescence in the world.
You can only visit Mosquito Bay via a guided tour so be sure read up on When The Best Time Is To See Bioluminescence and plan your trip accordingly.
The other reason Vieques is famous worldwide, is now an important part of Puerto Rico’s history.
From the 1940s to 2003, the US Military used the island for training and bomb testing.
Vieques made headlines in 1999 when a military jet dropped a bomb on the island during training that resulted in the death of David Sanes.
Protests amplified and arrests were made, including many celebrities from the US mainland and Puerto Rico who joined the efforts.
Following intense community pushback and international attention, the military left the island after over 60 years of occupation.
Typically, the most economic way to visit the island is by ferry, which costs less than $5 per person.
The ferry departs from Ceiba, which is a one hour drive from San Juan. Parking near the docks costs under $15 per day.
The average cost for a small public flight hovers around $100 round trip per person from San Juan. You can also charter a boat from Ceiba or take a private aircraft.
If you don’t have a rental car, you can still get to Ceiba from San Juan, via the public van depot in Rio Piedras.
Learn more about the public vans and the ferry in the video below:
Ground transportation
Scooters are a great option if you don’t want to rent a jeep or take public vans.
A Jeep can cost up to $100 per day. You can not bring the car you rented on the main island to Vieques on the ferry.
If you don’t have car rental arrangements on Vieques, don’t worry, there will be a public van waiting for you at the ferry dock. It typically costs less than $15 to ride from Isabel II, the town on the north shore, to Esperanza, the town on the south shore.
If you don’t have a car, I recommend staying in Esperanza. The town sits directly on the Caribbean Sea and from here, it’s easy to access the main bars and restaurants of the Malecón (boardwalk), or meet your guide for a bio bay tour. Sun Bay is within walking distance.
Accommodation
The average night’s stay on Vieques costs under $200.
Hostels or camping on Sun Bay is a great way to save on your trip.
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If you are camping, just show up at Sun Bay (pictured above). At their on-site office, you can reserve a spot within the grassy area next to the beach.
Check out our list of the 50 Best Vacation Rentals in Puerto Rico, where Vieques made the list a few times.
Food
Vieques has no shortage of amazing restaurants to choose from.
The Green Store in Esperanza has all your basic needs. Near Isabel II, you can find Morales, a larger grocery store.
When eating out, plates range from $8.00-$18.00 on average.
You do not need a tour to visit Vieques.
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Photo Credit: @jurutungofarm
Once you are on the island, you have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of tours from snorkeling to horseback riding and private boat charters.
You will have an easy time navigating the island on your own whether you rent a car or use public transport.
Use the Google Map below for your Vieques bucket list:
Learn more about popular tours by reading our article The 13 Best Tours in Vieques.
Two days is my recommended minimum.
Different things can happen along the way, like a delayed flight or ferry ride.
You want to allow enough time for surprise delays and some time to relax and enjoy the island’s slower pace of life.
Absolutely! If you are looking for memories to last a lifetime, Vieques has it all.
Vieques’s most secluded beaches are in the nature preserve. You will need a vehicle to access these beaches as they are not within walking distance from either town.
Sun Bay is the most accessible beach on Vieques.
The Sun Bay coastline hosts three different beaches. Media Luna is great for children that are scared of waves, while Navio offers a surfing and bodyboarding experience on occasion.
The beaches on the northern shores of the island have a bit more waves in the winter, but you likely won’t find any waves like you would on the main island at Steps or Maria’s Beach.
Some important things to consider when planning your trip are that if you want to have a vehicle, rent a car with Avis or Maritza’s well in advance as they book out quickly.
The island does not have a hospital that is equipped to handle medical emergencies, so if something happens you will be transported back to the main island of Puerto Rico.
There is a small clinic in the town of Isabel Segunda.
Vieques is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves nature and connecting with a more relaxed way of living.
The island holds a special place in the heart of many travelers, including myself.
The bio bay in Vieques is unique, but it is difficult to get to due to its location. If you want to visit a bio bay that is closer to San Juan, then I recommend that you visit Laguna Grande Bio Bay which is only an hour drive from San Juan.
Before your trip, be sure to check out our articles: When Is The Best Time To See Bioluminescence and How To Get To Vieques From San Juan.
You may also enjoy our article 30 Best Things To Do In Vieques.
Writer at PuertoRico.com. After living in Puerto Rico for seven years, I opened a guesthouse in Rincón and welcomed over 400 guests to the island from around the world. When I’m not writing about travel or spending time with my dog, I’m working towards becoming a pilot with dreams of flying around the islands.
