Vieques is the long island at the bottom right • Navio Beach is pretty spectacular

Vieques Island lies seven miles east of Puerto Rico and can be easily reached by ferry or small plane. The population is apprx. 10,000 and is centered in the middle of the island. The eastern 12 miles is a US Fish and Wildlife refuge, the western part is a nature reserve too. US Fish & Wildlife administer about 60 % of the island of Vieques.

Getting to Vieques FERRY SCHEDULE BELOW.

• VIEQUES ISLAND PACKAGE INCLUDES BREAKFASTS & BIOBAY.

THE BEACHES OF VIEQUES ISLAND

Vieques is best known for having the brightest biobay in the world. Vieques has no transportation back to mainland Puerto Rico after 6 PM so in order to see the biobay one must either stay the night of do a private charter.

Tourism, government jobs and food stamps are important sources of income for Vieques. Fishing is the traditional main source for many local families. Tourism will rise sharply now that the Navy has pulled out. Vieques is one of the more ideal ecotourist destinations in the Caribbean

Attractions center around the Vieques beaches and the worlds most brilliant bioluminescent bay. Kayak the biobay in Vieques.

VIDEO OF FERRY RIDE TO VIEQUES BELOW.......

... or Fly from the Ceiba airport. OW fare $26. Trip to Vieques takes 8, very scenic, minutes.

Pre arrange to be met by a private Taxi at the San Juan Airport and be driven to the Fajardo Ferry terminal or the Ceiba airport.

• Mary and Jesus are a lovely couple who do this regularly. They are very reliable. She doesn't speak much English but her husband does (he drives the taxi) Tel. 787-863-8224 and ask for him. Her cell is 787-649-9155 if you need it, but be patient with her English. They charge $75. for the ride from San Juan to Fajardo. $10. extra after 6 PM. ($15. per person for more than 4 people).

* The above drivers are 'tentatively' on this page because I am concerned about people making reservations and not bothering to cancel, if they can't make it. Please be respectful of the fact that they both need to drive for more than an hour from Fajardo to pick you up, please make sure you cancel with adequate notification.

. . . Rent a car at the San Juan Airport and leave it in Fajardo. Several Car Rentals allow this and they will drive you to the ferry terminal/airport or pick you up there. If you keep the car for 3 days or more some car rentals allow free drop off in Fajardo (or vice-versa).. Avis is most convenient for the Ceiba airport, Enterprise, Hertz and Leaseway for the ferry.

** If you plan to go from the airport to the ferry terminal in Fajardo on the same day, take a taxi! (pre arranged - see above).

Stuck in San Juan overnight?

The hotel at the international airport may be a very convenient place to stay the night; if you're stuck. 'Best Western Airport Hotel' local tel. 787.791.1700. . . . Traveling with a pet? Try 'Green Isle Inn' close to the airport. Tel. 787.726.4330 ($79. to $99.) .

Local Island Airlines to Vieques:

• Vieques Air Link tel. 1-888-901-9247 or in Vieques: 787-741-8331. VAL has the most flights and offers the most service. Ceiba Airport Tel. 787- 534-4221.
• Seaborne Airlines 1-877-772-1005 or 787-292-6656. www.seaborneairlines.com
• Isla Nena Airlines Tel. 1-877-812-5144, 787- 791-0413, 787-741-6362. On demand flights.
• Air Sunshine Airlines, Tel. 800-327-8900, 787-741-7900, also fly to St.Thomas, St.Croix, Tortola etc. You can now fly from Vieques directly to St. Croix.
• Air Flamenco 787- 741-8811, 787-724- 1818 On demand flights.
• Cape Air is connected to the airlines computer booking service so that you can ticket and reserve from anywhere in the world and check your bags through to Vieques once the commence to operate. 800-352-0714. 787-741-7734.
• Air America 787-276-569 on demand.

Fly from the nearby Isla Grande Airport in San Juan to Vieques ( about half the price) : • Vieques Air Link

Kayaking in the Vieques Mangrove Tunnels Aquafrenzy Kayaks

Vieques Beaches

• Archeological Sites ... VISIT THE the VCHT or Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust in Esperanza. Help them help the youth of Vieques through educational programs. They also have a small shop and mini museum. T. 787-741-8850 VCHT Website

" The Vieques Conservation & Historical Trust is a non-profit organization founded in 1984 and supported by members of the community and interested donors from around the world. It operates thanks to the efforts of dedicated volunteers and is strictly non-political in nature. The organization is concerned with the protection of the unique archeological, physical and ecological environment existing on Vieques."

Starwood W Hotel to open in Vieques:

Boasting the world's largest and fastest-growing portfolio of luxury hotels, Starwood leads the luxury brand segment with one of the hottest pipelines in the industry. W hotel and retreat opening soon in Vieques. W Hotels represents the ultimate expression of contemporary luxury. . . Expected opening of the Starwood W Vieques about November 2009

ALL NUMBERS START WITH 787-741-

• AA Help and information T.8939

• Beaches map and photos

• Puerto Rico Government websites. Opens in new window.

• Fort and Museum 'Conde de Mirasol' T. 1717 Open Wednesday through Saturday. 10 AM to 4 PM.

• Lighthouse Mini Museum T. 0060 Open 7 days except holidays. 8 AM to 4 PM.

• Groceries: There are two main grocery stores on Vieques ( both owned by Morales brothers) and a collection of 'Colmados'. You can purchase anything here on Vieques, on occasion, but not everything all the time. Grocery store hours are 7 AM to 6 - 7 PM, half day on Sundays. Colmados stay open a little later. There is also a, very enterprising, fruit stand on the side of the road.

• Health Food Store is located in Monte Santo on the main road.

Paso Finos Shows are a big event in Vieques. . Weekends in Esperanza the streets are over run with everyone showing off on their horses.

• Humane Society Animal adoption and Veterinary Clinic T. 787-741-0209

• Isabel Segunda- The main town on Vieques: two banks, and one ATM at Banco Popular. The Post Office T. 3891, two drug stores, several restaurants, a few places to stay and some shops. Please note that Vieques is part of the US and uses the American dollar.

Farmacia San Antonio T. 8397
Isla Nena Pharmacy T. 1906

The best vacation you can have in Vieques is with a jeep rental (if you are staying more than one night). So choose your rental vehicle first .. and then your lodging! (You will need to reserve the jeep rental way in advance). Most of the exquisitely beautiful beaches in Vieques are at the end of long dirt roads on Nature Reserves and can only be visited with your own rental jeep. A few can be reached by public taxi, such as Sun Bay and Red Beach. There are never enough jeeps to go around, reserve well ahead! ( You can NOT bring a rental car on the ferry from the mainland.)

KAMA Guesthouse: Elena manages a small upstairs guesthouse in Isabel Segunda, a 4 block walk from the ferry dock! AC, Wifi, Cable TV & Breakfast. $85. for a dbl. room.

Call Elena 787-741-4811 or email: info@kama-vieques.com

For all lodging etc. in Vieques: visit these three websites:

ELENAS VIEQUES ECOLOGY WEBSITE

Vieques-Island.com • Enchanted Isle.com • Vieques Travel Guide.com

• Rios Laundromat is open! Right across from Als Mar Azul in Isabel II ( closed Mondays)

A waterfall in Vieques? YES! Some years, this little waterfall can be found by hiking up a ways following an arroyo. The arroyo is dry but suddenly the little stream will appear ( it disappears underground) Off the road along the south coast, west of Esperanza.