Located about 7 mi/11 km off the east coast of Puerto Rico, Vieques Island (along with its smaller and even quieter neighbor, Culebra) has lovely, uncrowded, palm-lined beaches.
Vieques Island has little commercial development, but it is a hot spot for Puerto Rico real estate. It's perfect for those who just want a relaxing beach experience. Most visitors stay in guesthouses or in the parador near Sun Bay Beach.
Some of the best beaches on Vieques Island are Sun Bay and the more secluded Media Luna and Navio. Also popular are Green Beach for its coral reef and Blue Beach for its cabanas.
Don't miss a visit to Mosquito Bay at night (boats depart from the town of Esperanza). The marine plankton in the water glow when disturbed. The effect is especially eerie on a moonless night. Swimming there is a magical experience. (The luminescence is much more spectacular than at the over-visited Phosphorescent Bay in La Parquera on the southwest coast.)
You can see the wondrous nightly glow with Island Adventures Biobay Eco-Tours. Phone 787-741-0720. http://www.biobay.com.
Other sights on Vieques Island include a lighthouse and a fort—Spain's final military building effort in the New World—in the old port town of Isabel Segunda.
The Vieques Conservation and Historial Trust is home to a museum and gift shop. Phone 787-741-8850. http://www.vcht.com.
Sights nearby include plenty of beaches, a boardwalk and museums, along with the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge.
Vieques can be reached by air from Isla Grande, San Juan or Fajardo, and there is also ferry service from San Juan aboard the Island Hi-Speed Ferry or on a public ferry from Fajardo.
