Vieques recently came into the tourism scene in the early twenty-first century. Before 2003, the United States Navy owned part of the island and used it for training exercises. Many of the locals were very upset with the bombing drills and protested the Navy's presence. After the Navy's departure, many hotels and private villas were built to support the booming tourism business.
You can travel to Vieques from the mainland of Puerto Rico by ferry. The ferry, which operates from the Fajardo Puerto Rican Port Authority, holds 400 passengers. It travels the approximately 1-hour ride between Fajardo and Vieques several times each day. A car ferry is also available. Car ferry trips take almost two hours.
The Vieques Airlink is a small commuter airplane that provides a 20-minutes flight from San Juan International Airport to Vieques Airport.
Vieques uses the U.S. dollar as its currency. Spanish is the official language, but many islanders speak English. The official newspaper is the PR Vieques Renance. Approximately 10,000 people reside on this island full-time. The average temperature is 79 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can easily rent a car in Vieques from one of several agencies if you make a reservation prior to your trip. These agencies include Acevedo's Car Rentals (787-741-4380), Chepito's Car Rentals (787-741-8691) and Island Car Rentals (787-741-1666), among others. When driving on the narrow roads, be careful of the wild horses, cows and goats that roam freely on the island.
Most of the beaches on Vieques are quiet and secluded for those looking for a peaceful day in the sun. Just a short drive from downtown, the Bahia de la Chiva (Blue Beach), which was formerly on the Naval range, is a private beach surrounded by turquoise waters. The Balneario Sun Bay (Sun Bay Beach) has facilities that can entertain the entire family, along with picnic tables, restrooms and a campground. Green Beach, located on the north side of the island, is actually green in appearance, as it is lined with native flora. Plan on snorkeling or swimming in these calm waters. The Playa Caracas Red (Beach Red), which is located on the southern side of the island, is surrounded by rugged cliffs.
