Did you know that some of the oldest human remains in the Caribbean (Dating back to 2,000 BC) are in Vieques?
Vieques is a fascinating small island just six miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico.
I have been visiting Vieques since I was a child.
As an adult, I have been taking tourists and family members to Vieques for decades.
In this article, I will share unique things to do in Vieques, Puerto Rico, top four experiences.
You will also learn some history, trivia, and tips to help you get the most out of your visit to Vieques.
Let’s start with the basics.
What is Vieques?
You will find the island of Puerto Rico 1150 miles southwest of Florida.
Puerto Rico is an unincorporated US Territory, part of the United States of America.
If you travel to Puerto Rico from the US mainland, you will not need a passport.
But Puerto Rico is not just an island; Puerto Rico is an archipelago comprised of one “big” island (Puerto Rico), two smaller inhabited islands (Vieques and Culebra), and hundreds of islets and keys.
The island of Vieques is almost 20 miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico.
For more information about the islands of Puerto Rico, check this National Geographic article.
Trivia: The indigenous people of Puerto Rico, The Taino, named the island Bieke meaning “small land.”
Vieques is 21 miles long by three miles wide.
Fun fact: Do you know how many traffic lights there are in Vieques? If you guessed zero, you are right. There are no traffic lights in Vieques.
That must give you an idea of the laid-back lifestyle Vieques offers.
How to get to Vieques?
There are no direct flights to Vieques from The United States.
You must arrive on the big island of Puerto Rico and take the ferry from Ceiba or a small airplane from Isla Grande. Ceiba or Luis Munoz Marin Airports.
The ferry is inexpensive (less than 5 dollars) and takes about an hour and a half to get from Ceiba to Vieques.
Be sure to buy tickets in advance in https://www.puertoricoferry.com/en/
Another thing, you have to drive or get a taxi from San Juan to Ceiba.
(The Ferry is an inexpensive way to travel from Ceiba to Vieques)
Tip: If your budget allows it, fly to Vieques.
Cape Air https://www.capeair.com/?GS&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1rqkBhCTARIsAAHz7K1FZdwuGSdyL18vkFlli6RAf2ZTJV6_PtmfHuVktajgHmTqmUBDkRcaAja-EALw_wcB#/availability, Seaborne https://www.seaborneairlines.com, and Vieques Air Link https://www.viequesairlink.com fly from Puerto Rico to Vieques.
How to move around Vieques
There are no ubers in Vieques. I strongly suggest you rent a vehicle.
An all-wheel drive is the best choice to move around Vieques.
Where to stay in Vieques?
Vieques has no big-brand chain hotels, but you will find many cozy hotels and plenty of short-term rentals.
OK, you reached Vieques, rented an all-wheel drive vehicle, and booked a place to stay. Now it’s time to know what unique things you can do in Vieques, Puerto Rico.
There are so many things that you can do in Vieques, relax, beach hopping, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and many others.
If I were to choose just four things to do in Vieques, here are my picks:
1 Experience Mosquito Bay, the brightest bioluminescent bay in the World
(Mosquito Bay The Brightest Bio Bay Of The World)
Bioluminescence is simply light produced by a living organism.
Firefights glow-worms, and some jellyfish are examples of this phenomenon.
Single-cell plankton scientists call dinoflagellates are another light-producing organism.
When something agitates the dinoflagellates, they emit an enzyme scientist call luciferin.
This enzyme creates a bright glow.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the water of Mosquito Bay in Vieques has the highest dinoflagellate concentration in the World.
The high concentration of light-emitting microorganisms is scientific proof that Mosquito Bay is the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world.
Tips: Book your bioluminescent bay tour in advance.
Wear mosquito repellent, and go to the bio bay a few days before or after the fool moon.
2 The Horses of Vieques
(Horses roaming free in Vieques)
Spanish colonizers brought horses to Vieques more than 500 years ago.
The horses you see in Vieques are a mix of the Barb, Andalusian, and Spanish Jennet breeds.
Horses roam free around Vieques. You will see them everywhere.
Vieques visitors ask: are the horses in Vieques wild? The answer to that question is not a simple yes or no.
Most horses have owners who do not keep them on their land. The owner will let the horse graze freely and look for them when they need it. Horses return to grazing land daily, and families and herds walk together to their spots. On a small island like Vieques, everyone knows everyone and their horse. All horse owners brand their horses, and locals can tell who the horse belongs to.
Check out this article in Equus Magazine for information on Vieques feral horses https://equusmagazine.com/blog-equus/free-range-paradise-wild-horses-vieques-54999/
Several companies operate horseback riding tours in Vieques.
Most tours are an hour and a half long and will take you to paradise beaches and idyllic scenery. Below are the links to horseback riding tours in Vieques.
3 Walk on Water (or at least look like you are from a distance)
(Cayo Afuera in Vieques)
Many keys surround the island of Vieques.
Cayo de Tierra (Key of Dirt) is connected to Vieques by a thin sand isthmus.
On Sun Bay Beach, people walking to Cayo de Tierra seem to be walking on water.
Cayo de Tierra and its sister Key Callo Afuera are the keys you see from The Esperanza Malecon.
The hike on Cayo de Tierra will take about half an hour.
On low tide, walk through the water on the sand bridge.
You will see plants, hermit crabs, and birds; the water is so shallow and clear that you can see the fish.
Here are some tips for a better experience:
Cayo Tierra trail is a circuit, not an out-and-back.
Walk across the spit, keep left, and follow the shore.
You will find a shipwreck, then turn right up into the bushes. At the top, you will find a cliff with a view over Sun Bay.
Continue the path through shaded vegetation, and you’ll emerge at the shore on Esperanza beach-side.
Remember to pack water and wear sunblock.
4 Sink your toes in the black sand of Playa Negra
(The Black Sand of Playa Negra)
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Vieques is composed of volcanic and granite intrusive. https://www.britannica.com/place/Vieques-Island
Millions of years ago, volcanic activity and tectonic plaques movement formed Vieques.
Playa Negra (Black Beach) is a black sand beach on the south coast of Vieques.
Puerto Rico has a few black-sand beaches, but Playa Negra in Vieques is the darkest.
Rain carries volcanic minerals from Monte Pirata southwest of Vieques, out to Playa Negra Beach.
Leftover particles of volcanic material and minerals from Monte Pirata give Playa Negra its distinctive color.
Playa Negra is close to Playa Esperanza Beach and Vieques Wildlife Reserve.
Although Playa Negra is perfect for taking pictures and walking on the black sand, swimming could be dangerous.
Tides are strong, and there could be rip currents at Playa Negra.
Bonus: Tie The Knot
(You can get married in front of the Ocean at Vieques)
Vieques is a dream destination for weddings.
Couples travel to Vieques to say “I do” on this idyllic island.
Some wedding planners in Vieques take care of everything.
You can go to Vieques, get married, and have your honeymoon in the same place.
For more information on weddings in Vieques, check out this site.
Conclusion
Vieques is famous for having the brightest bioluminescent bay in the World.
But there are many other things that you can do in Vieques.Visit https://www.puertorico.com/vieques/things-to-do for more information on things to do in Vieques.
