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Vieques, Puerto Rico
Government-operated boats and ferries travel to the island several times each day from the city of Fajardo. One-way ticket is about three dollars. Reservations are not permitted. You must purchase your boat ticket at the time of departure. At times of strong tourist interest, the process of purchasing tickets becomes rather hectic. The island is larger than Culebra, its neighbor island-municipality. Even so, a sluggish way of life is prevalent here, also. Reservations are required to use the ferry to bring your own vehicle into Vieques. Call telephone (787) 863-0705. Tap water in Vieques is brought in by pipes from the mainland. Use for human consumption at your discretion. See our section on WATER for further information. Many people travel to Vieques in their own private sail or motor boats. Some of these are available for renting on a daily basis, with or without captain or crew. Ask around Fajardo or check current tourist guides. The patron saint for Vieques is "La Inmaculada Concepción de María", celebrated on December 8. More than half of Vieques Island is owned by the United States Government. For over 50 years, the U.S. Navy operated a training camp in the area. Several times throughout the year, the beaches in that area were used for naval exercises which frequently included utilized live ammunition After considerable pressure from different groups in Vieques, in Puerto Rico, and from leading civil rights activists throughout the world, the U.S. Navy was ordered by presidential decree to relocate its practices elsewhere on May 1, 2003. As of November 2003, a committee created by the Governor of Puerto Rico studies the possible uses for the land area vacated by the U.S. Navy and other related matters. Vieques is a favorite vacation spot for many tourists from the rest of Puerto Rico also.
While in Vieques, ask around for BILI (pronounced bee-lee). It is a
local alcoholic beverage made from Puerto Rican rum and quenepas,
a small, pulpy, tasty fruit which grows well in these parts. If you
like alcoholic beverages, it would be a shame to have to say that you
went to Vieques and never tasted bilí.
Places to stay: |
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Vieques is an off-shore island-municipality. It is accessible by air or sea
and is a favorite with those who like to get away from it all. Visitors may enjoy excellent, generally uncrowded beaches and
facilities for most water sports. Accommodations range from moderately
priced with minimal services to Wyndham Martineau Bay Resort & Spa, hotel and resort inaugurated in 2002. Fresh seafood is available readily throughout the island at
attractive prices.