Visiting Vieques, Puerto Rico for the First Time: What You Need to Know
Visiting Vieques was the kind of trip that seeps into your soul. From the second you encounter your first wild horse you’ll know there’s something special about this place. Of all the places we visited in our 10 day trip to Puerto Rico this was no contest the favorite, beating out even El Conquistador Resort.
Like anywhere you go,a little planning goes a long way. Vieques has a charm all it’s own, but also a few quirks along the way. To help you out when planning your next trip, I’ve created this quick post sharing Vieques travel tips for visiting Vieques, Puerto Rico for the first time.
Is Vieques Worth Visiting?
With Puerto Rico’s endless options of beautiful beaches, and the allure of other nearby island oasis’s like the famous Culebra, its easy to wonder whether or not the small island of Vieques is worth a visit.
Well that depends. Does a magical island teeming with wild horses, beautiful beaches, tropical landscapes and quiet nights where coqui sing you to sleep, sound appealing to you? If so there’s your answer. To us, Vieques was the highlight of our 10 day trip to Puerto Rico. While it’s hard not to fall in love with all of PR, this little island captured our whole heart.
Where Is Vieques & What Makes It Unique?
This wild island was actually the start of this whole trip. If you’ve been here awhile, you might have noticed that I like to chase wild horses. Or plan my vacation around them anyways.
I saw some Instagram Reels about the horses roaming a tropical island and pretty much booked air fare instantly. We love the beaches of the Outer Banks and the wild horses that roam there, but instantly knew that with the pristine beaches of the Caribbean was going to be a level up.
Located off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico, this tiny island is accessible only by ferry or plane. Much of Vieques is protected as part of the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge, meaning that much of the island is undevelopment resulting in large stretches of pristine beaches, and a thriving native wildlife population, including an incredible amount of horses.
How to Get to Vieques for the First Time
First bit tip here: Book the ferry online and EARLY.
Luckily for us my husband did his research and booked ours early on through the Puerto Rico Ferry website. We read about many other travelers not getting in early and booked about six weeks in advance. We were trying to time our vacation with the peak moon phase times to see the bioluminescent bay.
There are two options for ferry rides, passenger and cargo. I highly recommend you try to book a cargo ferry. The cargo ferry had lots of outdoor spaces and we really enjoyed the ride. We also had quite a bit of luggage that the cargo ferry was better able to accommodate.
On the ride back we got stuck in an uncomfortably crowded passenger ferry. The AC wasn’t great and the inside felt really stuffy. While thankfully the water was pretty smooth, I can imagine when the water is choppy it would easily set a stomach churning.
We did briefly look into flying to Vieques from San Juan, but they were pretty pricey. Given that this whole vacation was already a bit of a splurge, we opted for the ferry to save some money.
A few other things to consider when booking your ferry trip:
- Be sure to arrive one hour before your ferry leaves. These boats can be crowded and they won’t hesitate to leave without you.
- You will need to purchase a ticket for your carry on luggage. Prices are very reasonable though and run about $2 per item.
- A certain amount of tickets are available online and book quickly due to others purchasing and hoping to resale at a profit. You can buy tickets in person at the ferry terminal, but be sure to get there early as space and tickets are limited.
- Arrange your transportation from the ferry early so that you can be picked up from the ferry and taken to your rental.
- Choose your seats carefully. If you’re prone to motion sickness, sit toward the back or lower deck to feel more stable.
How Many Days Do You Need in Vieques?
I’m not sure what the ideal amount of days to spend in Vieques is, but I do know it’s a lot. The long weekend we spent was nearly not enough time.
It’s not even that there’s a ton of stuff to do there, rather how you’ll feel once you arrive. The slower island pace and stunning natural beauty of the island will immediately draw you in and tell you that you should never leave. I would definitely not recommend making this island a day trip. This island deserves full vacation immersion.
When talking about future trips, we think we need 5 days minimum. We could easily spend a week or two here, but there’s still so much of Puerto Rico to explore.
Where to Stay in Vieques for First-Time Visitors
Vieques offers a wide range of places to stay from boutique hotels to vacation rentals tucked all across the island. We chose to stay in a VRBO that was located in the center of the island between Mosquito and Esperanza. This beautiful vacation house was one of the most amazing places we’ve every stayed. From the relaxing pool to the views of the rolling hills dotted with cattle and wild horses in the distance, everything about this place was perfect.
It was a bit off the beaten path, but we enjoyed the rustic drive. One potential downside to the house was that there was AC only in bedrooms. However, lots of well placed fans and lofty ceilings helped keep the house cool. In truth we didn’t spend a lot of time at the house, other than evenings in the pool and weren’t bothered by it at all.
We’d love to one day return for a couples trip, and if we do, I’d want to stay at Blue Horizon Boutique Resort. We visited this adults only retreat for dinner one night and fell in love. The atmosphere was incredible and the resort was impeccably designed.
Do You Need a Car in Vieques?
I’d definitely recommend getting a car to drive around while you’re in Vieques. Better yet, get something 4WD. Many of the roads are unpaved and the beaches can be remote. We rented a Jeep with 4WD, and if our Air BnB road had been muddy, we would’ve likely needed it daily.
You need to book rentals in advance, especially during the high season. If you’re unable to get a vehicle you can potentially get transportation from resort shuttles, taxis or guided tours. You also have the option of renting other vehicles such as golf carts, bikes or scooters. These make extended travel around the island a bit more difficult.
Best Things to Do in Vieques for First-Timers
We definitely didn’t have enough time on this island, but we packed a decent amount into what we did. Our Air BnB was also like a vacation in itself, so we tried to get a little downtime in. We spent our entire 10 day trip going hard and our 8 year old was still recovering from a gnarly ear infection during our stay at El Conquistador Resort. Here’s what we think the best things to do in Vieques Puerto Rico are:
Visit the Best Beaches in Vieques
The beaches here were absolutely amazing and easily our best beach day of the whole trip. From calm turquoise coves perfect for swimming to rugged coastline shaped by winds and waves, there’s a bit of it all on this little island.
One of the most impressive beaches was Playa Negra, aka Black Sand Beach. This isn’t the white sands you may expect from Puerto Rico. The black sand is made of dark volcanic minerals and basalt rocks. The contrast with the blue waters and the dramatic cliffs make it a must see.Don’t go planning a beach day here though. We found the shoreline rocky and not fun to swim in. It’s also a hike out to the beach so carrying lots of stuff isn’t ideal.
Scenic views Everywhere
No need to keep to the coastline here. The inner lands of Vieques are full of beautiful tropical forests reminiscent of El Yunque. Additionally, the more you explore the rolling hills and winding streets of this island, the more wild horses you encounter.
It is important to note that driving here is very similar to driving on mainland Puerto Rico. The roads are narrow and you’ll need to proceed with caution. Wild horses can also run out in front of you at any moment.
Snorkeling & Outdoor Activities
Snorkeling in Vieques is incredible. The clear waters open up a world of sea life right in front of your eyes. Don’t forget the ear drops though! We learned from a local that ear infections are common in Puerto Rico due to the bacteria in the water being different than what they may be accustomed to. Unfortunately, we found it out the hard way, 10/10 don’t recommend that!
In addition to snorkeling, you’ll find opportunities for scuba diving, kayaking and practically any water sport you’d like. If hiking is more your speed, you’ll find trails covering terrains from forests to hills to unspoiled beaches. Vieques is truly an outdoors lover’s paradise.
Visiting the Vieques Bioluminescent Bay (Mosquito Bay)
Other than the horses, seeing the bioluminescence was the highlight of our visit. It was truly magical, despite being partnered with my stubborn preteen, who seemed hellbent on getting us wet.
When booking our trip my husband actually booked the tour through TripAdvisor. The company was called Adventure Vieques and we had an amazing guide.
The total excursion took about 2 hours from arrival to departure. Upon arrival we gathered with other guests to be transported in a large passenger van. The trek once we left the main road was a bit of an off roading adventure. You need a licensed tour guide to enter this area, and I wouldn’t risk driving a rental here anyway.
Once we reached the bay there were plenty of staff to help us get into the kayaks. The tour itself lasted about 45 minutes. Kayaking the boat would probably easy if you were partnered with anyone other than your own daughter. We spent a lot of time spinning in circles and catching up to the group. Even so, this experience was incredible.
Quick tip: While you’re likely hoping to capture some pretty amazing pictures, just put your camera away. Its practically impossible to capture these on camera without some pretty specific gear. Our guide was kind enough to share some photos with us though.
What to Know Before Visiting Vieques
Planning ahead is essential. Be sure to book your accommodations and car rentals early as they can fill up quickly, especially in busy season. You should also keep in mind that services on the island may be limited. Many restaurants and stores on the island have shorter hours and days they don’t open, so stocking up on essentials before your trip can save you a lot of stress.
Important things to pack for your trip include: bug spray, sunscreen, comfortable multi terrain shoes, reusable water bottles and beach gear. Most places here accept cards but you may encounter some smaller shops and markets that are cash only, so carrying cash (USD) is beneficial.
Before our trip, we were warned to expect power outages, but we didn’t experience any. But we stayed prepared in case. Planning carefully let’s you focus on the more important things Vieques has to offer, like wild horses and scenic views.
Best Time to Visit Vieques for First-Time Travelers
The best time to visit Vieques depends on what you’re wanting to gain from the experience.
The island sees its busiest crowds from mid-December to April, during high season. The weather is generally warm and dry, making it perfect for beach days and outdoor adventuring. If you plan to go during this time, book early so you don’t miss a spot!
The low season, May through November, brings rain and higher humidity but often comes with fewer crowds and lower prices. However, this time period also includes hurricane season which runs from June to November, with highest risks between August to October.
If you’re planning to check out the bioluminescence check out a bio bay moon calendar before planning your trip. You can best view bioluminescence during a new moon, when the night sky is darkest. Our trip coincided with a new moon and the experience was incredible!
That said, we visited in July and it hardly rained during our entire 10 day visit, and we encountered zero rain on Vieques. It was hot – probably in the low 90s most days we were there. “We found the island mostly uncrowded, though parking ran low at some popular beaches.
Final Tips for Visiting Vieques Puerto Rico for the First Time
For anyone visiting Vieques Puerto Rico for the first time my best advice is to slow down. Let the island take root in your soul. The magic of the island isn’t solely in bioluminescent bays and wild horses – it’s the quiet escape and relaxed pace.
Plan the essentials like your ferry tickets, accommodations and car rental in advance, but otherwise stay open to where Vieques beckons to you. There’s no itinerary needed on this magic island, just lots of beauty and adventure in your future.
