Ten Things to do on Vieques Island

This is so easy to write it will take a few minutes to bust this post off about "Ten Things to do on Vieques" Okay are you ready? I am! Well sort of, I gotta make a painkiller (that is a Caribbean drink) real quick so I have something refreshing to drink....

Number Ten: Yes this is backwards and I am writing this not you. Go to the bar and I mean Al's Mar Azul, Banana's, Lazy Jacks, Trade Winds or Duffy's and get a Painkiller and thank God you survived the puddle jumper or get two if you took the DAMN ferry!

Number Nine: This should be number ten so you can do Number Ten which should be Number Nine but then again I am in charge here! Rent a Jeep! Get a good well used Jeep of some kind so if you scratch it no one will ever care. Don't be the fancy pants on vacation and get a new super clean Jeep and not be able to take it off the pavement... Here is a hint (Abreeze) The good beaches are going to scratch your ride!



Numero Ocho: Did that just for the translate button! Visit the Fort in Isabel II that sits on top of the hill over looking town and the bay. It is a wealth of information on the beautiful Island of Vieques and the history every visitor of the Island should take the time to know. Go get your picture with a cannon and get a taste of what it was like hundreds of years ago to watch over the Island of Vieques. So Cool!

Number Seven: Go for a horse ride on the beach and feel like a movie star or just enjoy nature.

Number Six: Make a reservation to get some great food at Coqui Fire. Jimmy and the Gang get super busy during season and most of the time you will need to reserve a table. This is the haunt of the locals for one reason and that is great food!  Call and reserve your table for taste bud pleasures (787) 741-0401 or "Like" 'em on Facebook for updates to their menu and specials. Now I will stop to make some Coqui Fire inspired dinner, yum yum...

Number Five: Two words Bio Bay. It is a natural treasure of the Island and is a must do and see!

Number Four: Go for a half day or full day sail with one of the many charter boats. We booked our half day trip with Sea Vieques featuring Captain Judi at the helm of her beautiful catamaran. What a wonderful snorkeling experience at Cayo Blanco and sailing the Caribbean Sea is Awesome! Of course there is a post about our time spent with Captain Judi just look around the blog it is easy to find. There are sail and powered catamarans from big to small and mono hull sail boats. They offer all kinds of packages with great fun to be had by all. Who couldn't use a day on the high seas feeling like the king of the world or Jack Sparrow searching for lost treasure?

Number Three: Explore all of the beaches on the Island from top to bottom and left to right. That is the reason for the Jeep! Really? Did I even have to throw that in? Yes, I did! We have met many a visitor that stayed at their rental house and did not go exploring during their whole time on Vieques. Are you kidding me you ask? No! I say! You are in the Caribbean go see what Mother Nature has made and be blown away at every turn!

Number Two: Go snorkeling and see what is under the blue and green waters that surround the Island. We have seen rays, turtles, sharks, all kinds of fish, dolphins, lobster, crabs and even sea monsters. Yes, there is a post about sea monsters on our blog! It is amazing to float and watch all of the happenings under the sea.

Number One: The easiest one on the list by far to do on Vieques. Smile from ear to ear! You will not be able to keep the smiles off of your face while you are on Vieques! Enjoy your Trip!

Vieques Island is Vacation Worthy

Are you planning that getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life, the job from hell, or just ready for some fun? Why are you looking through those boring all-inclusive vacation offers that make sitting on the same beach for three days look fun? Nothing like sharing the pool bar with one hundred people that you know are peeing in the water. I get sick just thinking about it! Don't forget the two sorry nights lodging with sub par food choices for that one low price. That sounds like the perfect trip for the uninspired vacationer and I hope that is not you... Do you want a real vacation that provides fun and adventure with more than one beach to sit on? Still searching for white sand beaches with that perfect Caribbean blue green water in the background like you see in the movies? How about twenty plus beaches to sit that butt of yours? You can get in the water and enjoy the Caribbean without being killed by waves. Sick of all the traffic lights on your drive to work and back? Vieques Island does not have a single one of those damn things! No lie! Traffic lights are not necessary when the maximum speed limit on the Island is 35 M.P.H. and the traffic jams are caused by horses. That should give you an idea of the laid backness of Vieques and the term "island time" (yes I know "laid backness" is not a correct term but it works). If you want to share the beach with a thousand people at a time then Vieques is not for you my friend. Take the time to read through our blog you will see there are no people in the beach pictures and you will find the fun way around the Island.

Hell, you can ride a horse on the white beaches and feel like a movie star and share your pictures on Facebook. Make your friends green with envy that you are in Paradise! Go snorkel in the Caribbean with every type of marine life you could ever want to see. Visit the Bio Bay and get blown away from Mother Nature's glowing waters. Eat great food all over the Island from street vendors, food trucks or restaurants. It does not matter what you do on the Island you are going to love it! Once you get to Vieques you will be making plans for your return trip because once is never enough when it comes to the Secret of the Caribbean, Vieques Puerto Rico! Hope to see you on a white sand beach soon! Don't forget to post those pictures for your friend's to envy...

Playing With Nature on Vieques Island

Star Fish from Star Fish Beach of Course

     Nothing like grabbing a star fish, a conch, or any other type of sea creature for the first time. Remember most things do not bite or attack you in the waters that surround the beautiful Vieques Island. With that in mind have fun and explore what the island has to offer and respect Mother Nature. When snorkeling remember not to touch or stand on the coral because you will kill it. If you see a turtle or a ray in the water while you are snorkeling be sure to give them plenty of space and try not to chase them. I have had the pleasure of swimming with four dolphins off of Punta Arenas. After talking to many long timers of the Island this is not a common thing at all. So please don't go to Punta Arenas thinking you are going to see dolphins. We have spent many hours on Punta Arenas and I would say time pays off.

     For you "Island Virgins" out there Vieques is a wonderful treat for the not so All-Inclusive type of traveler. If you are the jump in swim and figure it out type then you have found the right place to play! We are off the beaten path skip to a different drummer types that enjoy each other and love to explore. You can go out for a day sail and snorkel and we love Captain Judi and you can find that post right here Sea Vieques with Captain Judi




                                                                             
     There are more beaches then you can see in two days and you are much better off for a five day to two week stay rather than a quick hitter. A jeep rental that is scratched to hell is the best means of travel to all of the out of the way beaches. A simple set of clothes and flippy flops will work for all occasions Vieques. There are two great food stores for cooking at your vacation rental and plenty of small stores for beer and ice for the beach. This is a no stop light 35mph speed limit island that takes no time to get to where you need to be! Come and relax forget about life and dream about what it takes to live the island life full time!

Sea Vieques is a Must Do With Captain Judi

      Are you ready for the big blue sea with all of the marine life waiting for you to come see? If the answer is yes then Sea Vieques is the only way to go. Nothing beats a  nice big catamaran for smooth sailing the high seas or relaxing after a great snorkel with friends and family. Captain Judi is a true protector of the reef that surrounds Cayo Blanco a small island north of Vieques. The reef is a lively spot with plenty of sea life from small fish to nerf sharks. Fun abounds all that go with Captain Judi and her trusty first mate Katie to see the octopus's garden under the sea.

     We met up with Captain Judi behind Al's Mar Azul on the beach. On our first trip to Vieques we stayed our first night in a room next to Al's called the Becker Room. Going down to the beach was like going back in time to our first day on Vieques Island. We said no to the all-inclusive Caribbean vacation spots and set our sights on adventure. Here we are six years later ready for adventure once again going out to sea on the Makaru. Captain Judi and Katie made us feel right at home from the moment we stepped aboard. In short order the mooring lines were tossed and the main sail was hoisted Mother Nature gave us a push all of the way to Cayo Blanca. It was so exhilarating sitting on the side of the boat looking into the beautiful blue waters with the wind blowing in your hair.
  

     We were given a short overview of the marine life we were expected to see on our snorkel tour. Before you know it you are in the Caribbean Sea swimming over a coral reef teaming with life. Just like Judi said in the overview we saw a nerf shark right off the bat then two huge spotted rays! It was just like what you see on the Nature Channel but up close and very beautiful. The reef is huge and there is much to see and lots of time to take it all in.


 Click Here For Sea Vieques

secluded beach good luck finding it

After we got back on the boat and dried off drinks were served and much to our surprise lunch was prepared while we were out playing in the sea. We enjoyed grilled chicken and pineapple with a fantastic rice pilaf twisted the Caribbean way. We sat and visited with Frank and Judi after lunch like a group of  old friends out for a nice sail. Speaking of sailing it is a must to get your butt up front on the trampoline for the sail back to Vieques! Wow what a ride that is and you are going to get a little wet depending on the size of the waves. Back in port a dingy ride back to the beach behind Al's Mar Azul and our half day of sailing had come to a close at one thirty p.m. Not to worry for what to do for the rest of the day we had a date with a hike and a secluded beach!


   

Playa La Plata (Silver Beach) Vieques Island

Looking to the West on Playa Plata

     Awesome is all there is to say about this beauty of a beach. This is the beach that defines the Caribbean for all of its blue water and true white sand in a crescent moon shape. Get out your camera and get ready to blow through some data storage on this piece of paradise or Facebook it and make all of your friends jealous! Playa La Platita is guaranteed to put your mind and spirit in the right place no matter your mood. Very little surf so ideal for wading around and swimming or just walking up and down the beach saying "Wow!" to yourself or partner in beachin'. Plop your butt down on a fold out chair and look out to the Caribbean Sea and dream of full time living on a island. 

     Playa La Platita is the last beach that makes up the group known as Escondido, Playa La Plata, and Playa La Platita. As I have been told these are the last of the beaches that were opened up to the public back around 2007-08. That is not the fact checked just what I was told by a long time resident and excellent source of information on Vieques. When you are on the road to Bahia de la Chiva (Blue Beach) look to the left for the sign that points the way to last three beaches. It is a rough and hilly road and steep at times and not for the faint of heart. It is great fun for someone like myself from the middle of the good ol' US of A that grew up around dirt back roads and bar ditches. City slickers be warned this is not paved smooth for your comfort of travel. Vieques is a little rough around the edges and that is part of the beauty of Vieques Island to us. It is not developed like the other islands and we are so happy to go to a beach and NOT SEE HOTELS! We see this wonderful beauty that Mother Nature gave to us to protect and enjoy without destroying it for money. Playa La Plata is a must see if you are visiting for a day, week, or longer. Hope to see you on a beach real soon! 

Nature's Hot Tub on Vieques Island

     On the south side of Vieques is the white sand with blue water the Caribbean is known for and Vieques does not disappoint. If you travel to the last beach on the east end of the Island which is Playa La Platita. I do mean traveling by car when I say the end of the Island. Congrats you are not there yet because you are going to wade through the water to get to Nature's Hot Tub or climb over the rocks. We call this small beach "Hibiscus Beach" because this is our island and we will call beaches what we want. Please feel free to name it to whatever floats your boat, because that is part of the fun! There are totems that people make all over the beach and the most clear water you have ever seen. If fact, LiLi walked right through the clear water on our first time on the beach and did not realize it was water until she was wet. There is a small opening in the sea grass that dips in and is just right for relaxing in warmer water. Since there is no sea grass in the depression the water gets heated by the sun in the afternoon. In the mornings the hot tub is not so hot so you need to wait for the sun to do it's job. This is our second most favorite beach on Vieques and will always be our Hibiscus Beach and hope to see you on a beach real soon!

Star Fish Beach on the Beautiful Vieques Island

     Off the beaten path Star Fish Beach is a very special place to spend a day of lounging with nature. Not known by most visitors to Vieques, Star Fish Beach (this is our name for this beach) is ideal for true peace and relaxation. Well, that and the star fish are fun to play with and make for great pictures. If the beaches are busy with too many people and the boats have taken over Green Beach then this is the place to be. Star Fish Beach looks out to the Atlantic Ocean with a small ribbon of sand and very little surf. Sandy bottom under the water with a few rocks and a ton of starfish in all types of color. If you are some of the ones that tote the kiddos around on your trips then this is a must see. I will not give the directions to the beach because that makes it more fun for us! We found this beach by exploring the trails and leaving no stone turned right side up on our trips to the Island of Vieques. This is what makes the Island so much fun to us and the right place for us to live in the future. We love nature and Vieques has so much to offer the cloud hopping flower sniffing nature lovers we are. Enjoy and hope to see you on a beach real soon!
                                                                                                                                                                                Scroll down to find the way to this AWESOME beach!

     If you "like" our Facebook Page we will send you the directions to Star Fish Beach that is if you ask for them! Click Here For Vieques Getaways Facebook Page

The pictures below are the most recent from June 2014 the big storm in Oct of 2013 uncovered some of the rail tracks that were used by the sugar mills. Here is a great link for some info on the sugar mills that were on Vieques. Sugar Mills

Green Beach Again

                                                                     
 Green Beach Vieques, P.R.
 I'll let the picture do the talking!

Playa Grande and Beyond!

     Ahhh! Playa Grande means a lot of beach, just kidding of course. When it comes to Spanish to English conversion I am not your guy. I had two years of Spanish in high school but I was the Spanish teacher's aide. Hence I learned no mucho in Spanish class. Senor Benito would always ask how I had done on my test. I would always reply with a score in the 80 percentile. I didn't want to raise suspicion with high test scores plus I was a B student.

     We were at the store in Isabel on our first trip and had to get the manager over to the register to explain to us, that you had to pay separate for ice. Hell, I never new the word for ice! We just nodded and then we all had a good laugh. Stupid American travelers on the island don't even know the word for ice! That would be a good word to know in Spanish if you want something cold to drink. I know this is about Playa Grande on Vieques not Spanish class!

    Playa Grande is a big beach with lots of room to roam. Sitting on the Caribbean side of the island Playa Grande is a rough water beach that is not good for swimming or snorkeling. It is however a must see beach and great for pictures. If you are a brave and adventurous types like us it is time to drive past the all of the parking spots for Playa Grande. Go through the open gates and follow the pig trails to the Western end of Vieques Island. If you are in a non scratched SUV I would suggest not going this route, for you will be buying a new paint job. It is a blast to putter on the trails over the hills to the most quiet place on all of Vieques. Rent your Jeep from Abreeze and you will be able to venture all of the Island without the worry of scratches. They provide very reliable transportation for you Vieques vacation. Hope to see you on a beach real soon!

Li Li Islander

Black Sand Beach on Vieques? We Know How to Find It!

 

 The ever elusive Black Sand Beach of Vieques Island is the hardest beach to find by far. Follow the road from here and go there and you will find it. That has never worked for us! So I will leave the directions for you to find that way it makes it more fun. Just kidding! Go west from Esperanza a little way and look for a silver electric pole on the south side of the road that has "Black Beach" spray painted on it. It is on a curve that has a gravel drive with a chain link gate on the south side along with the electric pole. It looks like there is nowhere to park, don't worry just park on the side of the road. Next to the gravel drive on the left side is a trail that leads to a creek. It is a dry creek if it has not been raining a lot. It is a good 1/4 mile walk to Black  Beach and well worth the effort. It is a long beach so there is plenty of room to roam and explore. Most of the beaches on the Caribbean side of Vieques are black sand beaches with white sand on the top layer. The white sand is lighter than the black iron ore sand so it stays on top to make beautiful white sand beaches. Take a magnet because the sand contains iron ore and will stick to the magnet like you will not believe, lots of fun! If you decide to take some black sand home on the plane, TSA will search your bag. It shows up in the X Ray machine, trust me I know. We had a good laugh with security in San Juan Airport and the debate of black sand, which I admitted to the agent it is iron ore not sand. Enjoy the black sand iron ore and hope to see you on a beach real soon!

V.B.

And Now the Amazing Blue Beach!

     Bahia de la Chiva a.k.a. Blue Beach has white sandy beaches that melt into blue water and seems unreal at first. Dotted with an island Blue Beach has so may places to enjoy the the sun, sand and water. The sand is amazing white powder with black sand hiding underneath just begging for you to run your toes through. There is no surf so wading and swimming are ideal on Blue Beach. It is mostly sand under the water so no rocks to stub your toes. You don't need a snorkel to see the fish just look down through the clear water.

Bahia de la Chiva 2008

     We must have taken a hundred pictures in the first two days on Vieques Island back in 2008 on our first trip. First day Green Beach second day Blue Beach and we still have five days to go! Looking back on our first trip to Vieques is so much fun, we had so many virgin moments on those seven days. It is memories of the Island that makes it the perfect place for us as a couple to live in the future. There are several reasons we come back to Vieques every year and Blue Beach is one of them. 2014 will be year number seven and trip number thirteen with a two week stay! That 13 better be a good luck number.

My Ode to Vieques Island

Peaceful waters that surrounded an island
protected with white sand and coral

You must walk to find something new
a black sand beach that is hidden from view

Don't be scared to travel the unbeaten path
if a gate is open there will be no wrath

Don't worry if it is bumpy and rough
you will get there soon enough

Go from one end to the other
and get a gift form Mother Nature

Watch the the sting rays fly
if you can catch them with your eyes

Go for a swim and see
what is in the deep blue sea

Pretend to be a cast away
even if it is just for a day

An then you will see
why Vieques is the place for me

VB

We Ventured to Green Beach!

Our first beach picture, Green Beach looking southward to the Caribbean.

       Yes we were hooked from the first moment! How can you not be? We were told by the couple we rented our room from that we would be the only people on Green Beach. Li Li and I looked at each other and laughed. Well the joke was on us, we were the only people on the whole half mile of sand and blue water. We explored every inch of Green Beach and snorkeled all of the coral several times. If you sit back and watch the water for awhile you might catch a ray flying through the air. We were on Gilligan's Island and loving every minute of being lost in paradise. This was our first whole day on Vieques and could not even imagine what the rest of Vieques had in store.

Old rusted bridge that was always fun to cross has now been replaced.
 Dodging the holes made it feel more adventurous!

The wonderful drive to Green Beach for the first time.
We had no idea what was coming to greet us.