Playa escondida vieques: Playa Escondida – Vieques Beaches – Vieques Beach Map

15 Best Vieques Beaches in 2022 (By a Puerto Rico Local)

Visitors could easily spend weeks beach hopping between the breathtaking beaches of Isla de Vieques. 

I’m a Puerto Rico local and I can tell you with confidence that not only does this small island off the east coast offer incredible things to do, but it boasts some of the top beaches in Puerto Rico. It’s perfect for a Caribbean getaway with your partner or family.

From secluded coves to the only black sand beach in Puerto Rico, these are the 15 best Vieques beaches you can’t miss on your next visit.

Table of Contents

• 15 Best Beaches In/Near Vieques
  • Playa Caracas
  • Playa La Chiva
  • Playa Grande
  • Playa Escondida
  • Playa La Plata
  • Pata Prieta Beach
  • Playa Negra
  • Sun Bay Beach
  • Cofi Beach
  • Punta Arenas Beach
  • Esperanza Beach
  • Playuela
  • Media Luna Beach
  • Playa El Gallito
  • Navio Beach
• FAQs About Vieques Beaches
  • Which side of Vieques has the best beaches?
  • Does Vieques have good beaches?
  • Which does Culebra or Vieques have better beaches?
  • Are the beaches in Vieques safe for swimming?

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15 Best Beaches In/Near Vieques

Playa Caracas

Puerto Ferro, Vieques

Google Maps | Parking: Free parking in front of the beach | Best Nearby Hotel: El Blok

One of the most popular beaches in Vieques, Playa Caracas (also known as Red Beach) is located inside the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge. This beach has gazebos but there aren’t any bathrooms or showers. During spring and summer, the waves here are nice and gentle, perfect for families and for doing watersports.

📍 First time visiting? Pin these popular sites in Puerto Rico into your road trip map.

Playa La Chiva

Puerto Ferro, Vieques

Google Maps | Parking: Free parking in front of the beach

La Chiva, also known as Blue Beach, features flat calm waters almost all year round. Playa La Chiva is a favorite Puerto Rico snorkeling spot, especially around the cay and rocky side. Although less crowded than Caracas, Blue Beach is a big beach with multiple access points, great for relaxing while surrounded by breathtaking scenery.

👉 Looking for more inspiration? Check out these other fun things to do and see in Puerto Rico.

Playa Grande

Vieques

Google Maps | Parking: Free parking in front of the beach | Best Nearby Hotel: Blue Horizon Boutique and Resort

Rather than swimming or snorkeling, Playa Grande is a great beach for hiking, photography, and sunbathing. Playa Grande is home to huge boulders, wild waves, and sand full of shells. I recommend having a relaxing morning strolling through this solitary landscape and getting your feet wet on the shore. 

⛱️ Don’t plan to leave San Juan? Read all about the best beaches in San Juan to soak up the sand in style.

Playa Escondida

Puerto Diablo, Vieques

Google Maps | Parking: Free parking in front of the beach

Playa Escondida, Escondida Beach, or Hidden Beach – whatever you’d like to call it – is one of the best beaches in Vieques to get lost in your natural surroundings. This beach is the smallest in Vieques, just a few feet wide, but couples and nature lovers will enjoy being in a place off the grid, with no phone signal and barely any other people around.

🚗 How to Get There: To get to Vieques, you can either take a flight from the San Juan airport or take the ferry from Ceiba. Once on the island, the easiest way to beach hop is by renting a car, preferably a 4×4, or a golf car. Don’t miss my guide to driving in Puerto Rico so you can conquer the streets of Vieques.

Playa La Plata

Puerto Diablo, Vieques

Google Maps | Parking: Free parking in front of the beach

Playa la Plata is right next to Playa Escondida and is also a solitary beach with few visitors. A bit wider than its neighbor, but still small enough to fit only a few cars and visitors, La Plata’s waters are clear and shimmering during the summer. The beach is also great for couples and friends looking for a relaxing beach day.

🛏️ Staying for a few days? Don’t miss my guide on where to stay in Vieques to find the best areas and lodging.

Pata Prieta Beach

Puerto Diablo, Vieques

Google Maps | Parking: Free parking close to the beach, you’ll have to walk a few minutes downhill 

The road to Pata Prieta Beach might be one of the most difficult to traverse in the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge, but the headache is worth it once you arrive at this beautiful beach. To get to Pata Prieta, you’ll have to walk a few minutes downhill with lots of crabs that will hide as you pass by. The beach itself sports calm waters and thin white sand, as well as marine life you can see while snorkeling.

👉 Don’t Forget to Pack: If you’re into snorkeling, you can’t forget your snorkel gear when visiting Vieques. The Zeeporte snorkel set includes a non-fogging mask, adjustable trek fins, dry top silicone snorkel, and a travel gear bag.

Playa Negra

Vieques

Spot the orange crabs as you hike on this black sand beach

Google Maps |  Parking: Free parking across Gallery Galeon or parallel to the road | Best Nearby Hotel: Blue Horizon Boutique and Resort

Playa Negra is known as the only black sand beach in Puerto Rico. To get to the beach, you’ll have to take a trail for 15-20 minutes until the forest opens up to a scene with cliff views, black sand, and small orange crabs everywhere. The tide can be strong during the winter months and there aren’t any facilities, so plan your visit accordingly.

👉 Local Tip: The day I visited Playa Negra, the waves were strong and the beach had sargasso (seaweed). The best time to visit Puerto Rico is usually spring and summer when the waters are warmer and the tides calmer.

Sun Bay Beach

Vieques

Google Maps |  Parking: Free parking in front of the beach | Best Nearby Hotel: El Blok

The easy access, facilities, and beautiful landscape make Sun Bay the best beach for families in Vieques. While located close to the gorgeous beaches of the reserve, Sun Bay is more like the beaches you’d find on the main island. But, aside from the commodities, you’ll love the scenery, soft sand, and horses that roam freely along the beach.

Cofi Beach

Vieques

Google Maps | Parking: Free parking in the nearby neighborhood | Best Nearby Hotel: Casa de Amistad Guesthouse

Cofi Beach is the best option if you’re staying in the Isabel II neighborhood. This beach is accessible, features calm waves, and has a top-notch view of an old pier. Also known as Sea Glass Beach, you’ll find pretty crystals scattered all over the sand. To get to the beach, park in the residential area and walk downhill to the coast.

👉 Local Tip: Almost none of the beaches in Vieques have facilities like showers, bathrooms, or lifeguards. If you’re looking for amenities during your beach day, head over to Sun Bay. Playa Esperanza, Media Luna Beach, and Sea Glass Beach are close to town centers which makes it easier to find food and bathrooms.

Punta Arenas Beach

Vieques

Google Maps | Parking: Free parking when you take the left side on the final Y division on the road | Best Nearby Hotel: Bravo Beach Hotel

The bumpy dirt road leading to Punta Arenas (also known as Green Beach) might fool you into thinking there isn’t a beautiful beach waiting on the other side. But Punta Arenas is nothing but a paradise with shallow water safe enough for the whole family. With a reef a few feet from the shore, Green Beach is one of the best places to snorkel on the island to see sea turtles, manta rays, and tropical fish.

👉 Local Tip: If you’re walking on Green Beach, use water shoes as there are sea urchins in some areas. These L-RUN Athletic hiking water shoes have a rubber sole and a quick-drying fabric. 

Esperanza Beach

Vieques

You can see Playa Esperanza from El Malecón

Google Maps | Parking: Free across El Blok hotel | Best Nearby Hotel: Great Escape and Breakfast Inn

If you’re staying in La Esperanza instead of Isabel II, then the closest beach will be Esperanza  Beach. This beach is great for everyone that wants to have the coast, restaurants, and facilities within walking distance. The main attraction in Playa Esperanza is a pier where the locals like to jump into the clear waters. From Playa Esperanza, you can easily reach Sun Bay, Cayo Adentro, and Playa Negra.

Playuela

Puerto Ferro, Vieques

Google Maps | Parking: Free parking close to the beach

One of the most secluded beaches of Vieques, Playuela (also called García Beach) sports bright turquoise waters and a dramatic landscape with a tiny island a few feet from the shore. While most people miss the entrance to Playuela on their way to Playa Caracas, this beach is worth visiting. Hiking enthusiasts can explore the Cerro Playuela trail, which boasts mesmerizing views of the Puerto Ferro Cliffs and the surrounding beaches.

👉 Local Tip: If you’re visiting the Wildlife Refuge, keep in mind you probably won’t have any phone signal and there aren’t lifeguards on the beaches. Always take safety precautions when swimming, snorkeling, or hiking, as getting help in case of emergency will be difficult.

Media Luna Beach

Vieques 

Google Maps | Parking: Free parking in front of the beach | Best Nearby Hotel: El Blok

Media Luna Beach is right next to Sun Bay Beach on the southern coast. With lots of palm trees for shade, white sand, and calm waves, this half-moon-shaped beach offers beach lovers the complete Caribbean vacation experience. Media Luna is optimal for doing watersports and visitors can also bring their snorkel gear to explore the reef on the far left side of the beach.

👉 Local Tip: If you’re planning on snorkeling close to the reefs of Vieques, please make sure that your sunscreen is reef-friendly. Sunscreen lotions can contain chemicals that damage marine life, so opt for a lotion that protects both the environment and your skin. Sun Bum sunscreen lotion is SPF 50, reef-friendly, vegan, and has Vitamin E.

Playa El Gallito

Vieques

Google Maps | Parking: Free parking parallel to the road or next to the sign of the beach | Best Nearby Hotel: Bravo Beach Hotel

This golden sand beach located on the north end of Vieques is easily accessible and perfect for an improvised beach stop. While many visitors head straight to the south beaches, Playa El Gallito offers clear waters and reefs for snorkeling. More often than not the tide is calm, and although rocky, you can take a quick dip.

👉 Don’t Miss This: Bookmark our epic and totally free travel guide to Vieques and be in the know with all the best tips visiting Vieques!

Navio Beach

Vieques

Google Maps | Parking: Free parking in Media Luna or in front of Navio

The last beach after Sun Bay and before Mosquito Bay, Navio Beach is the go-to place for adventure seekers. The waves at Navio are great for bodyboarding and hikers can hunt the hidden caves on the east side of the beach. Adrenaline junkies can try diving from the rocks and cliffs that surround the beach, and beach bums can relax on the white sand under the palm trees.

👉 Local Tip: Visitors should always exercise caution when doing activities and take advice from the locals. During the winter, the tides in Navio Beach, Sun Bay, Playa Esperanza, and other beaches of Vieques island are stronger and usually unsafe for swimming. See our full Vieques safety guide for more information.

FAQs About Vieques Beaches

Which side of Vieques has the best beaches?

The south and southeast of Vieques feature the best beaches on the island, with scenery, clear waters, white sands, reefs, and hidden caves. The north side of Vieques is home to beaches with easy access and overall calmer tides, even during the winter season.

Does Vieques have good beaches?

Vieques has some of the best beaches in Puerto Rico, preserved and hidden within the Vieques Wildlife Refuge. While some beaches are great for swimming and snorkeling, travelers often enjoy the beaches in Vieques for their solitude and scenery.

Which does Culebra or Vieques have better beaches?

While Vieques has beautiful beaches, Culebra beaches tend to be more popular among tourists for their paradisiacal landscape and crystal clear waters. Playa Flamenco in Culebra often competes as one of the best beaches in the world. See our guide to Vieques versus Culebra for more details.

Are the beaches in Vieques safe for swimming?

Most beaches in Vieques are safe for swimming during the spring and summer seasons when the tides are calmer. But, during the winter season, Sea Glass, La Chiva, Pata Prieta, Sun Bay, and Media Luna tend to have safe tides. Always consult the local weather to see any warning for undertow and riptides.

📚 Continue Reading: Staying Safe in Puerto Rico

***

Thanks for reading about the best beaches in Vieques you can’t miss! I hope this helped you map out the best spots.

And while you’re still here, check out other popular things to do in Vieques, Puerto Rico.

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15 Best Beaches to Visit on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico

People worldwide flock to Vieques to see its majestic bioluminescent bay, but this post-card island has a lot more to offer, from fresh-made piña colada to blooming wildflowers to some of the best beaches you can find in the United States. And this post, we will share them all so you can beach-hop to the best ones.

1: Playa Media Luna

The crystal-clear & calm water in Media Luna, Vieques.

Located on the southern coast of Vieques, Playa Media Luna is the first beach we visited and one highly recommended by the locals. With lots of palm trees for shade, white sand, and calm water, this half-moon-shaped beach offers you the complete Caribbean vacation experience. It is also great for water sports, so bring your snorkel gear and explore the reef and various marine life.

From Playa Media Luna, you can walk for about 15 to 20 minutes to Sun Bay.

2: Playa Sun Bay (Balneario Sombe)

Balneario Sun Bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico.

A designated swimming area with lifeguards, bathrooms, and showers makes Sun Bay the most accessible and family-friendly beach in Vieques. You can walk to the beach from Esperanza Beach or Media Luna. And when you enter, you will be greeted by Paso Fino horses as they elegantly graze on the grounds.

The water at Sun Bay has many shades of blue, just what you’d expect from a Caribbean beach. The sand is light ivory and soft, super soft – an excellent treat for your feet. Also, the calm, slow waves make this a great beach for travelers of all sizes to swim and play in the water.

3: Playa La Esperanza (Esperanza Beach)

The turquoise water in Esperanza, Vieques.

Also known as Playa La Esperanza, Esperanza is great for travelers who want to have the coast, restaurants, and facilities within walking distance. The main attraction is a pier where the kids like to jump into the waters, which is almost a tradition now, especially on Sunday afternoons. Around the pier is a sweet spot for snorkeling or sitting on the sand with your feet in the water.

From Playa Esperanza, you can easily reach Sun Bay, Cayo Adentro, and Playa Negra.

4: Black Sand Beach (Playa Negra)

Sparkling Black Beach in Vieques, Puerto Rico.

The next beach to visit in Vieques is Playa Negra or Black Sand Beach. Unlike the yellow, red, and green beaches, it indeed has an incredible black color that originates from the volcanic material washed down to the beach from nearby volcanic areas during heavy rains.

To get to the beach, you’ll have to take a trail for about 30 minutes until the forest opens to a scene with cliff views, black sand, and small orange crabs everywhere. The tide can be strong during the winter, and there aren’t any facilities, so plan your visit accordingly.

5: Mosquito Bioluminescent Bay

Puerto Rico is blessed with three bioluminescent bays. The brightest, Mosquito Bay, is in Vieques. The second is Laguna Grande in Fajardo, and the least bright is in La Parguera in the town of Lajas due to overexploitation and poor conservation.

The best way to see this is to book a tour and come during the new moon or half-moon phase. We highly recommend this one from Kayaking Puerto Rico that runs twice per night, at 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM. Upon arriving, the tour guide separated us into small groups, handed out life jackets and paddles, and helped us get on the kayak by the shore.

Then, off you go! When you sail to the middle of the bay, play with the water and see millions of “stars” (microscopic organisms that release heat when agitated) in a stunning blue-white glow, running through your fingers and scattering with every splash you make.

6: Red Beach (Playa Caracas)

The crystal-clear water of Playa Caracas, also known as the red beach! As you can see, the beach isn’t red.

If you have visited Vieques, you may have wondered if someone spilled the rainbow paint and colored the beaches in these beautiful shades, from pure white to sparkling soft black and light green. Scientifically, most of the colors are due to the chemicals released from volcanic eruptions that accumulated ashore.

Unlike Black Beach, which is named after its color, Red Beach isn’t red. It used to be a place for the U.S. Navy to practice simulations. Today, it is a family-friendly beach famous for its long stretch of white sand and turquoise waters and activities like snorkeling and surfing. It also has a smattering of covered cabanas for a lucky few.

7: Blue Beach (

La Chiva)

La Chiva, also known as the Blue Beach in Puerto Rico.

Just like Red Beach, the name Blue Beach is a bit meaningless. The beach isn’t blue, but you will be blown away by the blue colors of the water, which is an out-of-this-world sight.

Playa La Chiva is a favorite snorkeling spot in PR, especially around the cay and rocky side. You can access the water from several entrances carved out by the side of the road. Parking spots are limited, so be sure to get there early!

8: Green Beach (Punta Arenas)

The rainforest thriving along Punta Arenas/Green Beach in Puerto Rico. Photo by Sarah Richter/Flickr (under Creative Commons license)

On the northwest tip of Vieques, past metal bridges and a mangrove lagoon, you will find Green Beach, a narrow and remote paradise with dense and beautiful foliage.

If you are willing to go out of your way (we recommend coming with a sturdy 4-wheel vehicle) to find a peaceful place, this is your best bet. The beach is also great for snorkelers of all levels, thanks to its shallow and calm water. However, avoid it in the late afternoon when the sandflies are out and ready to make you miserable.

Along the beach, you will find an old track that was the route to transport sugar cane but is now submerged due to the rise of the sea level. If you want a little fun adventure, take a plunge and hunt for the tracks underwater. At the end of the beach and on clear days, you might see the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean collide!

9: Silver Beach (Orchid Beach or

Playa Plata)

Calm, serene waters at Playa Plata in Puerto Rico. Photo by Sarah Richter/Flickr (under Creative Commons license)

As the name suggests, this southeastern beach features white silver sand that sparkles when the water touches the shore; it is a perfect spot for honeymooners or those looking for peace of mind. In addition to the sand, the beach boasts beautiful views of green cliffs, coral reefs, and spacious parking spots.

There’s not much shade, but as Playa La Plata never gets crowded, you can easily grab one of the cozy shaded spots to relax. Also, the crystal clear water makes it a favorite snorkeling spot, especially at either end of the beaches. So be sure to bring your snorkel gear.

10: Navio Beach (Playa Navio)

Standing on the cliffs along Playa Navio beach. Photo by Sarah Richter/Flickr (under Creative Commons license)

If you’re a beginner surfer looking for some gentle bubbly waves to play with, this long stretch of sand framed by cliffs, with a lush forest of palm trees and native plants, is your best bet. Navio is also great for boogie boarding, so bring one. Note that there are no lifeguards here, so use common sense and don’t take any unnecessary risks.

For adventurous souls, you can go to explore one of the hidden caves along the cliff or take a plunge from any of the high rocks. Again, don’t take risks. If you rather play it safe, roll out a blanket in any of the shaded spots, sit on the soft sand, and enjoy the sweet Caribbean breeze to take away your worries.

You can access the water via the entrance to Sun Bay. Follow the road to the left once you enter, and soon you will see signs for Media Luna Beach and Navio.

11: Playa Grande

Playa Grande beach in Vieques. Photo by Lucy Kalantari/Flickr (under Creative Commons license)

If you enjoy walking on a beach with a dramatic landscape, head to Playa Grande Beach. This long stretch of coarse sand offers breathtaking scenery, rock walls, and beautiful boulders. From Playa Grande, you can also walk all the way to Playa Negrita.

Best of all, it never gets crowded, even during the high season. Another draw of the beach is its coarse and unique sand, where you can often find a beautiful collection of broken shells, coral stones, and tiny soft pebbles. Take some time looking through the sand, and you might find a tiny shell that makes the perfect souvenir to spark moments in Vieques.

12: Garcia Beach (Playuela Beach)

The turquoise water at Garcia Beach, Vieques. Photo by Sarah Richter/Flickr (under Creative Commons license)

Not as popular as its peers like Green or Blue Beach, Playuela (also called García Beach), which can be accessed from the same road, has a lot to offer – think of thinner crowds, strong surf, bright turquoise waters, and lush trees as the backdrop for great photos. You can also swim out to the cayo to snorkel among various marine life.

While most people miss the entrance to García on their way to Playa Caracas, this beach is worth a visit. Hiking enthusiasts can explore the Cerro Playuela trail, which boasts amazing views of the Puerto Ferro Cliffs and the surrounding beaches.

13: Secret Beach (Pata Prieta)

The beautiful, crystal-clear water at Pata Prieta beach, Vieques. Photo by Sarah Richter/Flickr (under Creative Commons license)

Located in the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge, this small beach cove is perfect for snorkeling, especially in the summer months, as long as you’re willing to make an effort to get there. There is no pavement to this beach, and the road can be impassable during rainy days (a 4-wheel drive is highly recommended.)

But it is definitely worth the effort.

The water is calm and clear with various jeweled tones, where you will find manta rays, coral gardens, and lots of tropical fish. There are also shaded spots along the beach for picnicking or relaxing. To get to Pata Prieta, you will walk a few minutes downhill with lots of crabs that will hide as you pass by.

14: Cofi Beach (Playa Cofi)

Also known by English-speaking travelers as “Seaglass Beach,” Playa Cofi has so much color that you don’t often see, from the blues of the water, and the crisp white of bubbles, contrasting with the bronze-colored rocks sitting on the honey-gold sand to the colorful display of sea glass emerging before your eyes as you walk towards the shore.

Take a moment to look through them and grab a few home as a souvenir that the island has saved just for you to find. To get to the beach, park in the residential area and walk downhill to the coast.

15: Escondida Beach

Playa Escondida beach in Vieques, Puerto Rico. Photo by Gigi Griffis/Flickr (under Creative Commons license)

Despite being probably the smallest beach in Vieques, just a few feet wide, Playa Escondida has everything, from charming tropical scenery and thin crowds to gentle waves and breeze, to make your dream vacation come true. You can roll out a blanket to picnic, read your favorite book, or take a recuperating nap.

Embraced by hills covered in green, the water at this beach is very calm, especially in the summer months, making it a perfect spot for swimming and snorkeling.

Basics about Vieques Island

Located 7 miles off Puerto Rico’s eastern coast, Vieques (or Isla de Vieques in Spanish) is a secluded island in the northeastern Caribbean. It is part of an island grouping known as the Spanish Virgin Islands and retains strong influences from 400 years of Spanish presence.

This small island is home to one of the brightest bioluminescent bays in the world, Mosquito Bay, where microorganisms give the water a blue-green glow, undeveloped beach coves, lush rainforests, tropical marine life, and good Caribbean food!

While in Vieques, you might also want to check out Culebra, another great island in PR famous for its long, crescent-shaped Flamenco Beach, clear water backed by tree-covered hills, and fresh crabs and fish.

How to get to Culebra & Vieques

There are two ways to get to Culebra and Vieques from mainland Puerto Rico.

One is by air. You can fly out of San Juan’s capital or the east-coast town of Fajardo. The other is by ferry, departing from Fajardo.

The ferry is far more economical, which is $2 a ride. What you save in money, however, may be lost in convenience. The ferry schedule is notoriously quirky, and whether the boat will leave on time depends on many factors, including weather conditions.

Also, flights may be a more attractive alternative if you’re prone to seasickness. The seas between the Puerto Rican mainland and Vieques or Culebra can be rough.

1. If you choose to go by air, there are three airports – SJU, SIG, and RVR – to choose from. The flight is about 30 minutes, and some recommended airlines are Cape Air, Flamenco Air, Vieques Air Link to Vieques, and Air Margarita to Culebra.

   You will fly over turquoise water, small inlets, cays, smaller islands, and the breathtaking Flamenco Beach.

2. If you choose to go by sea, get tickets in advance! There are two types of ferries to these islands, the passenger ferry, and the cargo ferry. You can take either of them.

   Below is the most updated ferry schedule from Ceiba to Culebra and Vieques. It often takes an hour to get to Culebra from Ceiba and 35-45 minutes to Vieques, depending on the boat you take. The new boat is usually faster than the old one.

The passenger ferry for Ceiba (as published by DTOP on 30 October 2018)

1. Ceiba to Culebra (7 days a week) 6:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 3:00 PM

2. Culebra to Ceiba (7 days a week) 7:15 AM, 12:00 noon, 4:45 PM

3. Ceiba to Vieques (7 days a week & holidays) 6:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM

4. Vieques to Ceiba (7 days a week & holidays) 9:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 5:00 PM

The cargo ferry current schedule (may change). Passengers are allowed on these trips

1. Ceiba to Culebra (7 days a week) 4:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 7:00 PM

2. Culebra to Ceiba (7 days a week) 6:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 8:30 PM

3. Ceiba to Vieques (7 days a week & holidays) 4:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 4:45 PM, 8:15 PM

4. Vieques to Ceiba (7 days a week & holidays) 6:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM, 6:30 PM, 9:30 PM

Note that there is no Uber service in Vieques, and even taxis are limited. So, you can either drive yourself or charter a driver to help you get around.

Alrighty, these are all the best beaches to hop to in Vieques. If you know any others that deserve to be on this list, leave a comment below and let us know.

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If you are planning to make a real romantic trip, you should immediately forget about Turkey, Egypt and other “hot spots for foreign tourists”. The place of your dreams should be relatively calm, moderately crowded, the amenities of civilization should organically fit into the natural environment. You say that such places do not exist? And you will be wrong. Vieques Island in Puerto Rico is the place that will appeal to the most picky lovers and unloved ones.

The island of Vieques was discovered at the end of the 15th century by Columbus and belongs to the islands named by the great navigator Virgin (that is, “girlish”). This is the second largest island of Puerto Rico, its area is about 300 square meters. km. The population is only 9000 people.

This place is one of the most desirable places for beach lovers. The year-round temperature here is +27…+32С. The favorable maritime climate makes hurricanes quite rare, so tourists go to Vieques with great pleasure. Unlike the island of Culebra, which is closed to active tourism (there is no fresh water), Vieques provides vacationers with the comfort of a five-star hotel and a large number of entertainments. The official language here is Spanish, but most of the local population is fluent in English, so foreign tourists usually do not have problems with communication.

Despite the developed tourism business, Vieques remains an ordinary rural area with a unique ecosystem. This is a protected area where there are a number of prohibitions that apply to human intervention in the life of nature. A large number of representatives of the flora and fauna of Vieques are listed in the Red Book, and in general the island is an amazing place where you can observe the life of animals or marine organisms in natural conditions and admire fantastic natural phenomena.

So, what attracts romantic travelers to this little corner of natural celebration?

Of course, first of all, beaches for every taste. The northern coast of Vieques is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, it is rocky. It is very easy to find a coveted place for beach solitude here, as the majority of tourists prefer the gently sloping and sandy southern coast and the waters of the Caribbean Sea.

You can really choose the beaches: blue, green, red, white, black… These are not just symbolic names, the beaches differ in vegetation, water color, sand color and content, rocks and so on. Palm trees give way to mangrove groves, spacious sandy surfaces to huge boulders.

The most amazing beaches where you can already enjoy the feeling of touching one of the natural mysteries are, without a doubt, Escondida and Playa Negrita. What is special about them? Sand that creates a completely unusual atmosphere. On Escondida beach, it is absolutely white, as it is a product of the destruction of coral reefs. Imagine a wonderful evening picnic in an intimate setting on white sands illuminated by the light of the moon! And on Playa Negrita, the sand, on the contrary, is black. This is a very rare phenomenon – the result of volcanic activity, such sand is saturated with magnetite, one of the few natural minerals with magnetic properties, so staying on such a beach is not only pleasant, but also beneficial for the health of the body. These beaches attract not only the atmosphere created by the colors of nature, but also the water – clean, pleasant, you can easily see even transparent jellyfish in it.

And, of course, the most unusual and most famous is the beach of Mosquito Bay. This bay was in 2008 in the Guinness Book of Records as the brightest bioluminescent bay. What it is? Well, imagine that the waters of this bay could be a great filming location, for example, for the movie “Avatar”! Go into the water in the evening or at night and you will see that you are surrounded by a bright phosphorescent glow. They are microscopic dinoflagellates that react as they move and emit a bright blue-green glow. Imagine the delight that a person who bathes in luminous sprays or watches fish leave a bright trail!

Holidays in Vieques can be not only passive-contemplative, but also active. This is a great place for diving, snorkeling and horseback riding. Various fishing tournaments are regularly held here, during which you can hunt Creole wrasse, angelfish, foot soldiers and even catch a dolphin!

Fans of museum antiquities will not be disappointed either: there is a real Spanish fort on the island, restored to a historically correct state. The museum of art history is constantly working in it, where you can get acquainted with the history of the island in detail. Another place worth visiting is the Ecumenical Chapel (an iconic building of the movement for the worldwide unity of Christians of all denominations), which was built on the island as a symbol of peace.

If you are a connoisseur of flora and fauna, be sure to make a pilgrimage to the 400-year-old Ceiba tree, the pride of the locals. The Ceiba tree is the official symbol of Puerto Rico. For lovers of all kinds of games, cockfights are held in Hallera on Sundays – a worthy replacement for casino gambling.

Don’t forget to visit one of the many shops or galleries to say goodbye and buy unusual souvenirs: coconut masks, religious “santo” figurines, hammocks, macrame or handmade ceramics.

Enjoy your holiday in one of the most amazing places on Earth!

Tags:

• Puerto Rico,
• Magic,
• Seiba tree,
• Viekes Islands,
• Cognition,
• Nature,
• Travels,
• Romantic journey

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