Vacationing on the Island of Vieques Puerto Rico
Former Military Test Site Becomes a Virgin Island for Tourism
Aug 30, 2008
Also known as Isla Nena or little girl island, Vieques produces avocados, bananas, coconuts, papayas, sugar cane and sweet potatoes. Vieques is only fifty-two square miles large, twenty-one miles long and three miles wide. Vieques lies between the larger island of Puerto Rico, approximately eight miles away, and the U.S. Virgin Island of St. Thomas.
History of the Island
When Columbus first saw this island in 1493 it was occupied by natives called Taínos, the Spaniards seized the island but didn’t start colonizing it until the mid 1800s. The island was used to produce sugar during the second half of the 19th century until 1941 when the Navy arrived and expropriated three fourths of the island. Sugar grinding and farming came to a halt in 1942 since a majority of the fertile plots were now in Naval possession and a third of the population had been relocated.
For the next sixty-two years the Navy transformed both ends of the island into its Atlantic training site using the island for sea, land and air maneuvers. Napalm, missiles, Agent Orange and depleted uranium were tested on the island; some bombs remain leaving parts of the island uninhabitable. In 2003 the Navy left the island after repeated protests for the health and safety of the Viequenses.
Tourism on Isla Nena
East Coast residents of the United States are visiting Vieques for its pristine beaches, clear Caribbean waters and laid-back island residents. Vieques offers visitors all the benefits of a Caribbean island without the crowds as it is less accessible than the main island and is not yet a “resort” destination.
Getting to the Island
Vieques is accessible by ferry or small plane. The airport on Vieques accepts planes as large as eight passengers and flights are available from San Juan International airport and two smaller airports on the main island. Flight times range from 10-30 minutes depending on the departure airport. Ferry service from the main island takes over an hour but is the most economical choice, especially for groups.
Staying in Esperanza
The village of Esperanza is located on the Southern side of the island and is the smaller of the two towns on Vieques. Free of large hotels tourists can find accommodations in one of several guesthouse establishments such as La Casa Alta Vista and Flamboyan Guesthouse. Both are located on Flamboyan, the only road that runs along the Malecon, or oceanfront boardwalk, through Esperanza. The Malecon features open-air restaurants with bars and snorkeling and bicycle rental shops. A view of the beautiful Caribbean waters draws locals and tourists to the Malecon with Cayo Afuera, a tiny island, adding to picturesque sunsets.
A stay in Esperanza would not be complete without a visit to the bioluminescent bays. Tourists are transported in vans to Mosquito bay then transferred to ocean kayaks to paddle out to the middle of the bay. Tour guides encourage their customers to slip into the warm water and interact with the organisms that glow when disturbed. Very few bioluminescent bays still exist so this adventure is a rare treat for most.
Resources
Guesthouse accommodations: Casa Alta Vista, 297 Calle Flamboyan, Vieques, PR 00765, (787) 741-3296.
Snorkeling and Bicycle rentals, scuba diving and bioluminescent tours: Blue Karibe Kayaks, 149 Calle Flamboyan, Vieques, PR 00765, (787) 741-2522.
Ferry service to the island: Port Authority Marine Transportation,(787) 741-4761 or (787) 863-0705 extension 476.
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