- Make sure you have enough time to get from San Juan to Vieques. Our flight was delayed due to a seatbelt fiasco in the cockpit. This left us with an already close connection time of 60 minutes to a squeaker of 15 minutes. We opted to fly (about 20 minutes) versus taking the ferry (about 75 minutes). Both Vieques Air Link and Cape Air are the most reliable ways to get to Vieques by air.
Yep - the plane is that small (Cape Air)
2. Consider renting a vacation home instead of staying at a hotel. Our rental home was a bit of a mixed bag. It was definitely cozy but we had a neighbor (who was really quite friendly and nice) with 5 dogs. The dogs were friendly and my kids loved them but with dogs there is poop and who wants to play poopy hopscotch just to get to the car? The upside – the house was on a private beach (unfortunately a bit too rough for swimming but good for surfing) and came with a private pool, plush linens and the best beds I’ve slept in. We also saved on meals by cooking breakfast in the morning and Big P grilled up some fresh snapper we purchased from a local fisherman.
Dream Bed
Hmmm... I knew there was a pool...didn't know it came with dogs
3. If you don’t like animals don’t go to Vieques. Cats, dogs, chickens and horses. There are horses everywhere! In the Hamptons, I’m always afraid of hitting a deer. In Vieques, you may hit Trigger. Oh, you won’t hear that galloping noise either – most of these horses don’t have shoes – so be alert or be sorry. A general rule of thumb – horses on the sidewalk, people in the street and cars going 35 mph or less. There are no stoplights but it all seems to work.
Horses of Vieques
4. There are plenty of great, pristine beaches. The kids loved “Red” beach also known as Playa Caracas. It is located at the end of the Wildlife Refuge. The water is shallow, gentle and there are canopied picnic areas. For a less touristy feel, try Playa Grande – we went there on Easter Sunday and it was largely deserted.
Playa Grande
5. The Bioluminescent Bay Tour is a must do – but I wouldn’t recommend it for kids under the age of 5. Our tour started at 8:45 pm and didn’t end until 10:30 pm. It also included a really bumpy bus ride to the bay. It is pitch black at the bay at night and a fall, tripping hazard for the very old and very young. One lady cradling an infant actually fell while getting off the bus. The baby was fine but we had to listen to her whine for a good bit of the trip. We all signed a waiver before we did the tour so I wasn’t sure why the North American sense of entitlement was waving its ugly head. A number of the toddlers were also very afraid while on the boat. The water is actually very smooth but it is REALLY dark… so if your kid still sleeps with a nightlight – skip this one. My kids and Big P loved this. I loved it. Swimming in the bay is no longer allowed but we were allowed to stick our feet into the bay and see the light waves. The tour guide also pointed out some of the constellations but I was like show me the Bronx or go home!
That bed does look very inviting, and most of the rest of the trip sounds good, except for number 3. My kids love animals, so they’d be happy, but me, not so much. Maybe someone can hide them in a barn while I’m there?
Mo – The bed was the bomb. I was actually trying to flip it to find out the maker – but alas no tag and no luck. The horses, chickens, dogs, cats and iguanas are everywhere and no one seems to mind.
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