Vieques National Wildlife Refuge

Rough one lane roads to get there but well worth the drive. Spectacular scenery when you get out to the west side of the island. Small private beautiful beaches with few crowds an great snorkeling with two waves and a variety of sea life..

Fantastic area with opportunities for hiking snorkeling diving fishing boating or just enjoying time on the beach. The Refuge has many locations available for all of these activities and is free to the public. We enjoyed both hiking locations and beautiful beaches with clear water. On another occasion I enjoyed a Shore dive from one of the beaches where there was an excellent Reef.

My recent trip to Vieques was, to put it mildly, a massive disappointment, largely due to its exorbitant costs and frustrating logistics. If you're planning a trip to Puerto Rico and thinking of adding Vieques to your itinerary, my strong advice is to skip it entirely and just enjoy the many offerings of San Juan. From the moment we arrived, the "expensive as hell" vibe was palpable. Every single aspect of our stay felt overpriced. The food scene was particularly disheartening. Not only was the quality far from impressive, but the restaurant prices were absolutely insane for an island. You'd expect gourmet dining for what they were charging, but instead, we were consistently underwhelmed and overcharged, and you’ll find only burgers and regular food that you can get wherever at low cost. Attractions followed the same pattern of outrageous expense. Want to go snorkeling? Be prepared to expend money the range is about $95 per person. Horse riding? Same story. And don't even think about trying to do anything spontaneously. Everything in Vieques runs on a strict reservation system, and if you haven't booked weeks in advance you are cooked, you'll find yourself completely out of luck. We spent more time calling the places for activities than actually enjoying them sine we didn’t have reservations, which made the whole experience incredibly complicated and stressful. The only saving grace, and I mean only, were the beaches. Caracas Beach, in particular, was truly beautiful with its pristine sands and clear waters. However, a few pretty beaches simply aren't enough to justify the astronomical prices and the sheer hassle of being there. Honestly, if you're looking for things to do, better food options, more vibrant nightlife, and a generally less complicated and expensive experience, San Juan is by far the superior choice. Vieques might have a reputation for being a tranquil escape, but in reality, it felt more like an expensive trap. Save your money and your sanity stay in San Juan.

It is a great place to see nature, hike, swim, and relax on a beach. Please respect the wildlife and leave any place you visit in a better state than how you found it.

What a beautiful place. It's off the beaten path a bit but well worth the views