10 Best Sights in Vieques and Culebra, Puerto Rico

The not-so-secret Secret Beach is a heavenly cove for those seeking privacy. This tiny yet beautiful horseshoe-shape stretch of sand, reached via a rambling dirt road, is calm and secluded. You can find yourself completely alone or in the company of just a few couples embracing in the crystal clear water. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; snorkeling; swimming.

Consistently ranked one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, this stretch has snow-white sands, turquoise waters, and lush hills rising on all sides. During the week, it's pleasantly uncrowded; on weekends it fills up with day-trippers from the mainland. With kiosks selling simple dishes and vendors for lounge-chair and umbrella rentals, it's easy to make a day of it. There's great snorkeling past the old dock. Tanks on the northern end of the beach are a reminder that the area was once a military base. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

Just east of Esperanza, this mile-long stretch of sand skirts a perfect crescent-shape bay. Dotted with picnic tables, this beach gets packed on holidays and weekends. On weekdays, when crowds are thin, you might see wild horses grazing among the palm trees. There is a small fee for parking, but often there is no one at the gate to take your money. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

One of the first stretches of sand east of Esperanza, this well-maintained beach boasts covered cabañas for lounging. Less rustic than other nearby beaches, it is sheltered from waves. Amenities: parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

People staying in any of the inexpensive accommodations in Esperanza can simply walk across the road to this beach. There's good snorkeling across the bay around Cayo Afuera, an uninhabited islet, and by the derelict pier. Manatees are occasionally spotted here, as well as barracudas and nurse sharks. If you're looking for swimming or sunbathing, keep moving; there are much better beaches nearby. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; walking.

Some consider this the most beautiful beach on Vieques. It has a handful of covered cabañas with individual parking spots, so guests can claim their own personal stretch of sand and survey an expansive, tranquil horizon. Beware of strong surf in some spots. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; walking.

Ideal for families because the water is calm and shallow, this is also a good spot to try snorkeling. There are no facilities. Amenities: none. Best for: families; snorkeling; swimming.

Just west of Dewey, this is a favorite spot for snorkelers. The reef that runs around the rocky point is easy to reach from shore. Locals swear this is the best place for sunsets, too. To get here, head uphill on the unmarked road behind the church. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming.

On the island's northeastern end, this beach is long and narrow—perfect for afternoon strolls. From the shore you can catch a glimpse of Isla Culebrita, as well as St. Thomas and St. Croix. Leatherback turtles nest here. Note that there is a gravel parking lot, but it's small; it won't fit more than a dozen Jeeps at a time. Amenities: parking (no fee). Best for: swimming; walking.

On the western edge of the island, at the end of a long unpaved road marred by potholes, this beach faces the Vieques Passage. Miles of coral reef just offshore attract snorkelers and divers, but caution is required due to strong currents. From the shore you can catch a glimpse of El Yunque on the mainland. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; solitude.