7 Best Sights in Vieques and Culebra, Puerto Rico

Part of the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre de Culebra, uninhabited Isla Culebrita is clearly visible from the northeast corner of Culebra. An essential day-trip excursion, this islet is a favorite destination for sunbathers, snorkelers, and boating enthusiasts. Isolation amid a palette of crystalline, turquoise waters, and dewy, lush greens makes for a one-of-a-kind natural experience. On weekends and holidays however, the island can get crowded. On the northern shore there are several tidal pools; snuggling into one of them is like taking a warm bath. Snorkelers and divers love that they can reach the reef from the shore and carouse with sea turtles, rays, and schools of colorful fish. Bring your sneakers: in about 20–30 minutes you can hike to the islet's peak, where the spectacular ruins of an old lighthouse await. Views of the surrounding Caribbean are sublime from the top of the structure, but you may not be able to climb its 54 steps; the lighthouse is currently being restored. Several tour operators offer excursions to the island.

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.

Commissioned by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1909, the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge is one of the nation's oldest. The total protected area comprises some 1,500 acres of the island. It's a lure for hikers and bird-watchers: Culebra teems with seabirds, from laughing gulls and roseate terns to red-billed tropic birds and sooty terns. Maps of trails in the refuge are hard to come by, but you can stop by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office east of the airport to find out about trail conditions and determine whether you're headed to an area that requires a permit. The office also can tell you whether the leatherback turtles are nesting. From mid-April to mid-July, volunteers help monitor and tag these creatures, which nest on nearby beaches, especially Playa Resaca and Playa Brava.

A kayak is a great way to reach Cayo Luis Peña, an islet just off the western edge of Culebra. There are a handful of protected beaches where you can soak up the sun and not run into a single soul. Cayo Luis Peña is also part of the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre de Culebra (Culebra National Wildlife Refuge).

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.