Culebra or Vieques?
 

We are trying to decide which island to visit when we go to Puerto Rico. Has anyone been to either one? How many days is long enough to stay on either island?

Hi,<BR>we visited Vieques in 11/99. Although most of the island is still occupied by our Navy ther is no problem getting on the bases to go to the wonderful beaches. we found some great private , seclude beaches {secret beach} that we completely empty. Vieques is a pretty lush island. We found some good restaurants and food wasn't too expensive. We went for a week and it was perfect. On the island you will find wild horses and brama bulls all over the place. No night life. have fun

Culebra is beautiful, but if you want to do anything other than laze on the beach, dive or kayak, don't go there. Not much dining either, but what there is is good. I love Culebra, but it is not for everyone. A lifetime there would not be too long for me!

Hi,I just got back from Vieques in June.<BR>It's a beautiful island with some really great beaches.Very quiet.Not much to do.We rented a 3 Bedroom/3 bath<BR>house on a hill in the Destino area.<BR>It was really nice with a big private pool.We rented a jeep for a few days and drove all over the island.Green Beach is now open to the public but really isolated.Very beautiful! We stayed for a whole week and spent most of the time in the pool,driving around the island,or just relaxing by the pool with a good book.I've never been to Culebra but would like to the next time I go to Puerto Rico.

We stayed at the Martineau Bay. It's on the north side of Vieques off Puerto Rico's eastern coast. This luxurious hotel has 2 beaches on the property and 8 more within walking distance. It's close to one of the world's most beautiful bioluminescent bays. 156 rooms and suites, 3 restaurants, health & fitness center, full service spa, and supervised children and teens' activity programs. We had a wonderful relaxing vacation, and would highly recommend this hotel to those interested in staying on the lovely island of Vieques. Our kids also loved it.

Harry,You must be mistaken.The Martineau Bay resort is not open.And it does not have a scheduled opening date.<BR>Maybe your getting it mixed up with someplace else you stayed on Vieques?!!

We have stayed on both islands. Of the two we liked Culebra better but it is a bit of a toss up. For a visit 3 days is ample to get an overall feel of either island. Many go for extended stays as it is inexpensive and a good value.

I visited Vieques last year for a weekend. I met a couple from New Jersey who live on Culebra half of the year and they love it due to it's quietness - i.e. nothing much to do.<BR><BR>Vieques has a little more to do. I did a night snorkel at a biolumescent bay that was fantastic! You need to schedule this trip when there is no moon. When you swim in the water, the little creatures light up to a light electric blue color like a florescent bulb - its practically psycodelic and totally natural. You also learn about mangroves and you look at the stars in the night sky. This is the best bio bay in Puerto Rico.<BR><BR>I then got up the next morning and went to Sun Bay beach, which was nice.<BR><BR>If you are comfortable doing nothing at all or really need sensory deprivation, go to Culebra. Vieques has a little more to do, but not much. A weekend was plenty enough time for me. One other point, it is expensive to get there and expensive to get around. Hard to get a rental car on the weekend. Taxis charge alot.

Debbie, Thank you-I thought I was crazy....I didn't think Martineau Bay was open either and couldn't find any info on the web. Looks like Rosewood is out of the picture-what do you know about it? Thanks! E.D.

E.D.,Our Realtor brought us to the house we rented from them and we went by the Martineau Bay Resort.It is NOT open and has NO scheduled opening date.<BR>We took a ride to the beach next to the Martineau Bay Resort and it was so nice.<BR>Very good swimmable area with a nice beach.Hardly anyone around when we were there in June of this year.Too bad about the resort.It looks like it's starting to deteriorate from non-use.

So whats the name of the big hotel on Vieques if it isn't Martineau? We were there on a day trip.

We ended up taking a day trip to Vieques and had a great time. We went to Sun Bay beach on Tuesday and shared the beach with about 8 other people. It felt like we were on a private beach paradise.

Louis,<BR>Why do you prefer Culebra? Just trying to get a feel for the difference between the two islands. <BR><BR>Anyone else been to both and prefer one over the other? It is possible to fly or ferry between Culebra and Vieques? Or is it necessary to return to Farjardo?

Patty:<BR>It has been a few years since we have been to either island but things change very slowly in both places. There has been no change yet on Vieques regarding the Navy and the major change in Culebra was the closing of a major medical assembly plant that was the largest employer on the island. I don't know if anything replaced it. This was a enconomic blow for them since the local economy was good when we were there. <BR><BR>Our trip to Vieques was an on the spot decision while in the BVI as a tropical front was starting to move through. We I called from Tortola and booked a room at the Casa del Frances which is a half-mile above Sun Bay. I don't know if it is still in operation. Some would call if "interesting" and eccentric" and others might call it a "run-down rip-off" We loved it but some might call us strange. It was from here we rented a car and it also was the home of the primere electric boat trip on the bioluminescent bay. To us the major minus of the island was that the Navy controlled the best parts. It was a fair drive to enter to get to all of the best beaches on the island. If they are bombing the island I imagine the entry is closed. Also, due to the Navy control of most of the island there did not seem to any real feel of real local community on the island. Also, while we were there we did not find any good snorkling from any of the Navy beaches which is an item of high interest to us. Our visit was pleasant and three full days was ample for our interests as we have little interest in just lolling on a beach. After many many many years we have enough sun damage to our skins. We enjoyed our time there, particulary the night swim in the bay but we do not plan to return. In the same price range places like Cooper Island, Anegada Island and more up scale Guana Island all in the BVI better represent our tastes. As it turns out this includes Culebra. <BR><BR>I think it was the next year that we took a charter flight from Tortola to Culebra. That was fun. We were met at the airport by the owner of the Tamarindo Estates where we had rented a one bedroom house up the hill from a rocky beach where there was comfortable shelter and facilities including a dock. On the way down was a nice pool. This was comfortable enough and we made little use of the kitchen as we ate most of our meals in town. The small village was interesting and allowed on to have an interchange with the local inhabitants. We like the village atmosphere here, particularly at Mamacita where we ate many meals. The only thing we did not like was the rough road between our local house and the main paved road. Flamingo Bay, which is a controlled park, has a beach that will compete in beauty with most in the world. There are places to rent on the beach. Unfortunately it is mostly sand so there is almost no snorkeling. Were we stayed it was shallow but there was modest snorkeling. The was a small off shore island which was indicated to have better snorkeling but we did not bother to take a boat over to it. For people interested in kyaking or birding,it appears that there is more areas of interest than on Vieques. Thus we have a more friendly feel about Culebra than Vieques. However we do not plan to return. There are other destinations that we like better and we are always searching for new ones in other parts of the world. My wife will go back to Matangi Island in Fiji at the drop of the hat. <BR><BR>As far as transportation goes, you will have to check with others to answer your question. I have no idea if there is easy transportation between Culebra and Vieques. I think you are better off to pick one island over the other if you have limited time. The islands have similar terrain and climate which is fairly arid. These are not what I call lush islands.

We too are interested in traveling to Culebra. We would like to find a 1 bedroom villa/cottage/bungalow directly on the beach or at least a short walk. The cottages I have seen listed are set on a hillside etc. Any suggestions?

The only place I know of a few years ago are thoses places in the park at Flamenco Bay. The place we stayed is up the hill from the beach about 30 yards. The beach is rocky and not sandy but there are confortable places to sit and there was food and toilet facilities there. Based on our tastes we don't like to get sandy and we would choose lawn down to the ocean if possible or a path to a dock with a ladder into the water.

I just read my postings. Please forgive the typos. It is Flamenco Bay and Beach not Flamingo. The two places on the beach there are Villa Flamenco Beach 787-742-3275 and Culebra Beach Resort 787-741-0319. I have not stayed at either place.

Thanks Louis, since I have a week or so, I was thinking that splitting up my time might be good if transportation is not a big hassle.