Fajardo questions
 

Hello, my husband and I will be spending 4 nights in Isla Verde with family. This part is non-negotiable. However, we're looking to extend the trip by two nights/three days on either end of the trip. By reviewing the posts here, I was thinking of staying in Fajardo. Within our timeframe, can we see Bio Bay, spend some time in Vieques during the day, and spend some time at El Yunque? Would it be best to have a rental car during our time here? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I meant to say that my day trip would be in either Vieques or Culebra.

Unless you are staying at the El Conquistador, DO NOT stay in Fajardo. We drove through the town last week in search of a restaurant that was recommended to us, and it was pretty scary. There must be A LOT of crime there, as many of the houses were enclosed in cages. Not simple window bars, but virtual cages around the entire house. Here are some great photos I found of Old San Juan, El Yunque, Luqillo Beach and El Morro.
http://www.newsday.com/travel/ny-tra...8.photogallery
Good Luck!

We were there on Friday and did the Bio bay tour with Yokahu kayaking and highly recommend that. Around the bay area I did not find it scary as the previous post said. We stayed in San Juan and drove over to do EL Yunque and the Bio bay in 1 day. The one reason we chose SJ is we thought the rates in Farjado were rather high, but if you are pushed for time go on Trip Advisor and look for a place to stay there.

There is NO reason to stay in Fajardo, either hit Vieques, stay in San Juan or perhaps venture out to Rincon.

There is no reason to be in Fajardo except to catch the ferry to Vieques or Culebra!!

I'd suggest staying in the Rio Grande or Luquillo areas for easy access to the rain forest and a short 30-minute drive to Fajardo for the biobay and ferry (or flight) to Vieques for a day.

If you get an early start, you can hit both El Yunque and the biobay on the same day. It will be long (ending around 9:30pm) but it is certainly doable.

Before you get all crazy with planning, make sure that the moon will be favorable for the biobay during your visit. Here's a moon/biobay calendar for reference -- http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/20...obay-and-moon/

If you need some info on El Yunque, including trail descriptions and a trail map, you can refer to http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/20...tional-forest/

Options for the biobay include kayaking in Fajardo -- http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/20...ng-experience/

or taking an evening trip from Fajardo to Vieques (and back afterward) aboard a power catamaran -- http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/20...ieques-biobay/

Note that you can swim in the Vieques biobay but not in the one in Fajardo.

And you can find Fajardo/Vieques ferry info at http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/20...fajardo-ferry/

Thanks for all the replies so far. I didn't realize that everyone would be so against Fajardo. It seemed to make the most sense to me. And it was based on reading the messages here!

My plan was to drive a rental from the airport to the hotel where I would be staying - the Fajardo Inn (good reviews and definitely a good price). I would see Bio Bay that evening with the catamaran (I'm pregnant, so I can't do a kayak). The next day I would take a ferry into Culebra, most likely and spend the day out there. The third day I would go to El Yunque, then drive back to Isla Verde to stay there.

Even with this further explanation, do you think the Fajardo Inn is a bad idea? Sorry for the length of this.

The Fajardo Inn looks like a decent place, nice grounds. I have never stayed there, but know they are kind enough to offer discounted rates to Vieques residents who miss the ferry and need to spend the night. Probably what most of us meant, it that Fajardo is a busy, not-pretty town and nothing there to enjoy or explore.
If you have a chance to experience the Vieques Bio Bay over the PR one, then do so...awesome experience...
have fun

Thanks for all of your help, as well as the links. My question has kinda morphed at this point, so I'm going to post a new message with a more appropriate title. Thanks again!

I have stayed at the Fajardo Inn & it is fine w/a pool & nice bar/restaurant if the rooms are a bit 'spartan'. If you have to stay overnight, so be it. But that would be all.

Saw the negative comments on Fajardo and had to add my comments - we just came back from 4 nights in the Fajardo area - stayed at the Passion Fruit B&B. Had a wonderful time. I recommend the Passion Fruit (rate includes a hot breakfast) and La Estacion as a place for dinner. Absolutely the best food we ate in our two weeks in the Caribbean by far. Location was also great for day trips to go to Loquillo beaches, El Yunque rainforest, biobay, Old San Juan, etc. etc.

We just got back from Gran Melia in Rio Grande, I would go to Luquillo ,there is Richie's Cafe past the Rio Mar(Wyndam) Resort atop of the hill for dinner( you'll love Richie!) and many inns and hotels around there .Try www. caribe libre.com There is Fajardo Travelers Tour which was alot of fun,too, if you like catamaran tours and snorkeling at reefs.(Day trip) $65.00 for lunch and gear.10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oh don't forget to go to Sandy's for seafood,too.

I second the recommendation for the Passion Fruit B&B. Fajardo is fine but the biobay is so much nicer in Vieques and Vieques is just gorgeous. You can check out our trip report relating to Fajardo and Vieques here: http://www.feetontheglobe.com/trips/...co2008/Fajardo
http://www.feetontheglobe.com/trips/...co2008/Vieques