Even though the beaches are outstanding in Vieques (and virtually empty), there ARE other things to do!
I don’t have pictures, but we went on a Biobay, (Bioluminescent, or Mosquito Bay tour) in a kayak one moonless night. This is the best spot in the world to see everything GLOW – fish, oars, our feet! The bay is the perfect spot for microorganisms to grow and they release energy in the form of light (like fireflies). There are over 700,000 per gallon of water!
One day we went to see the famous old ceiba tree; it’s between 300-400 years old and very majestic!
We drove out mile long Mosquito Pier, which the US Navy constructed in 1941 and was abandoned after Pearl Harbor. These are some rock structures looking out to the Atlantic Ocean.
And Point Arenas at sunset…
Mosquito Pier is a wide earth pier that extends over 1 mile into Vieques Sound. It was constructed during 1941 as part of the US Navy’s plan to join Vieques and Puerto Rico with a breakwater to create an enormous naval harbor.Construction began in early 1941 and proceeded at the rapid pace of several meters a day. The plan was abandoned following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States’ entrance into World War II. – See more at: http://oceanislandtravel.com/home.asp?aid=286#sthash.SSYOpvP6.dpuf
Mosquito Pier is a wide earth pier that extends over 1 mile into Vieques Sound. It was constructed during 1941 as part of the US Navy’s plan to join Vieques and Puerto Rico with a breakwater to create an enormous naval harbor.Construction began in early 1941 and proceeded at the rapid pace of several meters a day. The plan was abandoned following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States’ entrance into World War II. – See more at: http://oceanislandtravel.com/home.asp?aid=286#sthash.SSYOpvP6.dpuf
My very favorite beach on Vieques was “Playa Negra,” or Black Sand Beach. When we went, there were only two people there (locals, they know the good beaches)! It’s not the easiest to find, and you have to park on the road and walk about fifteen minutes along a creek bed, but it was well worth it!
My oldest son and I went to the beach because the other two “wanted to relax,” ie, take a nap!
This is one of my favorite credit cards because of the very valuable Southwest Companion pass! I have already used it for our trip to Puerto Rico and have three more trips planned and booked with points! Where else can two people go to Puerto Rico, Key West, Reno, and Phoenix in six months, costing about $20 each TRIP?!
You can get the Premier OR Plus versions of this card AND the business version of each! (See my airline credit card section). Think you don’t have a valid business? You do NOT have to be incorporated to have a small business. MillionMileSecrets.com has an excellent list on how/why you may have a business.
If you got two cards, you would get 104,000 bonus miles (50,000 bonus each + 2,000 spend each). It only takes 6,000 more to qualify for the Companion Pass (110,000) and it’s good for TWO YEARS! So IF you are able to pay off your credit card debt every month, take advantage of this fantastic offer!
Beautiful sunset in Vieques compliments of the SW Companion Pass! My favorite beach coming soon…
The beaches on Vieques were absolutely phenomenal! They are plentiful and very uncrowded, even in “high season,” when we were there.
La Chiva, which is one and a half miles long, is known by the locals as “Blue Beach!”
The water seemed cold at first, but by the time we left, it felt like the temperature of warm bath water, VERY soothing…!
Relaxing in sand-made lounge chairs!
One day we took a picnic lunch and hammocks (hand-made by my eldest) to Playuela, aka “Red Beach.” It had shelters and trees to hang the hammocks, so we enjoyed the shade.
This is the view from the hammock I was lazing in ~ I had to pinch myself to believe it was real!
And, last but NOT least, our sand man we found on the beach! Coming up soon, my favorite beach…
And Point Arenas at sunset…
