Experience the Northeastern Side of the Island
Luquillo, Fajardo, Vieques, Culebra
There is always lots going on in the East. Here is the short list: Loíza (bomba y plena),
Canóvanas (the racetrack), Río Grande (fabulous golf courses and El Yunque, the Caribbean
National Forest), Luquillo (the best-known beach on the Island, Balneario de Luquillo), Fajardo
(day sailing to the cays of Icacos, Palominos and Palominitos), Culebra and Vieques
(exquisite beaches), Ceiba (the Ceiba Forest), Naguabo (the seaside boardwalk), Humacao (a
strip of excellent seafood restaurants), Juncos and Las Piedras (local artisans), Yabucoa
(Lucía Beach) and Maunabo (the start of the Luis Muñoz Marín Route).
Luquillo
Luquillo offers one of the most stunning beaches and outstanding Balnearios in all of Puerto
Rico. The Balneario de Luquillo is a mile-long stretch of sculpted sand set against a backdrop
of massive palm trees. For travelers with special needs, the Sea Without Barriers complex at
the east end of the beach is designed to provide all the facilities necessary to make the
waters of Puerto Rico as accessible as possible. This includes specially trained full-time
staff working with equipment custom-designed for this facility. For a quick local snack, try
one of the food kiosks just outside the entrance to the Balneario.
Fajardo
Known as "La Metrópolis del Este" (Metropolis of the East), Fajardo is a major tourism and
recreation area. The location is ideal, with easy access to the archipelago of Vieques,
Culebra and the nearby day-sailing cays of Icacos, Diablo, Palominos and Palominitos. In
addition, there are a number of large marinas in the area as well as an airport and a major
nature preserve. The 316-acre Las Cabezas de San Juan nature preserve features a
lighthouse that has been in continuous operation since 1882. The tour of this area includes
the lighthouse, the mangroves and the Bioluminescent Lagoon. Reservations are required to
enter the grounds and take the tour.
Fajardo is well known for its excellent day sailing, snorkeling and diving. The day-sailing trips
normally take you to one of the nearby cays for a day of snorkeling, sun bathing and feasting
(food and soft drinks are part of the deal). For the divers, there is excellent clear water all
around the cays, with plenty to explore.
Vieques
In order to keep Vieques, the Spanish started the construction of Fortín Conde Mirasol in
1845. Used as both a barracks and a jail, the fort was never completed. The main building is
finished, but the exterior fortifications were never completed. Today, the fort does protect an
important treasure: the Vieques Art and History Museum and the Vieques Archives. The fort
is open to visitors and well worth a trip. The fort may be found in Isabel Segunda, the town
and ferry dock in the north-central part of Vieques.
In the south-central portion of Vieques you find Esperanza, a comfortable, low-key beachfront
area. In addition to the restaurants along the shoreline, the Fideicomiso de Conservación e
Historia (Vieques Conservation and Historic Trust) is headquartered here. For a real treat,
take your budding naturalists on one of the electric boat trips to the Bahía Puerto Mosquito
(one of the world's brightest bioluminescent bays). These bays are hard to describe. You just
have to go. To the east of town is Balneario Sun Bay, one of the remarkable beaches available
to visitors. Lastly, there is a huge amount of available diving and it gets relatively little use.
Culebra
Originally called Passage Island, this 7-mile by 4-mile island was first inhabited by the Taíno
and Caribe Indians. They gave way to the pirates that used these waters as a refuge. The
Spaniards ousted the pirates when the land was colonized in 1879. This is the last portion of
Puerto Rico colonized by the Spaniards. Culebra is still a refuge, but instead of protecting
pirates, it is now part of the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses most of
Culebra and 23 adjacent islands (like Isla Culebrita and Cayo Luis Peña). The refuge, one of
the oldest under the US Fish and Wildlife Service, is well known as a nesting site for a variety
of seabirds, and preserves important habitat for endangered sea turtles and the Culebra
anole. Two last words about Culebra: Flamenco Beach. One of the best beaches in the world.
