What's the best way to travel to Culebra or Vieques?

Culebra and Vieques, also known as the Spanish Virgin Islands, are located just off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico. Both islands are small and sparsely populated, their main attraction being their gorgeous, white sandy beaches. There are three ways to get to the islands, by ferry, by plane, and with a tour company.

By Plane

This is my favorite way to get to the outer islands. It’s much faster than the ferry, you don’t have to worry about getting seasick, you don’t have to stress about getting ferry tickets, and the views from the plane are worth the trip alone. The downside to flying is it is more expensive, it's not suitable for people who don't like small planes, and there are luggage weight limits. If you plan to fly, check out this blog for tips on packing light.

Pro tip: The more people who book, the more expensive the flights get. Book early, and don’t wait hoping fares will drop.

There are three airports that have flights to the outer islands,

• San Juan International Airport (SJU) – Cape Air, Flamenco Air, and Silver Airways fly directly to both islands from the main airport. They are the most expensive flights, but also the most convenient if you are connecting on the same day. If you fly into SJU then catch a flight to the islands on the same day, you won’t have to go through security unless you checked a bag. If you did check a bag, you will have to pick it up and go back through security. When flying from the outer islands to SJU, you will have to go through security whether you checked a bag or not. Cost: $140-$400 round trip.

• Isla Grande (SIG) –  Vieques Airlink and Flamenco Air fly from SIG to both Islands. This airport is located about 15 minutes from SJU airport, and it’s easy to Uber to/from SJU or anywhere in the metro area. Flights are cheaper than out of SJU, and it’s a small airport so security is a breeze. This is the way to go if you are staying a few days in San Juan before flying over. Cost: $130-$160 round trip.

• Ceiba Airport (RVR) – a small airport in Ceiba, near the town of Fajardo. This is the most budget-friendly flight, but only if you have a car or are already staying near Ceiba. Vieques Airlink and Flamenco Air fly from this airport. Cost: $80 round trip, and transportation to Ceiba from San Juan will run you about $80-$100.

Pro tip: Ubers/Taxis are not reliable outside of the San Juan metro area. It's best to book transportation with a private transportation company in advance. Click here for a Private Transportation option to Ceiba.

By Ferry

The most popular way of getting to both islands is to take a ferry from Ceiba. This is by far the cheapest option; ferry tickets are only $2.00 each way. These are the things to consider when deciding if you should opt for the ferry:

• Online ticket sales are released about a month ahead of time. There is no exact date, rhyme, or reason to when they are realized, you just have to start checking about 6 weeks out and keep checking every day until they are available.

• Only 20% of tickets are available to be purchased in advance, the rest must be purchased at the ferry terminal. You can purchase them in advance at the ticket office once they are made available to the public. If you follow the booking links below you will be able to see how many tickets are still available at the ticket office. Peak times sell out first, so if you don't want to take the 4:30am ferry, book in advance.

• Residents of the island get priority. It doesn’t happen very often, but you can be bumped from the ferry if residents need a ticket, even if you bought them in advance. This is most likely to happen around a holiday when residents travel to the main island to spend time with family.

• Rough seas can cause you to get seasick on the boat, and if ocean conditions are really bad, the ferry will be cancelled. The likelihood of rough seas is much higher from January-March. If you are booking lodging that won’t allow you to cancel, it’s best to fly during this time.

• How to get to the ferry terminal from San Juan: The best way to get there is to drive or arrange private transportation. You can catch an Uber or Taxi to Ceiba, but don’t count on being able to get one back. Uber/Taxis are not reliable outside of the San Juan metro area. Even if you pull up the Uber app and see some in the area, they often cancel the trip once they see where you want to go.  The drive is approximately 1.5 hours from San Juan, but you should allow at least 2 hours to get to Ceiba in case there is traffic. The ferry company recommends you get to the ferry terminal an hour before boarding. Click here for a Private Transportation option to Ceiba.

Pro tip: December to April is the high season for tourists. Summer, holidays and weekends (going to the islands on Friday and returning on Sunday) are when Puerto Ricans vacation on the outer islands. These are the hardest times to get tickets, especially around holidays, so definitely purchase tickets in advance. 

There are two different types of ferries that travel to both islands, a cargo ferry and a pax ferry. The cargo ferry transports cargo as well as passengers, the pax ferry is passengers only. The pax ferry is faster (about 45 mins), it has more seats available, and has an upper deck to go outside. The cargo ferry does not have an outside area and takes longer (about 1-1.5 hours.) Pro Tip: It gets very cold inside the ferry, bring something warm to wear for the ride over!

View schedule and purchase ferry tickets:

To Culebra: https://www.puertoricoferry.com/en/buy-tickets/ceiba-culebra/

To Vieques: https://www.puertoricoferry.com/en/buy-tickets/ceiba-vieques/

Private Tour

The other alternative is to book a charter trip to the islands with a private tour company. This is a great way to go to the islands if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of ferry tickets but prefer not to take a small plane. The benefit is they know the best spots to take you to and you get a more personalized experience with locals that know their way around the islands. The downside can be, if sea conditions are not favorable, the tour can get canceled or routed to a different island. Here are some of the most recommended tours:

To Culebra:

Full-day snorkeling tour with lunch, with option for transportation from San Juan

Culebra Beach Day Tour by Catamaran, with option for transportation from San Juan

Snorkeling tour with ferry tickets included

To Vieques:

Full day Vieques Beach Tour by Catamaran

Snorkeling Tour with lunch included



Getting around on the islands

If you choose the plane or ferry option, you will need transportation once you are on the island and you cannot bring your car from the main island. Both have taxis available, but I would only recommend using taxis if you just plan to go to just one place for the day and are willing to arrange a set time to be picked up. Golf carts are a popular option, but I only recommend using them for day trips. If you are going for more than a day, or plan to explore the whole island, a car is the way to go. It is much easier to get groceries with a car, or leave your belongings if you stop anywhere, and, especially in summer, the air conditioning is a welcome relief from the heat after a day at the beach. Cars are also much safer to drive at night.

Pro tip: Book your car or golf cart well in advance, they often sell out, especially around holidays and spring break. 

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