How do I get to Vieques and Culebra from San Juan, Puerto Rico?
When folks get enchanted with photos they see of Vieques and Culebra on Instagram or in magazine articles and then decide they need to visit our jewels in the Caribbean, ultimately the question comes up of how do I get from San Juan to Vieques & Culebra?
Taking the ferry to Vieques and Culebra
By land and sea would be the simple answer, with the sea being the easiest to explain. There are ferries to both islands that run out of the Ceiba ferry terminal on the old Roosevelt Roads naval base. Located on the east side of mainland Puerto Rico, in the town of Ceiba, one can catch a cargo ferry or passenger ferry to either island. It should be noted that in November of 2022 it is nearly impossible to bring a car on the ferry if you are not a resident. And it should also be noted that mainland rental car companies will not allow you to take your rental car to Vieques & Culebra either, so it is best not to even consider that option. The ferry system now has a website, with the opportunity to buy tickets in advance. Ticket prices are currently around $2 per person each way, and there is a senior citizen discount. Yes, you read that correctly, $2 per person. The website for the ferry company is www.puertoricoferry.com
Flying to Vieques and Culebra
For air options, there are a number of airlines and airports to choose from. Vieques Airlink, Cape Air and Flamenco Air are all commercial airlines that serve Vieques & Culebra from mainland Puerto Rico. Occasionally Vieques Airlink and Cape Air will serve Vieques from the island of St. Croix. They all have prop planes that seat up to 9 passengers.
As for airports, Vieques & Culebra can be reached via San Juan International, San Juan Isla Grande, Ceiba and St. Croix. San Juan International is where all of the major commercial jets land (i.e. Jet Blue, American & Delta), and Cape Air has the most flights to Vieques and Culebra from there. Isla Grande airport is a smaller airport near Old San Juan and the cruise ship terminals. Ceiba airport is located on the old Roosevelt Roads airbase in Ceiba, on the east side of the island. Vieques Airlink and Flamenco fly primarily to Vieques and Culebra from Ceiba and Island Grande.
The shortest and cheapest of the flights will be out of Ceiba. Because of landing fees, San Juan International will be the most expensive. Flight time from Ceiba is around 7-10 minutes to Vieques & Culebra. Expect flight times of around 30 minutes from International or Isla Grande.
Here are websites for the above-mentioned airlines:
Vieques Airlink: https://www.viequesairlink.com/
Cape Air: https://flycapeair.com/
Flamenco Air: https://flyairflamenco.com/
Regardless of how you get here, it will be worth the time and effort!
Of these options, which do you prefer?