Island of Puerto Rico
Two nearby islands, Culebra and Vieques, are worth the trip to see. These Islands can be reached by taking a 90 minute scenic ferry ride, or a 10 minute plane ride. On both Islands you will find a variety of shops, restaurants, beautiful beaches and sites that you will not find anywhere else.
Culebra, the closer and smaller of the two Islands, is located about 25 miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico. One thing that must be visited is Flamenco Beach. The beach is about a mile long and rarely crowded. Here you will find great areas to go snorkeling and look at the coral. There are several other beaches in Culebra including, Brava, Resaca and Soni Beach, all of which are great for diving and snorkeling.
Located 3.5 miles off Culebra is Culebrita. Situated on this smaller Island is the Culebrita Lighthouse which is considered one of the more picturesque lighthouses of the Antilles.
Vieques is also a wonderful Island for a day at the beach, but you will also find other interesting sites. Vieques has beautiful palm-lined beaches such as Sun Bay, Media Luna and Navio. In the town of Esperanza, you can board a boat at night that will bring you by Mosquito Bay. Mosquito Bay has a type of marine plankton that glows green and blue when it is disturbed; quite an eerie sight! Also on the Island, located in the town of Isabel Segunda, is a lighthouse and Spain's final military fortress in the New World.
Puerto Ricans have always had a special love for horses. The tradition of breeding and showing gentle Paso Fino horses has been maintained for generations. You can go horseback riding along a beautiful beach, follow a trail through a tropical rain forest, or amble through a coffee plantation high in the mountains. Several ranches rent horses by the hour and offer guided tours and lessons for beginners.
