San Juan to Vieques (A Practical Transport Guide)
So you’re planning a trip to Puerto Rico, looking to add Vieques to your itinerary, but you’re stuck on the part of how to get from San Juan to Vieques?
Lucky for you I’m a Puerto Rico local that’s been to Vieques!
I’ve put together my best travel advice to answer all your questions about traveling from San Juan to Vieques to help you get there safe and sound, and enjoy all the things to see in Vieques. Let’s dive in!
Want to jump around?
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4 Ways to Get From San Juan to Vieques (& Back)
There are multiple ways to reach Vieques from San Juan and the best option will depend on your schedule, your budget, and your flexibility.
If you’re wondering how to get to Vieques from San Juan, know that the easiest and fastest way is to take direct flights from the San Juan Airport to the Vieques or Ceiba airport.
If instead, you choose the land transportation methods, you will get to Ceiba, and from there, you’ll need to take an airplane or a ferry to Vieques. Let’s look at it in detail.
From San Juan to Vieques By Car & Ferry
🚍 Best for: Freedom to Explore
💵 Cost: $$
👉 Where to Book: Discover Cars, Puerto Rico Ferry
One of the most convenient ways to move between San Juan and Vieques is by renting a car for your Puerto Rico trip.
Getting your car rental provides flexibility to make all the stops you included in your Puerto Rico itinerary before reaching the Ceiba ferry terminal.
This is also a decent budget-friendly option, as the ferry is only $4 a roundtrip.
The big downside is that you’ll need to leave your car at the ferry terminal’s parking which costs money per day while on Vieques.
To find the best deals on rental cars in Puerto Rico, try searching the Discover Cars rental car comparison site.
🚗 Rental Car Warning: Unless you’re a resident, you can’t take cars from the mainland to Vieques. You’ll need to rent another vehicle when you reach Vieques.
Pros of a Car and Ferry:
- Comfort and flexibility
- Can take the ferry at any hour without worrying about transportation
- The cheapest way to get to Vieques
Cons of a Car and Ferry:
- Renting two cars
- Leaving one car rental on the ferry terminal
From San Juan to Vieques by Airplane
🚍 Best for: Saving time and comfort
💵 Cost: $$$$
👉 Where to Book: Vieques Airlink, Cape Air, Expedia
The easiest and fastest way to get to Vieques from San Juan is by plane.
Multiple flights leave from the San Juan International Airport and the Isla Grande Airport, two Puerto Rico airports, directly to Vieques.
While this is the easiest and fastest way to travel to the island, it isn’t very budget-friendly.
Tickets to Vieques Airport can cost the same as a roundtrip ticket from New York to Puerto Rico!
👉 Pro Tip: Vieques Air Link in the Isla Grande Airport often offers cheaper flight prices than major airlines in the San Juan airport.
Pros of an Airplane:
- Travel directly from the San Juan Airport to Vieques
- Avoids Traffic
- Only one method of transportation to reach Vieques
- Saves time
Cons of an Airplane:
- Pricey
- Have to follow the airplane schedule
From San Juan to Vieques by Private Shuttle & Ferry
🚍 Best for: Comfort
💵 Cost: $$$
👉 Where to Book: Viator, Luquillo Taxi
If you’re not a fan of driving in Puerto Rico, one of the best ways to get from San Juan to Vieques is through a private shuttle or taxi.
While travelers will still need to take the ferry to Vieques, they won’t have to worry about getting lost, paying tolls, or pumping gas.
This is also a great return option for people who take a flight to Vieques.
👉 Pro Tip: Divide the price of the private shuttle between multiple passengers to pay a cheaper fare for your trip.
Pros of a Private Shuttle & Ferry:
- Travel safely and comfortably
- Shuttles are flexible with pickup and drop-off time
- Avoid driving in a foreign country
Cons of a Private Shuttle & Ferry:
- Pricey
- Can’t make stops in the way
- Share shuttle with strangers
From San Juan to Vieques by Car & Catamaran
🚍 Best for: Taking a day trip
💵 Cost: $$$
👉 Where to Book: Discover Cars, East Island Excursions, Trip.com
If instead of spending a few days in Vieques, you want to take a day trip to the island, a Catamaran trip is your best solution.
Catamarans leave Fajardo, and they take travelers to the best beaches of Vieques and Culebra for snorkeling and diving.
Pros of a Car & Catamaran:
- Travel safely and comfortably
- Makes a day trip easy
- Avoids the ferry problems
Cons of a Car & Catamaran:
- Pricey
- Can’t see much of Vieques
3 Tips For Getting Between San Juan and Vieques
Rent a Car in Vieques
Whether you’re reaching Vieques via the ferry terminal or through the airport, you’ll want to rent a car.
While there is public transportation and taxis on Vieques, a car will give you flexibility and freedom to explore. There aren’t any ridesharing apps working on the island.
Go for a 4×4 vehicle if you plan on exploring the most remote beaches of the wildlife refuge. Rent golf karts on the island if you’re visiting only the most accessible beaches.
As of February 2024, the cargo ferry only transports vehicles of Vieques citizens and you won’t be able to take a rental car from the mainland to Vieques.
Book Your Tickets Online
During the high season, the ferry tickets to Vieques run out quickly.
If you’re planning on visiting Vieques during your trip to Puerto Rico, visit Puerto Rico Ferry and book your ticket in advance. Book both tickets and don’t wait until the day you’re leaving to get return tickets.
The same applies if you’re looking to go from San Juan to Culebra on the ferry.
Plan Ahead
Problems with the Vieques and Culebra ferries aren’t uncommon. Ferry schedules are often affected by weather conditions and or by technical problems.
When planning make sure to leave some room in your schedule, in case there are any delays in your ferry trips.
Avoid booking your trip to Vieques on the same date as your return flight when planning your itinerary for Puerto Rico.
Bring Motion Sickness Medicine
If you’re prone to getting dizzy on boats, make sure to include motion sickness medicine in your packing list for Puerto Rico.
The channel between the mainland and Vieques and Culebra is known for having some rough waters, particularly if you choose the winter season as the time to visit Puerto Rico.
To make your trip smoother, take motion sickness medicine before taking the ferry at the Ceiba terminal.
Stay Overnight at Vieques
Unlike most major cities in Puerto Rico, Vieques is a hassle-free destination. But, getting from San Juan to Vieques and back can be exhausting.
Stay the night on Vieques so you can enjoy its top attractions like the Mosquito Pier and Mosquito Bioluminescent Bay, one of Puerto Rico’s bio bays, without any rush.
Check out my guide to the best places to stay in Vieques (and be sure to reserve in advance).
🛎️ Need a Hotel? The Bravo Beach Hotel is a family-friendly hotel, within walking distance of the ferry terminal and just a few minutes from the beach.
FAQs About Getting from San Juan to Vieques
How long is the ferry from San Juan to Vieques?
The ferry to Vieques leaves from Roosevelt Roads in Ceiba, and the trip takes between 20 and 45 minutes. The cargo ferries can take up to an hour.
Can you take a ferry from San Juan to Vieques?
There is not a direct San Juan to Vieques ferry. The ferry to Vieques leaves from Ceiba. To get from San Juan to the Ceiba terminal, visitors can rent a car or take a private shuttle.
How do you get from San Juan to Isla de Vieques?
Visitors can take a flight from the San Juan International Airport or the Isla Grande Airport to the Vieques Airport to visit Vieques Island. Other options include renting a car or a private shuttle from San Juan to the terminal in Roosevelt Roads in Ceiba and later taking the ferry to Vieques.
Map of How to Get Between San Juan and Vieques
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That’s the complete guide for getting from San Juan to Vieques, so you don’t miss one of Puerto Rico’s top destinations. If you still don’t know what to do there, check my guide to the fun activities to do in Vieques.
Hi !
When is the best time of the year to have the best bioluminescent ? The Best month !
Thank you !
There isn’t a single best month to see the bioluminescent bay—it glows year-round. However, several factors can affect the brightness, including strong currents, tides, and heavy rain, many of which are hard to predict. To improve your chances of a great experience, I recommend visiting during the dry season (December to April), when there’s less chance of rain. Also, try to go on a night with a new moon for the best visibility.
Hello, I was wondering if there is any possibility of taking a boat from San Juan to Culebra? Possibly part of a 6 hours tour that would let us depart the boat in Culebra instead of San Juan.
Hi Kris! There aren’t any boats from San Juan to Culebra. Most boat tours to Culebra depart from Fajardo, a city located on the East Coast. You can take a shuttle or a taxi from San Juan to Fajardo. Another alternative is to take a flight from San Juan to Culebra. Multiple tours depart from Culebra to the nearby cays like Culebrita, so you can opt for flying directly into the island and taking a boat tour there too.
Hello
We are planning to visit PR in May 4 days 3 nights and visit bio bay in Vieques for a day. I’ve read some reviews on bio bay. Do you know can we still visit bio bay and see Noctiluca scintillans？
Any recommendations?
Thank you.
Hi Stella! It all depends on the dates you’re visiting. This year the new moon is on May 8, which is the best day to appreciate the bioluminescent bay. But, if you’re not on Vieques on that date, then any day between May 4 and 13 works. The less light there is, the better you can see the glow. Anything after the 13 could be too much light. Although kayaking is the most common tour, I’d recommend a boat tour. You aren’t worried about tipping over your kayak, and the boat moves around the bay looking for the best spots to see the glow. Book in advance.
Is it possible to end a day visit in Vieques by seeing the bio-bay after dark and still catch a ferry back to PR without having to spend the night?
Thanks for the info! I will be following links! Questions: 1. Could you potentially rent a golf cart instead of a car on Vieques? 2. Are there ridesharing services (like Lyft and Uber) on Vieques and/or San Juan you could use to get from San Juan to the ferry and around in the island once you reach Vieques?
You can rent golf carts, but the best beaches are better reached by car. That said, lots of people use the golf carts – just ask for one with the bigger tires. I don’t think there is lyft or uber on the island, but there are a lot of local cabs you can call – be prepared to pay cash.