Spanish Virgin Islands - The Charter Yacht Company

PURE PARADISE: A SAILING CHARTER TO
THE SPANISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Mention the Virgin Islands, and most people think of the U.S. Virgin or British
Virgin Islands. Yet, just 15-20 miles from these islands, and only 6 miles to the east
of Puerto Rico, lays the Spanish Virgin Islands, also known as the "Passage Islands”.
Ceded to the United States in 1898, this area is made up of the islands of Culebra
and Vieques along with their surrounding islets and cays.
The Spanish Virgin Islands have always been a
well-kept secret, even back in the days of
Bluebeard and other famous pirates who used
the islands for hide-outs.
The fact that the Marines and U.S. Navy used
the islands for bombing practice until 2003 also
kept land developers, commercialism, and an
abundance of sailing charters away.
The result is pristine and unspoiled islands, with
spacious deserted white sandy beaches; crystal
clear turquoise blue water, and healthy intact
reefs teeming with fish, coral and crustaceans.
There are hills to climb and explore; nearly
empty anchorages, and the natural charm of the
BVI from thirty-five years ago.
If you are looking for a
somewhat remote pure paradise
for your next vacation aboard a
sailing charter, then the Spanish
Virgin Islands are your answer!
The Spanish Virgin Islands are
easily reached from the eastern
coast of Puerto Rico, out of the
town of Fajardo, where your
sailing vessel will be berthed.
Even though Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the
U.S., its strong Spanish heritage has remained.
Regardless of whether you are bareboating or have a
crewed sailing charter, it is worthwhile to take a day
before or after your charter to explore the island.
Three highlights not to miss are Old San Juan, El
Yunque rainforest, and Rio Camuy Cave Park. Wander among the seven square
block area known as "Old San Juan", and it is easy to see why it is considered one of
the best preserved treasures of Spanish colonial architecture.
Steep narrow streets cobbled with bricks are lined
with some of the oldest buildings in the Western
Hemisphere. Their bright pastel facades and
wrought iron balconies are a delight. With its
Spanish-style courtyards, antique shops and art
galleries, the old world influence is easily
appreciated.
Southeast of San Juan, the Caribbean National
Forest, known as "El Yunque," covers 28,000 acres
and rises 3,500 feet above sea level.
The only tropical rainforest in the U.S. Forest
System, El Yunque is home to more than 225
native tree species. There are 50 types of orchids, a
plethora of rare flora and fauna, as well as numerous waterfalls.
There are several miles of well-marked pathways (many paved) to explore. It is a
natural wonder you will not soon forget. Northwest
of San Juan lays the Rio Camuy Cave Park.
It is the third largest ground river cave system in the
world. A two-hour tour allows you to explore the 268
acres of tunnels, sinkholes, stalagmites, stalactites
and underground rivers.
While mainland, Puerto Rico has plenty of
great sites. Your true, sailing charter adventure
begins as you explore the islands known as the
Spanish Virgins. Leaving Fajardo and sailing
across the Vieques Sound, Isla Palominos is a
great introduction to this area.
This is a jewel of a tropical island. During the
day, the reef on the northern shore is an excellent place to snorkel. At night, Isla
Palominos is the perfect place to watch the sunset over El Yunque’s rainforest and
dine on the fresh tuna or bonit
bonito
o you caught trolling out in the sound.
The next place to explore is Cayo Luis Pena, just off
the island of Culebra. This two mile long
uninhabited, wildlife refuge has numerous hiking
paths and spectacular secluded beaches.
For the sailing charterer looking
king for solitude, this is
the spot. If you have a fairly fast dinghy, and
conditions are light, the anchorage is a good place
to launch snorkelling or diving expeditions to the
reefs off of Culebra, including Las Hermanas and Cayo Yerba. Puerto Rico’s.
Lobster season is year-long,
long, so your next meal may be found under a coral overhang.
This anchorage also provides a majestic sunset view of the El Yunque rainforest.
Imagine sitting in the cockpit of your sailing charter at dusk dining on your own
fresh catch with this incredible view!
To the east of Cayo Luis Pena lies Isla de Culebra is an 11 square mile, unspoiled
beauty of an island. Attracted by its seclusion, its spectacular miles and miles of
stunning beaches, is the quaint town of Dewey.
The snorkelling and dive sites are possibly some
of the Caribbean’s best!
This is a perfect destination to spend a few days
on your sailing charter vacation. You will have no
choice but to enjoy the natural beauty of this
island.
Home to only about 2,000 residents, who live
strictly by “island time,” this island has no
resorts or nightclubs to entertain you. The
sleepy town of Dewey is comprised of a ragtag
assortment of two-story wooden lean-tos and a
handful of bars and restaurants, whose owners
may or may not chose to open them on any
given day.
Since 1909, the entire coastline and one-third of the interior has been designated
the Culebra.
National Wildlife Refuge, which is run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These
protected lands are home to endangered sea turtles, including the leatherback turtle,
and some 50,000 sea birds.
There are three roads on Culebra – all leading to a
beach. The most famous and perhaps most spectacular
in the entire Caribbean is Playa Flamenco.
This usually deserted, wide, smooth beach is made up of
white sand as fine as powder sugar. If hiking is not your
thing, you can take a dinghy ride through the mangrove
swamps off Esnenada Honda near Dewey. Or, anchor
your sailing charter in either Dakity Harbor or Bahia de
Almadovar for a day of snorkelling.
There is a reason the Puerto Rican tourist office calls
Culebra, “the fishiest place in Puerto Rico!”
Some of the Caribbean’s best diving and snorkelling is on Culebra, whose reefs are
also protected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Pristine coral reefs and clear calm waters provide an amazing opportunity to observe
barracuda, stingrays, parrotfish, trumpet fish, blue tangs, deep purple sea fans, and a
variety of colorful coral, as well as a chance to swim with sea turtles.
At night, in the quiet anchorage of Bahia de
Almadovar, you can watch the twinkling lights of
St. Thomas 15 miles away come on as the sun
sets on another perfect day of your sailing
charter.
Another anchorage for your sailing charter is the
tiny offshore cay, Culebrita. The snorkelling here
is also excellent. The beaches are fabulous,
especially the 400-foot white sand crescent on the northern shore.
The anchorages on Culebrita are fairly deserted during the week, but the weekends
are a different story. Everyone from Puerto Rico, with a fast power boat, seems to
make Culebrita the weekend party destination of
choice.
After several days of solitude, it can be fun to people
watch, as families laugh, dance on deck to blaring
salsa music, share a drink or two with you, and then
disappear at sunset.
The last stop on your sailing charter to the Spanish
Virgin Islands should be the island of Vieques.
Twenty-one miles long and three to four miles wide, many cruisers consider the bays,
coves, and beaches of this island the best of all Virgin Island anchorages.
Due to its recent history as a U.S. bombing practice site, the island has been
untouched by developers, (even though other than St. Croix, is the largest island in
both the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.)
With a population of only 8,000 human
residents living in the center part, the island is
also home to a large herd of roaming goats, a few
scrawny cattle, and wild paso fino horses.
Most locals travel by horseback. The main town
is Esperanza, with its lovely white seaside
promenade, is lined with picturesque restaurants.
One of the highlights to visiting Vieques is a night time trip to Mosquito Bay, said to
contain the highest degree of bioluminescence in the world. The huge
concentrations of micro-organisms give off an eerie glow when disturbed by
movement in the water. If the waters are calm, you can dinghy over from your
anchorage in Ensenada Sun Bay. Otherwise, it is worth hiring one of the many
private tour operators from Esperanza to take you on a night dive, kayak or electric
boat trip to experience this remarkable phenomenon.
Your last night on your sailing charter
should be spent anchored in Green
Beach, located at the western end of
Vieques. The beach, with its narrow
stretch of palm-lined sand, looks
directly across the water to El Yunque
in Puerto Rico, just six miles to the
west.
Sipping the last of your rum drinks on deck, watch for the green flash as the sun
disappears below the horizon on this pristine piece of paradise.
If you are looking for undisturbed anchorages, isolated pristine white beaches,
spectacular snorkelling/diving and onshore immersion into the Spanish Caribbean
culture with local residents, unaffected by tourism or development, then the Spanish
Virgin Islands are for you!
These unspoiled islands and cays will provide a sailing charter opportunity
completely unique from the nearby U.S. and British Virgin Islands.
Pure paradise awaits!