Malecón House Vacation in Vieques, Puerto Rico

Vieques is a Caribbean Island 6 miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico. Isla de Vieques is largest of the Puerto Rico islands. Vieques hold about 10,000 residents knows as Viequenses. It is about 21 miles long and 5 miles wide. There are no traffic lights in Vieques. Narrow roads lead to unspoiled beaches, colorful towns, and breathtaking scenes.

Vieques is known for it’s secluded beaches, snorkeling, Bioluminescent Bay (the brightest in the world), wild horses, and the largest wildlife refuge in the Caribbean, the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge.

Malecon House: A Vieques Boutique Hotel

Malecon House, located on the Caribbean boardwalk in the seaside village of Esperanza, has 13 guestrooms directly across from Esperanza Bay. A short walk will bring you to the towns beach bars, restaurants, boutiques, ocean sports, and picturesque beaches. Some rooms have private balconies to enjoy the view of the Esperanza (“hope” in English) Bay while others enjoy a garden view. Malecon House has a small pool to sunbath in or near, a breakfast of baked local good and fruit, and beach kits of chairs, coolers and umbrellas.

Walk to Sun Bay, Media Luna Beach, and Navio Beach.

Sun Bay, a 20 minute walk from Esperanza, is a palm tree lined sandy beach with areas of waves at one end and tranquil water on the other. Horses stroll around the grassy area of the beach. The calm waters and soft sand, bathrooms, food, and lifeguards make Sun Bay a great family beach. Walk another 10 minutes to arrive at Media Luna Beach, a shallow, calm, powdery sand covered beach. Continue another 10 minutes to Navio Beach, a beach full of fun waves for boogie boarding and a cave for exploring.

Bioluminescent Mosquito Bay

Puerto Mosquito, Mosquito Bay, is located on the southern shore of Vieques. Mosquito Bay is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records 2008 as the brightest recorded. This is best explored in the New Moon so be sure to check the moon calendar before making your trip. The dinoflagellates, Pyrodinium bahamense, in Mosquito Bay are responsible for the bright lights seen when touched. The bay being shallow with a narrow mouth and lined with mangroves, it is perfect for keeping the light producing plankton trapped. Book a kayaking trip with a glass bottom boat for a truly amazing experience.

Snorkeling

Almost every beach of Vieques is good for snorkeling so carry your equipment with you. Soft sand leads out to shallow water where you will see patch reefs, sting rays, reef fish, sea urchins, manatees, and nurse sharks. Some popular snorkeling sites include Esperanza Beach, La Chiva which is a breeding ground for many fish, and Secret Beach which has great visibility and a diversity of sea life. JAK water sports offers a kayaking trip to Tres Palmitas on the Vieques National Wildlife Reserve. The trip starts in Puerto Ferro bay where you will learn about the mangrove ecosystem and some of the features of the bay, following by paddling out to the mouth of the bay where you will snorkel along a fringe coral reef. Refreshments and snacks on a secluded beach are included.

Beach/Trail Rides on Horseback

Esperanza Riding Company offers a guided 2 hour horseback riding tour of the Esperanza area. The tour rides through hills, open meadows, woods, river bottoms and 2 secluded beaches. The tour concludes with a walk through the waterfront pasture overlooking the south side of the island. A group trail ride is $80/person.

Don’t forget the necessities:

Body and Ocean Safe Sunscreen:

Snorkeling Gear: