
Navio Beach, Vieques Island © www.elyunque.com
Fajardo, on the Atlantic Ocean east coast of Puerto Rico, is the
island's scuba diving Mecca. Dozens of boating companies offer
charters and diving excursions on a range of craft, most based at
the town's Puerto del Rey Marina, the largest marina in the
Caribbean. Besides having two beautiful beaches just minutes away
from town, there are also several uninhabited small islets just
offshore, surrounded by coral reefs, and the neighbouring islands
of Vieques and Culebra connected by ferry and air charters. Fajardo
is thus in striking distance of a variety of watersports
playgrounds.
Fajardo's forest-fringed public beaches, Seven Seas Beach and
Luquillo Beach, offer calm, clear waters ideal for snorkelling and
swimming, and are equipped with cafes, ablution blocks and
lifeguards.
For landlubbers, or those wanting a break from the ocean blue,
the area also sports El Yunque, the only tropical rain forest
administered by the United States National Forest Service, noted
for its biodiversity and stunning walking trails.
Fajardo town itself does not offer much in the way of
attractions, but it serves as an accommodation centre for this
delightful part of Puerto Rico. It is also a social hub for
holidaymakers thanks to the presence of the luxurious Wyndham El
Conquistador resort, which has a lively casino and world-class golf
course.
Attractions
Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve
Located on three promontories on the extreme northeast corner of
the island, Las Cabezas reserve is one of the most beautiful and
bio-diverse natural areas in Puerto Rico. The reserve is close to
Fajardo, a major marina and diving resort, about an hour's... see full details
Excursions
Caribbean National Forest (El Yunque)
The Caribbean National Forest, 35 miles (56km) east of San Juan,
is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Park
system and was named El Yunque by the Spanish. Its 28,000 acres
contain about 240 different species of tree and numerous... see full details
Culebra and Vieques
Dubbed 'the enchanted isles' Vieques and her smaller sister
Culebra lie off of Puerto Rico's east coast, accessible from San
Juan by air and from Fajardo by ferry. Both support a few thousand
friendly, laid-back inhabitants who live life peacefully and
slowly, enriching rather... see full details