Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
with wind sculpted trees and impressive Vieques views. The most direct route there is to
walk east along the beach from the Esperanza pier.
Area Arqueológica Hombre de Puerto Ferro LANDMARK
You will find this site marked by a small sign on Hwy 997, east of Esperanza. About a half
mile east of the entrance to Sun Bay (Sombé balneario), take the dirt road on your left (it
heads inland). Drive for about two minutes on a rutted dirt road until you find the burial site
of the Indian known as the 'Hombre de Puerto Ferro'. Big boulders identify a grave where
a 4000-year-old skeleton (usually on exhibit at the Fortín) was exhumed. Little is known
about the skeleton, but archaeologists speculate that it is most likely the body of one of Los
Arcaicos (the Archaics), Puerto Rico's earliest known inhabitants; this racial group made a
sustained migration as well as seasonal pilgrimages to the Caribbean from bases in Florida.
Until the discovery of the Hombre de Puerto Ferro, many archaeologists imagined that
the Arcaicos had reached Puerto Rico sometime shortly after the birth of Christ; the presen-
ce of the remains on Vieques could push that date back nearly two millennia if controversy
surrounding the skeleton is resolved. Visitors can stop by the excavation site, but besides
the original boulders, there's not much to see.
Beaches
Vieques' beaches are as legendary as Culebra's - and there are more of them. Environment-
ally speaking, the US occupation was a blessing in disguise, in that it has left many of the
island's more remote beaches in an underdeveloped and pristine state. Now protected in a
national wildlife refuge, areas such as Bahía de la Chiva, Caracas and Green Beaches are
clean, untrammeled and paradisial. Others, encased in the former weapons-testing zones,
remain closed off and are, effectively, virgin territory. Closed roads leading to contamin-
ated areas are clearly marked as such, but if you have questions about whether an area is
safe, check with the USFish&WildlifeService( 787-741-2138; www.fws.gov/carib-
bean/refuges/vieques ) .
Unfortunately many of Vieques' beaches are prone to petty theft. No matter how remote
your beach, don't leave your valuables unguarded while you swim or snorkel, especially
on the beach in downtown Esperanza - they'll be gone in a heartbeat.
Ask locals for directions to Black Sand Beach between Esperanza and Playa Grande.
Playa Esperanza FAMILY BEACH
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