Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Bahía de
^
Green Beach
Fosforescente
This bay
(above)
seems
to come alive at night -
bioluminescent micro-
organisms glow when
the water is disturbed.
Go on a kayak trip to see
for yourself
(see p110)
.
%
Vieques Wildlife
This strip of white
sand fringes turquoise,
coral-filled waters that
are great for snorkeling
and kayaking
(below)
.
Beware currents that can
pull swimmers into the
Pasaje de Vieques channel.
Refuge
Covering 28 sq miles
(72 sq km), this preserve
protects beaches, coastal
lagoons, mangrove
wetlands, and upland
semi-deciduous forests.
&
Blue Beach
Once a setting for the
US Navy's amphibious
assault manoeuvers, this
stunning beach
(below)
is
now entirely peaceful.
Rent a kayak and row out
to a serene cay.
*
Siddhia
Hutchinson
Art Gallery
The studio-gallery
(left)
of local artist Siddhia
Hutchinson is a good
place to purchase
prints, textiles, and
ceramics inspired by
the natural world of
Puerto Rico.
Red Flag Day
Vieques was used for
decades by the US Navy
for gunnery practice.
On days when shooting
was in progress, red
flags were hoisted to
warn locals that the
beaches were off limits.
The residents protested
for years, and the
disagreement came to
a head in 1999 after a
local guard was killed
by an errant bomb. The
bombardment ceased
in 2003 when the navy
pulled out of Vieques.
(
Scuba Diving
)
Laguna Kiani
Dive sites off the
south shore include Blue
Tank Reef, a 2-mile (3-km)
coral reef in clear waters,
and Las Tres Rocas, where
the reef is packed with
corals and sponges and
inhabited by moray eels.
This wetland
ecosystem comprises a
large mangrove forest.
Manatees
(see p54)
can
sometimes be seen in
the water here, and
bulldog bats skim the
surface for fish at night.
17
For information on excursions to Vieques
See p110
.
