Palominos, Fajardo /Frazier Nivens
East April-2005, By:Travel and Sports Staff
Experience the Eastern Side
Luquillo, Fajardo, Vieques
There is always lots going on in the East. Here is the short list: Loíza (bomba y plena), Canóvanas (the racetrack), Río Grande (fabulous golf courses and El Yunque, the Caribbean National Forest), Luquillo (the best-known beach on the Island, Balneario de Luquillo), Fajardo (day sailing to the cays of Icacos, Palominos and Palominitos), Culebra and Vieques (exquisite beaches), Ceiba (the Ceiba Forest), Naguabo (the seaside boardwalk), Humacao (a strip of excellent seafood restaurants), Juncos and Las Piedras (local artisans), Yabucoa (Lucía Beach) and Maunabo (the start of the Luis Muñoz Marín Route).
Luquillo
Luquillo offers one of the most stunning beaches and outstanding Balnearios in all of Puerto Rico. The Balneario de Luquillo is a mile-long stretch of sculpted sand set against a backdrop of massive palm trees. For travelers with special needs, the Sea Without Barriers complex at the east end of the beach is designed to provide all the facilities necessary to make the waters of Puerto Rico as accessible as possible. This includes specially trained full-time staff working with equipment custom-designed for this facility. For a quick local snack, try one of the food kiosks just outside the entrance to the Balneario.
Fajardo
Known as "La Metrópolis del Este" (Metropolis of the East), Fajardo is a major tourism and recreation area. The location is ideal, with easy access to the archipelago of Vieques, Culebra and the nearby day-sailing cays of Icacos, Diablo, Palominos and Palominitos. In addition, there are a number of large marinas in the area as well as an airport and a major nature preserve. The 316-acre Las Cabezas de San Juan nature preserve features a lighthouse that has been in continuous operation since 1882. The tour of this area includes the lighthouse, the mangroves and the Bioluminescent Lagoon. Reservations are required to enter the grounds and take the tour.
Fajardo is well known for its excellent day sailing, snorkeling and diving. The day-sailing trips normally take you to one of the nearby cays for a day of snorkeling, sun bathing and feasting (food and soft drinks are part of the deal). For the divers, there is excellent clear water all around the cays, with plenty to explore.
Vieques
In order to keep Vieques, the Spanish started the construction of Fortín Conde Mirasol in 1845. Used as both a barracks and a jail, the fort was never completed. The main building is finished, but the exterior fortifications were never completed. Today, the fort does protect an important treasure: the Vieques Art and History Museum and the Vieques Archives. The fort is open to visitors and well worth a trip. The fort may be found in Isabel Segunda, the town and ferry dock in the north-central part of Vieques.
In the south-central portion of Vieques you find Esperanza, a comfortable, low-key beachfront area. In addition to the restaurants along the shoreline, the Fideicomiso de Conservación e Historia (Vieques Conservation and Historic Trust) is headquartered here. For a real treat, take your budding naturalists on one of the electric boat trips to the Bahía Puerto Mosquito (one of the world's brightest bioluminescent bays). These bays are hard to describe. You just have to go. To the east of town is Balneario Sun Bay, one of the remarkable beaches available to visitors. Lastly, there is a huge amount of available diving and it gets relatively little use.
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East Article Archive
2007-04 Expore the East
2007-02 Driving to Fajardo
2005-08 Las Piedras, Maunabo, Vieques
2005-06 Loíza, Río Grande, Ceiba
2005-04 Luquillo, Fajardo, Vieques
2005-02 Culebra, Naguabo, Río Grande
2004-12 Canóvanas, Fajardo, Humacao
2004-10 Juncos, Luquillo, Naguabo
2004-08 Las Piedras, Maunabo, Yabucoa
2004-06 Loíza, Río Grande , Fajardo, Ceiba
2004-04 El Yunque, Vieques, Humacao, Canóvanas
2004-02 Fajardo, Flamenco Beach, Culebra, Icacos, Palomino, Palominitos, Diablo, International Regatta, Nagu
All Archives
 EAST - Sponsors & Marketplace
Accommodations
Culebra
Mamacitas Guest House 787-550-9071
Vieques
Inn on the Blue Horizon 787-741-3318
Diving & Snorkeling
Culebra
Casa del Mar PADI 5 Stars Dive Center 787-860-3483
Fajardo
Casa del Mar PADI 5 Stars Dive Center 787-860-3483
Pure Adventure 787-314-4347
Vieques
Casa del Mar PADI 5 Stars Dive Center 787-860-3483
Fishing
Fajardo
Castillo Tours, Fishing & Watersports 787-791-6195
Traveler Catamaran / Fajardo Tours 787-863-2821
Nature/Adventure
Culebra
Pure Adventure 787-314-4347
Fajardo
Ecoquest 787-616-7543
Pure Adventure 787-314-4347
Humacao
Pure Adventure 787-314-4347
Naguabo
Acampa Nature Adventures 787-706-0695
Río Grande
Acampa Nature Adventures 787-706-0695
Vieques
Pure Adventure 787-314-4347
Restaurants & Clubs
Vieques
Carambola 787-741-3318
Sailing & Watersports
Culebra
Casa del Mar Luxury Charters 787-860-3483
East Island Excursions 877-937-4386
Island Flyer 787-860-3434
Fajardo
Casa del Mar Luxury Charters 787-860-3483
Castillo Tours & Watersports 787-791-6195
East Island Excursions 877-937-4386
Island Flyer 787-860-3434
Traveler Catamaran / Fajardo Tours 787-863-2821
Luquillo
Castillo Tours & Watersports 787-791-6195
Vieques
Casa del Mar Luxury Charters 787-860-3483
East Island Excursions 877-937-4386
Island Flyer 787-860-3434
Sightseeing
Fajardo
Castillo Tours & Travel Services 787-791-6195
Luquillo
Castillo Tours & Travel Services 787-791-6195
Río Grande
Castillo Tours & Travel Services 787-791-6195
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