Hidden Gems: A Spanish Virgin Islands Bareboat Charter Adventure

In sailing terms, the waters of the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean could be said to be the most crowded in the world yet just ten miles downwind from St. Thomas in the USVI there’s a hidden paradise – a group of islands that cruisers have forgotten and many bareboaters have yet to discover… the Spanish Virgin Islands. A Spanish Virgin Islands bareboat charter is the ideal way to experience the beauty and serenity of this hidden gem in the Caribbean.

The Spanish Virgin Islands or Passage Islands are a group of islands and reefs which lie fifteen miles to the east of Fajardo on Puerto Rico.

For many years they had been off limits to bareboat charters because they lay within territory reserved for the United States Navy which used the Islands for war games and bombing practice.

However, nowadays the Navy is no longer on Vieques and the islands are open to visitors and are awaiting rediscovery.

The island group covers an area of 400 square miles and consists of two main islands – Culebra and Vieques together with some twenty smaller outlying islands. They are all considered to be part of the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Like Puerto Rico, Columbus discovered them on his second voyage west in 1493. They eventually became a colony of Spain and were ceded by them to the USA in the treaty of Paris 1898.

This Caribbean cruising area can be divided into three separate locations, La Cordillera, Culebra together with its islands and Vieques. Each has its merits and attractions and it would be unwise in planning a comprehensive cruise not to include each area.

This twelve-mile chain of small islands and reefs stretches from a point just a mile or so off NE Puerto Rico southeastwards and is part of Puerto Rico’s East Coast Marine Reserve.

Diving and snorkeling while on a Spanish Virgin Islands bareboat charter is nothing short of fantastic and good bareboat anchorages can be obtained during winter months in the lee of the easterly trade winds. However, northerly swells and winds in excess of 15 knots can restrict the use of these cays to that of a day anchorage only.

Some of these islands are privately owned and some have facilities leased by local hotels but Spanish Virgin Islands bareboat charters are welcome providing privacy is respected.

There are mooring buoys in the area but even if these are intended for the use of local dive boats, no one seems to mind if you tie a dinghy to them so as to enjoy the beauty of the reef. None of these little islands offer anything in the way of supplies or services to visiting yachts, so make sure to bring your own.

Sailing Culebra and Off-Lying Islands

There are enough anchorages on this island and its small satellites to keep a serious bareboater going for weeks. There is a quiet and roll-free anchorage at the head of Ensenada Honda just off the main town of Culebra sometimes called Dewey but more often or not just named after the island.

The lagoon is the obvious choice as a hurricane hole but its reputation has been somewhat tarnished since Culebra took the full force of Hurricane Hugo in 1989.

The town, which was all but flattened by Hugo, is a delightful blend of Caribbean shanty and Spanish cultures. The centerpiece of which is the red and white lifting bridge, which spans the narrow boat canal.

The bridge is rumored to have lifted just once, on its day of inauguration some thirty odd years ago. It became stuck and remained in the open position for several days trapping cars on one side or another. The engineers finally managed to return the bridge to the closed position where it has remained ever since!

There are several small bars and restaurants, which appear to open or remain closed at their owner’s whim. Nothing seems to happen very fast here! The great thing is that because everything is centered on the harbor and canal, getting around by dinghy is very easy. Most essential things are available so long as you have a healthy dose of patience. After the bustle of the US Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico it is really rather refreshing.

Dakity Harbor is at the Southern end of the sound and is an idyllic anchorage protected from the swells by a pristine reef ideal for snorkeling upon.

Further east is another anchorage so perfect as to appear in the top ten of everyone’s Spanish Virgin Islands bareboat charter must-sees once they have visited it. Called Bahia de Almodovar, it is a tricky one to enter drawing anything over eight feet but once inside the rewards are spectacular. Clear blue water over a white sand bottom protected by a reef ensures another marina quality anchorage, even when the prevailing wind is blowing a steady twenty knots.

Of all the off-lying islands Culebrita is the largest and a visitor favorite. For the most part it is deserted. Scuba diving is great relaxation on a sailing vacation and you will find plenty of opportunities.

The waters of these islands are a diver’s dream; they are truly virgin reefs! You will dive in the company of turtles, rays and some enormous amberjacks.

The lobster season is open all the year round in these islands and the joy of catching your own Caribbean clawless lobster and plopping it on to a beach BBQ has to be tried before the true meaning of the word pleasure is learned.

There is a small lighthouse atop this rocky island and an early morning climb is highly rewarding. The view of other anchorages and islands is like watching an animated navigational chart. Truly spectacular!

Sailing Vieques

There are many wonderful anchorages here and Vieques also boasts an Ensenada Honda, which is amongst the prettiest of them. Bahia Salinas del Mar is another must see.

There is also a useful anchorage in the Western end of the island off the town of Esperanza. Here one anchors off town protected by an off lying cay and a peninsular of land.

Dinghy trips ashore are rewarded by a selection of good local restaurants, bars and shops for essential supplies. There is a good dive shop and in the next-door bay, a yellow sand beach, lined with palm trees is known locally as Sunbay. A great day to spend the day of rest.

Sailing in the Spanish Virgin Islands certainly does give one the impression of what life must have been like throughout the Caribbean some thirty or forty years ago. You will find the people friendly and helpful.

The official currency is the US dollar and both English and Spanish are spoken and understood.

Ice fuel and water are all available but not always easy to obtain when and where you might wish. Fresh vegetables can be a little sparse and we would advise that a good stock of fresh produce be brought for your charter, after that, one relies on impulse shopping when green leaves are spotted at road side stalls!

Visit these islands for their natural beauty, tranquility and the diving.

Should you wish to sample the delights of this hidden paradise a Spanish Virgin Islands bareboat charter on board a luxurious yacht is the perfect way to do just that. With crystal clear waters, sunny skies, and plenty of activities to keep you busy, it is sure to be an unforgettable experience. Contact us today to start planning your perfect Spanish Virgin Islands sailing vacation and experience this Caribbean gem for yourself!