Things to do in Fajardo
Islands and cays near Fajardo
Step off Fajardo's coast and the water fills with islands. Just offshore, the small cays of the Cordillera reserve scatter across protected turquoise water. Further out lie Culebra and Vieques, two of Puerto Rico's most loved island escapes.
The closest are the Cordillera cays, a chain of uninhabited islets protected as a nature reserve. Cayo Icacos is the largest and the usual day-trip target, with white sand and clear snorkeling, reachable only by boat. Palomino, a private island off Las Croabas, and tiny Palominito round out the calm-water options.
For a bigger adventure, Culebra and Vieques are a ferry ride away. One important detail trips up a lot of visitors: that ferry now leaves from Ceiba, not Fajardo. The sections below break down each island and how to reach it.
In this section
Cayo Icacos
The largest Cordillera cay: how to get there, snorkeling, and what to bring.
Cordillera cays reserve
The protected chain of islets off Fajardo, its wildlife, and how to visit responsibly.
Culebra day trip
Flamenco Beach and snorkeling, plus how the Ceiba ferry and flights work.
Vieques day trip
Mosquito Bay, wild horses, and remote beaches, and how to get there.
Palomino and Palominito
The calm-water private island and its tiny neighbor, and how trips reach them.
Islands FAQ
Cayo Icacos is reachable only by boat. There is no public ferry, so visitors go by catamaran, charter, or water taxi from Fajardo's marinas. The island is uninhabited, so bring water, shade, and anything you need for the day.
No. Since October 2018 the passenger ferry departs from the Ceiba Ferry Terminal, not from Fajardo. Ceiba is a short drive south, on the grounds of the former Roosevelt Roads naval base.
Choose Culebra for Flamenco Beach, regularly ranked among the world's best, and easy snorkeling. Choose Vieques for Mosquito Bay, one of the brightest bioluminescent bays in the world, plus wild horses and remote beaches. Both are reached via the Ceiba ferry or a short flight.
Yes, by boat. Palomino is a private island off the Las Croabas coast reached by catamaran and charter trips, popular for calm swimming and snorkeling. Nearby Palominito is a tiny cay often included on the same trips.
The Cordillera cays are the easy answer. Cayo Icacos, the largest cay, has clear, sheltered water and nearby reef, while tiny Palominito is a favorite snorkeling stop. All sit in the protected reserve and are reached only by boat.
Not if you are traveling from the United States. Puerto Rico is a US territory, so US travelers need no passport and use the US dollar. The cays, Culebra, and Vieques are all reached without leaving US jurisdiction.
No. The Cordillera cays are uninhabited and undeveloped, with no shops, restrooms, or shade beyond what nature provides. Bring water, food, sun protection, and snorkel gear, and carry out everything you bring in.