Islands and cays near Fajardo
Cordillera cays nature reserve
Look east from Fajardo and the horizon is dotted with small green-and-gold cays. Together they form La Cordillera, a protected nature reserve of uninhabited islets and reefs. It is the source of the area's best clear-water day trips, and the reason that water stays so clear in the first place.
Essential details
- Type
- Protected nature reserve
- Made up of
- Uninhabited cays and reefs
- Managed by
- Puerto Rico DRNA
- Access
- Boat only
- Wildlife
- Seabirds, turtles, reefs
- Visitor rule
- Leave no trace
What the reserve is
La Cordillera is a chain of small, uninhabited cays and reefs that runs east from Fajardo's coast, protected as a natural reserve. The cays themselves are low and undeveloped, but the water around them is the headline: clear, shallow, and full of life. Because the whole area is protected, it has kept the qualities that make it special, and visiting comes with a simple expectation that you leave it exactly as you found it.
The cays
The best known is Cayo Icacos, the largest cay and the usual day-trip target, with white sand and good snorkeling. Smaller cays such as Cayo Lobos and Cayo Diablo dot the same stretch, and the private island of Palomino, with tiny Palominito, sits nearby. Most are simply places to anchor, swim, and snorkel rather than destinations with anything built on them.
Wildlife and why it is protected
The reserve exists to protect a living system, not just a pretty view. The cays and their waters support seabirds, nesting sea turtles, and coral reefs, and the protected status overseen by Puerto Rico's Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (the DRNA) helps keep those habitats intact. For visitors, that translates into a few easy habits: keep your distance from wildlife, avoid touching or standing on coral, and carry out everything you bring.
How to visit responsibly
- Go by boat. Catamaran day sails, charters, and water taxis leave from the Fajardo marinas.
- Bring everything, take everything back. There are no facilities on the cays.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen and avoid contact with the coral and seagrass.
- Give wildlife space, especially nesting birds and turtles. See our snorkeling guide for in-water tips.
Cordillera cays FAQ
La Cordillera is a protected nature reserve made up of a chain of small uninhabited cays and reefs that stretch east from Fajardo. It is known for clear water, snorkeling, and wildlife, and it is reached only by boat.
The chain includes Cayo Icacos, the largest and most visited, along with smaller cays such as Cayo Lobos, Cayo Diablo, and others. The nearby private island of Palomino and the tiny cay of Palominito sit in the same stretch of water.
It is a protected natural reserve overseen by Puerto Rico's Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, known by its Spanish initials DRNA. Visitors are asked to protect the cays, reefs, and wildlife by leaving no trace.
The cays and surrounding waters support seabirds, nesting sea turtles, and coral reefs, which is a key reason for the reserve's protected status. Keeping your distance and carrying out all trash helps keep these habitats healthy.
By boat only, on catamaran day sails, charters, or water taxis from the Fajardo marinas. There are no facilities on the cays, so bring water, food, sun protection, and snorkel gear, and take everything back with you.
Cayo Icacos is the largest cay in the chain and the usual day-trip target, with white sand and good snorkeling. Smaller cays such as Cayo Lobos and Cayo Diablo dot the same stretch of protected water nearby.
The cays are uninhabited and undeveloped, with no facilities of any kind, and the area is a protected reserve overseen by Puerto Rico's DRNA. Plan to visit for the day, leave no trace, and carry out everything you bring.