Plan your trip
Ferry to Culebra and Vieques from Ceiba
The ferry is the affordable, scenic way to reach Culebra and Vieques. The one thing to get right before anything else: it leaves from Ceiba, not Fajardo. Here is how the service works, how to book, and what to expect at the terminal.
Essential details
- Departs
- Ceiba Ferry Terminal
- Not from
- Fajardo
- Routes
- Vieques and Culebra
- Crossing
- About an hour
- Tickets
- Book online, in advance
- At terminal
- Photo ID, arrive early
It leaves from Ceiba, not Fajardo
This trips up more visitors than anything else. The passenger ferry to Culebra and Vieques departs from the Ceiba Ferry Terminal, on the grounds of the former Roosevelt Roads naval base on the east coast. The service moved here from Fajardo in 2018, and the old Fajardo terminal no longer runs ferries. If you are staying in Fajardo, Ceiba is a short drive south. Set your navigation to the Ceiba terminal, not Fajardo.
Booking tickets
Tickets are sold in advance online through the official Puerto Rico Ferry service. Demand is high and seats are limited, so popular dates and times, especially weekends, holidays, and the summer season, can sell out quickly. The service also prioritizes island residents. The practical takeaway is to book as far ahead as the system allows and to have a backup plan for busy dates. Check current schedules, fares, and the advance-booking window on the official site:
Official Puerto Rico Ferry site (schedules, fares, and tickets).
At the terminal
- Arrive early. Plan to be at the terminal at least an hour before departure; check-in closes before the boat leaves.
- Bring photo ID. The name on your ticket should match your ID.
- Allow time to park. Parking near the terminal fills up on busy days.
- Foot passengers. The passenger ferry is for people, not rental cars; vehicle service is limited and resident-priority.
Crossing and weather
The crossing runs roughly an hour, varying with the route and the vessel. Service is weather-dependent and can be disrupted in rough seas, so build a little flexibility into a day trip rather than scheduling tight connections around it.
Planning your island day
Once you have the ferry sorted, plan the island itself. See our guides to a Culebra day trip and a Vieques day trip, and the wider islands and cays overview. For getting to the region in the first place, see getting to Fajardo.
Ceiba ferry FAQ
From the Ceiba Ferry Terminal on Puerto Rico's east coast, not from Fajardo. The service moved to Ceiba in 2018, and the old Fajardo terminal no longer runs ferries, so head to Ceiba.
Buy tickets in advance online through the official Puerto Rico Ferry site. Popular dates sell out quickly, especially weekends, holidays, and summer, so book as far ahead as the system allows.
Roughly an hour, varying a little by route and by whether you are on a faster or slower vessel. It is the affordable and scenic way to reach the islands compared with flying.
Generally no. The passenger ferry is for foot passengers, and vehicle service is limited and prioritizes residents. Plan to explore Culebra or Vieques without a car, or arrange a rental once you are on the island.
A photo ID that matches the name on your ticket. Arrive at the terminal at least an hour before departure, since check-in closes before the boat leaves and the service gives priority to island residents.
The Ceiba Ferry Terminal sits a short drive south of Fajardo, on the grounds of the former Roosevelt Roads naval base. Set your navigation to the Ceiba terminal, not Fajardo, and allow time to park, since lots fill up on busy days.
Yes, service is weather-dependent and can be disrupted in rough seas. We suggest building flexibility into a day trip rather than scheduling tight connections around it, and checking the official Puerto Rico Ferry site for the latest status.