Ferry Boat

Transportation to the Fajardo Ferry Dock

Casa de Kathy recommends Travel with Padin shuttle service to take you from San Juan International Airport (or anywhere in San Juan) and bring you to Fajardo to get the ferry boat.  Call Ilca, who speaks English, and will take away all your worries about the commute to Vieques.  Please tell her I referred you.  They are willing to take calls almost anytime of the day or night.

Travel with Padin:  787-644-3091
Padin’s charges for the trip from San Juan to Fajardo ferry dock: 1 person = $60.00, 2 people = $65.00, 3-5 people = $70.00.  An extra $5.00 is charged to go to the Ceiba airport.  If you decide to take a taxi waiting at the curb at the airport, the price will be about $90 per couple and $2 per bag.

The ride from the San Juan airport to the Fajardo ferry dock takes about an hour and ten minutes depending on the traffic.  So keep this in mind when planning what ferry to take.  Ilca will tell you a good estimate of what time you will get to the dock.   Ferry Schedule.

Padin’s drivers are willing to stop on the way if you want to eat something and sometimes will take you on the scenic route (along the coast).  Travel with Padin can also take you from Fajardo back to the San Juan airport or to a San Juan hotel.

You should plan to be at the dock about an hour before the ferry leaves.  Ask for a round trip ticket which will cost $4.00.  The ferry service can have delays.  Rarely (for example, weekend mornings during the summer months), it will be full and you would have to wait for the next boat.  Residents are given preference in this case.  Again, this very rarely happens.

The alternative to the ferry is to take a taxi to the Ceiba airport which is nearby.  The last flight is at 5:30 PM.  They usually will run as many flights as necessary to get all the standby passengers to Vieques.

The ferry trip to Vieques takes about one and a quarter hours. The flight from San Juan International or the San Juan city airport takes about 30 minutes to arrive in Vieques.  The flight from Ceiba airport takes about 8 minutes.

Map of the ferry route from Fajardo to Vieques

There are public vans (carros publicos in Spanish) waiting at the dock or airport in Vieques to take you to my place.  The fare is $3 per person to Esperanza or $9-10 for two people if you hire the van to take you directly with no other passengers.  An additional 50 cents per bag may be charged.  Tell your driver you are going to Casa de Kathy in Esperanza.  The address is 367 Bromelias Street and says “Casa de Kathy” on the front of the house.  My house is a turquoise green with yellow trim.

Driving directions from the ferry boat to Casa de Kathy

For many reasons, you CANNOT bring a rental car from Fajardo to Vieques.  Car rental companies do not allow it and the cargo ferry must be reserved sometimes weeks in advance.

Flying directly to Vieques from San Juan is another good alternative.

• Vieques Air Link and Cape Air fly from San Juan International airport to Vieques.  The charge about $85-$100 each way.
• Vieques Air Link and Air Flamenco fly from Isla Grande airport (the San Juan city airport).  The one-way fare is about $54.00

You can also fly from the Ceiba airport (10 minutes drive from the ferry dock) for about $22-26 one way.

Ferry Schedule (“la lancha”)

You can buy your tickets in advance but usually this is not necessary.  The exception to this is weekend mornings leaving Fajardo when the ticket line can be long and tedious.

Passenger fee is $2.00 per person one way. You can ask for a round trip ticket for $4.00.

The passenger ferry carries only passengers.  The cargo boat carries passengers and cargo and runs during weekdays only.

Monday to Friday Ferry schedule

• Departs Vieques: 6:00 am (cargo boat), 6:30 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm (cargo boat), 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm (passenger and cargo boat)
• Departs Fajardo: 9:30 am, 1:00 pm, 4:30 pm, 8:00 pm

Saturday, Sunday and Holidays that fall on Monday

• Departs Vieques: 6:30 am, 1:00 pm, 4:30 pm
• Departs Fajardo: 9:00 am, 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm

The cargo ferry might leave earlier if all car reservations are on board.

The Vieques ferry office run by the Maritime Transportation Authority (ATM) is rarely answered.   You must go in person to make reservations or to buy tickets.  ATM/ Vieques Port:  800-981-2005.

There are public vans (“carros publicos” in Spanish) waiting at the dock or airport in Vieques to take you to my place.  When you get off the ferry boat, go to the curb and say you want transportation to Esperanza.  The fare is $3 per person to Esperanza.   An additional 50 cents per bag may be charged.
If you hire the van to take you directly with no other passengers, the trip to Esperanza would be $9-10 for two people.    Once in the van, tell your driver you are going to Casa de Kathy in Esperanza.   The address is 367 Bromelias Street and says “Casa de Kathy” on the front of the house.  My house is a turquoise green with yellow trim.  More information on transportation around Vieques.