Beaches
Kathy’s Snorkeling Guide to Vieques South Beaches
* Beaches are sandy unless otherwise noted
** There are no bathroom or snack bars unless otherwise noted.
*** Gazebos for shade are found only at Red, Blue, Green and Media Luna.
created by Casa de Kathy, 787-741-3352
Beaches walking Distance from Esperanza |
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| Map# | Name | Snorkeling | Difficulty | Notes |
| 1 | Esperanza Beach | 2 | 1 | Snorkel under the long pier and between the two piers, to see fish, turtles, rays |
| 2 | Cayo Afuera (Outside Key) | 1 | 3 | Snorkel to the left and right side of the Cayo. Do not swim to Cayo unless you are well-marked to avoid being hit by a boat. Or rent kayaks for $35 per day. |
| 3 | In front of Trade Winds | 2 | 1 | Enter the water in the sandy beach across from Banana’s and swim west past the Trade Winds. Lots of fish. |
| 4 | Coco Beach (Playa Cocal) | 2 | 3 | This beach can be accessed by a dirt road near the intersection of Calle Flamboyan & Calle Tintillos. You need water shoes or Tevas or fins to enter the water because it is a rocky coast. Be careful when there are waves. Good snorkeling is away from the shore in deep water in the middle of the bay. |
| 5 | Sun Bay | 3 | 1 | Good for swiiming. Some snorkeling in the middle of the bay where you see reefs along the shore. Also decent snorkeling on the far east (left) side but you have swim a distance to see the reefs. Fish & sea fans. |
| 6 | Media Luna | 3 | 1 | Decent snorkeling on the far east (left) side but you have swim a distance to see the reefs. Very shallow. Fish & sea fans. |
| 7 | Navio | 2 | 3 | Unless the sea is calm, you cannot snorkel much here. If sea is calm, it can be great snorkeling on the west (right) side. Deep water. |
| 8 | Black Sand Beach /Beaches west of Esperanza | 2 | 3 | All the beaches west of Esperanza can be rough and lined with reefs and shoes are needed. Be careful. |
Fish and Wildlife Refuge |
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| 9 | Red Beach (Playa Caracas) | 2 | 2 | Snorkel on the east side ( left). Go to the point where the waves start crashing on the rocks. Lots of great sea fans. |
| 10 | Playa Garcia (Playuela) | 1 | 3 | Snorkel on the island off the beach. Careful if there are waves. |
| 11 | Blue Beach (Playa la Chiva) | 1 | 2 | Start opposite Goat Island (La Chiva) and swim to the west side of staying away from the close end of the island because that is shallow. Many pretty things to see. In good weather you can swim all around the island – leave plenty of time to do that. |
| 12 | Secret Beach (Pata Prieta) | 2 | 1 | Snorkel on the west side (right) to see small reefs with fish. |
| 13 | Silver Beach (Playa Plata) | 1 | 2 | There are several places to snorkel – I am still exploring this area. |
Key
Snorkeling: 1 – Excellent, 2 – Good, 3 – OK, 4 – Poor.
Difficulty: 1 – Easy, 2 – Normal, 3 – Advanced.
