41 miles (66km) E of San Juan, 7 miles (11km) SE of Fajardo
About 7 miles (11km) east of the big island of Puerto Rico lies Vieques (Bee-ay-kase), an island about twice as large as New York's Manhattan, with about 9,300 inhabitants and some 40 palm-lined white-sand beaches.
From World War II until 2003, about two-thirds of the 21-mile (34km) long island was controlled by U.S. military forces. Much of the government-owned land is now leased for cattle grazing.
Unlike the U.S. military, the Spanish conquistadores didn't think much of Vieques. They came here in the 16th century but didn't stay long, reporting that the island and neighboring bits of land held no gold and were, therefore, las islas inutiles (the useless islands). The name Vieques comes from the native Amerindian word bieques meaning "small island."
The Spaniards later changed their minds and founded the main town, Isabel Segunda, on the northern shore. Construction on the last Spanish fort built in the New World began here around 1843, during the reign of Queen Isabella II, for whom the town was named. The fort, never completed, is not of any special interest. The island's fishermen and farmers conduct much of their business here. The Punta Mula lighthouse, north of Isabel Segunda, provides panoramic views of the land and sea.
On the south coast, Esperanza, once a center for the island's sugar-cane industry and now a pretty little fishing village, lies near Sun Bay (Sombe) public beach. Sun Bay, a government-run, panoramic crescent of sand, is the beach to visit if you have only 1 day to spend on the island. The fenced area has picnic tables, a bathhouse, and a parking lot. A resort, marina, and other facilities add to the allure of the many scalloped stretches of sandy waterfront.
