Travel guide F.A.Q.
Q: What should I wear for the ceremony?
We want you to be comfortable. The ceremony and the meal will be outside which means it will be hot. We will be wearing (somewhat) traditional wedding attire. For men, light slacks and any style collared shirt will be fine, though short sleeves are probably going to be more comfortable unless you are on that linen game. For women, we assume you know what you are doing. Please note that we will not be forcing you to trek to a beach in fancy clothes and that the ceremony will be on a solid ground outside the Malecon House hotel.
Q: Are kids welcome?
We (probably) love your kids, but due to the remote nature of the island and limited space, we are requesting an adults-only weekend. Please reach out to us if you would like to discuss further.
Q: Why Puerto Rico? It's kind of far and expensive
We will take no offense if you are not able to join us for whatever reason. We know it’s expensive and far and even a bit difficult. We really wanted to celebrate in Vieques, even though that meant it has to be a smaller group and some people we really love won't be there with us. It's not you, it's us. And after the hurricane, it became even more important to us that we go support and celebrate the beautiful place that is Puerto Rico. And even though we have made a home together in Atlanta, Camila spent her first 18 years in San Juan and still calls it home. Scott has made the difficult sacrifice of adopting it as home too.
Q: Is there a reception?
Technically, yes, but it will be very low key. After the ceremony, we'll walk three blocks to El Blok for dinner and drinks. There won't be assigned seats, entertainment or any announcements, but we will have plenty of food and an open bar. Afterwards, we'll move on to various bars on the boardwalk.
Q: I can’t find your registry?
Correct. Joining us on a dot in the middle of the Caribbean is a fantastic gift to us.
Q: How's cell and wi-fi service on Vieques?
Malecon House and El Blok will have wi-fi. Private rentals will vary. Cell service is spotty even for 787 numbers. Non-787 numbers may have service but will be roaming. Verizon will get texts and calls at the Vieques airport and a few of the beaches.
Q: Who is invited to the welcome dinner?
You are! No seriously, all of our guests are invited to join us. We hope you can get there by Thursday or earlier and get settled in. If your plans work out otherwise, not to worry, we'll be relaxing just as hard the rest of the weekend.
Q: I'm not renting a car, how do I get from the Vieques island airport or ferry dock to Esperanza?
The ferry arrives 3 times a day and the small turbo-props land about 8 times a day. There is generally at least 1 cab driver waiting at the respective terminals. This "cab" may be an 75 year old man with a passenger van. He may also take the day off, so be sure to keep us posted on your travel plans so someone can pick you up if needed. You can save our numbers as well as the number of your hotel who can get you a cab if there isn’t anyone waiting.
Q: What about cabs on the main island?
There will be normal taxi lines at both Isla Grande (SIG in San Juan) and San Juan International (SJU in San Juan). Cabs going to Fajardo (port) and La Ceiba (eastside airport) will be no problem from San Juan. Catching a cab from non-San Juan facilities may involve more planning / waiting / improvising depending on the day.
Q: Your plans seem vague, will that change as the dates approach?
There will be some additional details provided but in general the idea is a loose, relaxed long weekend. We'll have a dinner or two planned together. We'll have the bio bay kayak on Friday night when the moon is best. We'll snorkel some on Sunday. Otherwise we'll pick a beach each day and let everyone know where we're going. Everyone is free to choose their own adventure. We will be on Vieques from Wednesday evening 5/29 until the morning of Wednesday 6/4. We’ll be at the Malecon House the whole time and want to see you!
Q: How do I get around Vieques in my rental car?
Download Google Maps Offline Mode for Vieques. That will give you general directional GPS. There are not a ton of paved roads so if you are going in the right direction, you'll figure it out.
Q: I don't like kayaking, should I skip the bio bay tour?
We would implore you to re-consider but it definitely does involve lots of time on the water in the dark. We literally planned the wedding around the moon calendar so we think it’s kind of cool. The tour will involve some bumpy roads and about 2 hours of light kayaking but the bio-luminescent effect is something you will never forget.
Q: What are my packing essentials?
Swim suit, beach attire, ceremony attire, bug spray and sun tan lotion. You can get the last two items in town if needed. No passport needed.
Q: What type of supplies can I buy in the town of Esperanza?
There are two little market stores in the town. Beyond very basic food stuffs you can expect bug spray, sun tan lotion and alcohol to be available but not much else.
Q: What's the credit card situation?
Many places do accept credit card, primarily Visa/Mastercard, though cash is preferred. There is at least one ATM in town.
Q: Can I help with recovery from Hurricane Maria?
https://www.generosity.com/emergencies-fundraising/maria-puerto-rico-real-time-recovery-fund
This is a fund raiser being run by a reputable local charity. It is a U.S. 501(c)(3) so any donations are tax deductible. All dollars will go directly to Puerto Rico. For a Vieques-focused charity, please see here: Vieques Love
Q: What will the weather be like?
It will be in the 85 during the day and 81 during the evening with approximately 7000% humidity. Plan accordingly.
Q: Can I bring my eco-friendly bug spray instead of the DEET stuff?
If you want to have 23 mosquito bites per hour after dark, you are welcome to use the weak stuff. There is a strong bug spray available at the Tienda Verde and we will plan to have some extra as well. We will be distributing eco-friendly bug spray for the bio-bay kayaking as DEET is harmful for the bay.
Q: What should I do on Vieques besides celebration stuff?
Typical water activities including snorkeling, scuba, paddle-boarding, as well as jet ski rentals and boat tours
Horseback tours, bike tours and other hiking tours if you like to adventure
Playa Negra (Black Sand Beach) is a great little expedition - just wear waterproof shoes as you hike through a creek
The lighthouse in the wildlife refuge is a fun (brief) visit. Turn right immediately upon entering the refuge
On the other side of the island is Mosquito Pier which can be fun to walk down
Sugar Mill Ruins are on the west coast of the island and look like a cool visit, if a bit hard to find. Near those ruins are “los bunkers” which some military buffs may enjoy
There is a small fort and some low-key museums but nothing must-see on that front. Shopping is very limited
Beyond that, mostly relaxing on the various beaches and coves and exploring little dirt roads
Q: If I plan to spend time on the main island of Puerto Rico, what areas or activities should I consider?
El Yunque national forest in the northeast is full of gorgeous hikes and the tallest peak in Puerto Rico
Old San Juan is a delightful place to spend the day and evening shopping, eating and dancing
There is world-famous zip-lining less than an hour from San Juan
Rincon is a sleepy town on the west coast know for sea glass, whale watching and surfing
Arecibo, 90 minutes from San Juan, is home to one of the largest radio telescopes in the world and is familiar from the penultimate scene in the James Bond movie Goldeneye
Camuy Caverns, 90 minutes from San Juan, is a huge underground cave complex that is worth a visit
In San Juan, we recommend staying and visiting Old San Juan (for history, shopping, food), Ocean Park (best city beaches) or Condado (best shopping, restaurants and major hotels)
Q: I have an overnight stay in San Juan. Any hotel recommendations?
We have stayed at O:Live Boutique Hotel in Condado and give it 9/10 stars. It is gorgeous.
We have stayed at Dream Inn in Ocean Park. It is very cute and friendly and close to the beach. Slightly less comfy than a luxury or chain hotel. We’ve also found some great AirBNBs in Ocean Park.
El Convento in Old San Juan is gorgeous and famous and worth a stay, but probably best suited for a multi-night stay so you can enjoy it properly.
La Concha is a famous hotel in Condado. You will see it from the sky if you fly out of VQS.
There are many other national chain hotels (AC Hotel, Marriott, Caribe Hilton, Hyatt Place, etc). Agoda and AirBNB will have lots of great options as well, though for a 10pm arrival and 10am checkout a private rental will be more hassle than it is worth.
Q: Where is the Vieques airport?
Q: Where is the Malecon Hotel?
Q: What's the deal with the big green Wildlife Refuge?
That's the area the U.S. Navy seized for artillery training and kept locals out of for decades. It's now a preserved nature park that's open 730a - 630p. Many of the most pristine beaches are inside this refuge even though most of the refuge is still closed to the public.
Q: C'mon man. Is it really that rustic and remote?
Yes. And that is the magic of it.
Q: What does "Island Time" really mean?
Come visit with us and find out.
Q: Where is the most accessible beach in the Wildlife Refuge?
Playa Caracas / Red Beach - this is the only beach a cab will take you as the road is paved all the way.