Come prepared. The island has few of the conveniences that let you improvise.

Roads and beaches

The most photographed beaches sit inside the National Wildlife Refuge at the end of unpaved, rutted roads. You need a high-clearance vehicle to reach several of them.

Most beaches have no lifeguards, bathrooms, or vendors. Bring your own water and shade, and carry your trash back out.

Renting a vehicle

Rent on the island, since the cargo ferry puts residents first. Book well ahead, because the fleet is small.

Groceries: know before you go

The island has two grocery stores, both with limited hours, and one closes at the weekend. Stock arrives by barge, so selection swings and prices run high. Bring a cooler of staples from the mainland if your rental has a kitchen.

Connectivity

Cell and internet coverage drops off outside the two towns.

Closed areas

The U.S. Navy used Vieques as a live-fire training range for six decades. Crews are still clearing unexploded ordnance from parts of the former range, and those areas stay closed. Do not climb a fence or a marked boundary in the refuge, and leave any metal object you find on a remote beach where it lies. The open beaches, including the famous ones, are patrolled and safe.

The vibe check

Wild horses roam free and have right of way (they know it, too).
Cards work in most places, but outages happen, so carry cash.
Posted hours are a suggestion, which is why each listing here carries the date we checked it.