Anchorage· Cayo Luis Peña· Virgin Islands (BVI, USVI and Spanish Virgins)
Cayo Luis Peña Anchorage
18° 17.8′ N · 65° 20.0′ W · approximate
An anchorage off the beach in the southwest corner of Cayo Luis Peña, the steep, uninhabited refuge island off Culebra's west side; the last stop before Culebra when coming from Fajardo.
Practical
Position is approximate: off the south-side beach mapped in OpenStreetMap (way 426928505), checked against OpenStreetMap coastline to be in water about 120 m off. The Virgintino guide (about 2015): the southwest corner has a decent area to anchor and a very nice beach; controlled by US Fish and Wildlife; late in the trade-wind season it can get quite rolly with the wind in the southeast. Coast Pilot 5 (ch. 13): good anchorage in ordinary trades between Cayo de Luis Peña and Culebra in 30–79 ft (avoid the rocky patch of 42–53 ft 0.6 mile west of Punta Melones); a fair anchorage in 40–55 ft about 0.3 mile off the northwest side of the cay. The island is a refuge unit: day use only, no overnight stays ashore (Wikipedia). Strong currents run through Canal de Luis Peña.
Best for
Lunch stop and snorkel at the refuge island
Season
Best in NE trades; rolly in SE winds