Esperanza Anchorage (Vieques)

18° 5.5′ N · 65° 28.4′ W · approximate

The cruisers' anchorage on Vieques' Caribbean coast: Puerto Real bay off the village of Esperanza, sheltered by Cayo Real and the cays offshore, with the malecón's bars, restaurants and bio-bay tour shops a short dinghy ride away.

British Virgin Islands US Virgin Islands Spanish Virgins

Practical

Position is approximate: in the bay between the Esperanza malecón and Cayo Afuera, using the NOAA Esperanza tide station at the pier (18.0939 N, 65.4714 W) and OpenStreetMap islets as reference. Noonsite (September 2020): no public moorings; the usual anchorage is Puerto Real Bay; depths off the town are less than charted; public dinghy dock at the east end of the anchorage. Coast Pilot 5: Puerto Real gives good anchorage in ordinary weather in 15 to 25 ft, partly protected by Punta de Tierra and Cayo Real; vessels can anchor in 35 ft about 550 yards west of Cayo Real; a large area with 13 to 15 ft lies 0.7 mile south of Cayo Real and 0.9 to 1.3 miles west-southwest of its south end. Sail Caribe (2026 FAQ): the moorings on the west side of Cayo Real, marked 'Caribe', cost US$25 per day, cash only, paid to the field operator; private moorings appear from time to time (Noonsite). Dinghy and outboard theft is a recurring problem: thieves carry bolt cutters, so lift and lock at night and lock ashore (Noonsite 2017; reports in 2016). Tidal range is tiny, about 0.7 ft (NOAA). Exposed to winds and swell from the south.

Esperanza Anchorage (Vieques)

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