Getting Here and Around

Air Travel

Air Flamenco. Air Flamenco flies daily from San Juan's Isla Grande Airport to Vieques and Culebra, and charters from SJU International Airport. 787/724-1818 or 787/724-1105. www.airflamenco.net.

Vieques Air Link. Vieques Air Link flies daily from San Juan's Luis Muñoz International Airport, nearby Isla Grande Airport, and eastern Ceiba to Vieques and Culebra. There is a direct flight between Vieques and Culebra. Round-trip prices range from $60 to $230 depending on season. Charters are also available at higher prices. 888/901-9247. www.viequesairlink.com.

Cape Air. Cape Air flies between SJU International Airport and Vieques. 866/Cape-Air or 508/771-6944. www.flycapeair.com.

These companies also fly from Ceiba (Fajardo). Flights from San Juan are 20 to 30 minutes, and one-way fares are between $60 and $100; flights from Ceiba are about 10 minutes with one-way fares between $25 and $40. Small propeller planes that hold up to nine passengers are used.

Most international travelers fly from San Juan's Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Muñoz Marín (SJU) or Aeropuerto Fernando L. Rivas Dominici (SIG; more commonly known as Aeropuerto Isla Grande). Most of the companies that fly from San Juan also fly from Ceiba's Aeropuerto José Aponte de la Torre (RVR) about 7 mi (12 km) south of Fajardo.

Car Travel

It's nearly impossible to see either island without renting a car. Scooters are another option, especially on Culebra, but not if you're headed to the beach. Road conditions and local driving habits are spotty. Both islands have local agencies, including several that specialize in SUVs. Rates are between $40 and $80 a day. It's cheaper to book a hotel-rental car package.

Ferry Travel

Puerto Rico Ports Authority. The Puerto Rico Ports Authority runs passenger ferries from Fajardo to Culebra and Vieques. Service is from the ferry terminal in Fajardo, about 90 minutes' drive from San Juan, and costs approximately $2-$3. 800/981-2005. www.dtop.gov.pr.

Car ferries also link Fajardo to Vieques and Culebra, but rental agencies won't let you take their vehicles between the mainland and islands. A municipal parking lot next to the ferry costs $5 a day. No ferries link Vieques and Culebra.

There's limited seating, so arrive about an hour ahead of the departure time. The Ports Authority claims to take phone reservations daily from 8 to 11 and 1 to 3, but it's difficult to get anyone to answer this number.

Fajardo Terminal. Schedules change often, and ferries are often canceled due to bad weather. Call the Fajardo Terminal to confirm before you plan your trip. 787/860-2005.