The Costco Connection

Rico, but it may not be your only ;ight. My
long-standing go-to destination in Puerto
Rico is 8 miles off the coast: the idyllic,
21-square-mile Isla de Vieques. This tiny
island was managed by the U.S. Navy for sev-
eral decades—meaning it was o;-limits to
tourists and developers. ;e legacy le; by our
military is a sobering one: The inhabited
island was the site of aggressive naval test-
bombing and training exercises for 60 years.
But in 2003, things turned around. ;e U.S.
Navy stopped the bombing, le; the island and
turned the land over to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. A massive cleanup ensued,
and now, more than 10 years later, Vieques has
returned to being a pristine, rugged wildlife
refuge under strict management.

You can get there by a 30-minute ;ight or 40-minute ferry ride. And once on Vieques you can hop into a jeep to escape to the uncrowded beaches. ;e beauty of Vieques is that if you’re looking for footprints in the sand, just turn around. Because it’s likely the only footprints out there are the ones you made.

One of the most incredible local experiences on Vieques is spotting the wild horses that roam the island. ;ey’re the descendants of the horses that were brought to Vieques by conquistadors early in the 16th century.

And you definitely don’t want to miss Mosquito Bay on the southern shore of Vieques, which has one of the highest concen-

The Costco Connection Costco Travel offers a variety of packages to Puerto Rico. Just click "Travel" at Costco.com or call 1-877-849-2730.

trations of bioluminescence in the world. Paddle through the mangrove tunnel by kayak or pontoon at night and you’ll be greeted by the brilliant glow of hundreds of living organisms that populate the bay.

Accommodations on Vieques range from charming local villas up to the upscale W Hotel, with a very cool bar scene that starts right a;er lunch and doesn’t quit.

Bring your sunscreen. Bring your favorite books. And enjoy—more or less—your own private island. C

Peter Greenberg is the multiple Emmy Award–winning travel editor for CBS News and host of The Travel Detective on public television. Check your local listings.

RUM WITH A VIEW

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ST. RE GI S B A HI A B EA C H RE S OR T, P U ER TO RIC O

Bahia Beach, Puerto Rico

sports &
recreation

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