How Take the Puerto Rico Ferry to Vieques from Ceiba

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Vieques is a gorgeous island off the main island of Puerto Rico that’s totally worth visiting! You can either take the ferry to Vieques or fly there. While flying would of course be more convenient, it’s also more expensive. So we’re going to talk all about taking the Puerto Rico Ferry.

Traveling to Vieques? Here’s our guide on the best beaches to visit on Vieques!

Plan Your Trip To Vieques!

Vieques has the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world. We booked this tour and loved it.
Find more Vieques tours here.
We loved this vacation rental with an infinity pool, lots of space, and beautiful views.
Want and easy way to play your trip to Puerto Rico? Check out this Puerto Rico Travel Guide.

What is the Puerto Rico Ferry?

The Puerto Rico Ferry is well…a ferry. Their routes run from San Juan to Cataño, from Ceiba (near Fajardo) to Culebra, and from Ceiba to Vieques. In this post we’re going to be specifically talking about the Ceiba to Vieques route.

Many locals depend on the ferry to get back and forth to and from the main island for work and errands. (We met someone on the ferry who was heading to a doctor’s appointment.)

But lots of tourists also use it to get to Vieques and Culebra. While you could fly, a one-way ferry ticket is just $2 per adult, so it can be the more economical option, especially if you are traveling with a family!

Walking across parking area on ferry to get to front of the boat — Boarding the Puerto Rico Ferry

Getting Tickets to the Puerto Rico Ferry

You can get tickets to the Puerto Rico Ferry online or in person. I definitely recommend getting tickets online ahead of time if you can, because the lines in-person can get long and they may sell out.

For some reason though, not all tickets are available online ahead of time. And if you want to get on a ferry that is sold out online, they often still have tickets available in person. (It lists on the website how many tickets are left at the box office.)

This is actually what we did with one of our ferry passages. We knew we had to be on a certain ferry in the morning to get back in time for a flight, so we went to the ferry terminal ahead of time (because we were in the area) and bought the tickets in-person several days in advance because the online tickets were sold out.

Types of Fares for the Ferry

The Puerto Rico Ferry has three types of ferries that run:

Passenger – As a tourist, this is most likely what you’ll want.
Cargo/Passenger – You can also take this as a tourist. This allows cars and passengers.
Cargo – This is only for cargo, so this one won’t apply to you.

Can I Take My Rental Car on the Ferry?

Generally, no. In Puerto Rico, your rental agreement usually states that your rental car cannot leave the main island.

Plus, you’ll want to make sure you have a 4WD or all-wheel-drive car for Vieques because the roads can be bumpy! So you’ll want to rent a separate car in Vieques.

Arriving at the Ceiba Ferry Terminal

Rows of folding chairs under a large pavilion tent — Seating area while you wait to board the ferry in Ceiba

You will want to arrive at the ferry terminal at least one hour before your ferry.

I was actually pretty impressed with the Ceiba Ferry Terminal. Although…terminal may not feel like quite the right word because it is all outside.

If you have a car when you arrive (which you most likely will because the terminal is pretty out of the way), there is a separate parking lot where you can park. They then have a shuttle van that runs back to the terminal. The cost to park is $15 a day.

If you need to buy tickets, you can do so at the ticket window. This is also a great time to stop for a bathroom break. They have portable trailer bathrooms but they are actually climate controlled and really nice!

Then show your ticket and make your way to the waiting area.

Before loading the ferry, they have everyone wait in rows of chairs. It is under a tent covering, but because this is Puerto Rico it can still be extremely warm, so be prepared.

Once it is time to load the ferry, they will call passengers up row by row to board. They will also have you leave your luggage around the perimeter of the seating area, so you may have to back track to get it.

Ferry Passage to Vieques

Rows of cushioned seating inside ferry, small windows, white ceilings — Inside the Puerto Rico Ferry

While the Puerto Rico Ferry website says that it takes 30 minutes to go from Ceiba to Vieques, it’s really closer to 45 minutes to an hour. So give yourself plenty of time on the other end.

There’s not really anything special about the ferry. You won’t be able to go outside (which is a disappointment in such a beautiful spot!). And windows will depend on the ferry. On one ferry we went upstairs for better views, but I still had to stand up to see out the windows.

Generally the ride was pretty smooth and it’s pretty slow going. But if you are prone to motion sickness, you may want to be prepared with medication or something like these motion sick patches.

Arriving at the Vieques Ferry Terminal

While I thought that Ceiba ferry terminal was spacious and easy to navigate, the Vieques ferry terminal is not.

First of all, it’s pretty small. And second of all, the Vieques ferry terminal kind of dumps you right onto the street in a busy part of Vieques. There’s not really a great waiting area to gather yourself or figure out where you are going. And when we got off the ferry, there were lots of people trying to pick up passengers in taxis, adding to the chaos.

My tip: Know where you’re going and be prepared to get out of the way.

Crowd of people standing under small tent on sidewalk, lots of people walking, lots of cars on small street next to people — The Vieques ferry terminal feels a bit more chaotic.

Coming Back from Vieques to Ceiba

Just like when you take the ferry to Vieques, I recommend buying your tickets ahead of time for the passage back to Ceiba.

Again, like in Ceiba, you’ll be waiting in a covered area in chairs for your turn to board the ferry. And again, it may be hot. So be prepared with maybe a handheld fan and definitely some water.

Tips for Riding the Puerto Rico Ferry

Here are some tips for a smoother experience riding the Puerto Rico Ferry:

Give yourself plenty of time. While the ferries were on time when we rode them, I have heard stories of delays due to mechanical issues. So patience may be required. You also need to arrive an hour before your scheduled departure time.
Be prepared with water and fans. The waiting areas in both Ceiba and Vieques can be really hot. So make sure to bring water and anything else you might want to keep yourself cool.
Pack light. You will need to carry your luggage on board with you.
Bring medication if you are prone to motion sickness. Even the people in our party who are prone to motion sickness were fine during our trip, but if you happen to have rougher seas you may want it. You just never know.