If you are traveling to Culebra or Vieques, your choices are to take the ferry out of Fajardo or to fly. If you choose to fly, you can depart from the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) in Carolina (commonly called the San Juan Airport), the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (SIG) in San Juan (commonly called the Isla Grande Airport), or the new Ceiba International Airport (RVR) in Ceiba (formerly called the José Aponte de la Torre Airport).

The Ceiba International Airport (RVR) opened at the end of November 2008. Located at the old Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Ceiba, this airport replaces the recently closed Diego Jiménez Torres Airport (FAJ) in Fajardo. For people who want to fly to Culebra, Vieques or even some of the other nearby islands (like the US Virgin Islands), flights from this smaller airport on the east coast are much more economical than flights from the airports in the San Juan area.

Getting to the Airport

If you’re driving from the San Juan area, you’ll want to take Route 66 east to Route 3 east toward Fajardo. In the Fajardo area, Route 3 becomes Route 53. Once you’re on Route 53, you’ll want to take Exit 2 (which is before the first toll booth), which is for Puerto del Rey marina. This will put you back on Route 3 heading south. Then, really all you need to do is follow the signs for the airport. You’ll continue on Route 3, and eventually you’ll turn left onto Tarawa Drive. Again, just follow the signs.

Since Ceiba International Airport is located on the old Roosevelt Roads Naval Base, you’ll come to a small guard house at the gate to the base. When we went, the guard just waved us past. Just continue to follow the road. You can’t go wrong. They’ve blocked all the side roads so there’s no choice as to what to do. Eventually, you’ll get to the airport terminal building.

If you need to park, there is hourly parking to the left near the building.

At the Airport

Inside the building, there are counters for four airlines: Air Flamenco, Isla Nena Air Services, M&N Aviation and Vieques Air Link. All of the airlines run planes back and forth to the Culebra Airport (CPX) and the Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (VQS) in Vieques (commonly called the Vieques Airport) on demand during daylight hours (roughly 6:00am to 6:00pm). Typical round-trip fares are less than $50 per person. Each of the airlines has a minimum number of passengers that they must have before they’ll do a flight. That means that you may have to wait for more people to show up before your flight will depart.

If you end up waiting, you’ll be happy that the airport has a snack bar and clean bathrooms.

There is a parking lot that is open 7 days a week 6:00am to 7:00pm. The parking fee is $1.00 for the first hour and 54¢ for each additional hour. The parking attendant only accepts cash.

Car Rentals

If you plan to return to the out-islands and need a rental car, World Car rental office at the Fajardo ferry dock. They will shuttle you from this airport to their office. You can call them directly at 787-885-9696 or 787-860-4808 for more information.

If you plan to return your rental car to the San Juan International Airport (SJU), use Avis car rental. They provide a shuttle from the Ceiba Airport to their office, just outside of the airport gate. Avis charges an extra fee for this one-way drop-off. When I called them about this, they said it was 11% of rental fee. You can call them directly at 787-885-0505 or 787-605-0166 for more information.

There is also a Thrifty Car Rental up the road a bit at the Puerto del Rey Marina. They also have a shuttle that will pick you up at the Ceiba Airport and they also sometimes have a one-way rental with return at San Juan International Airport (SJU). Their fee for this is $60. You can call them directly at 787-860-2030 for more information.

For more information about the services at the Ceiba Airport call 787-863-1011 or 787-534-4100.

For more information on Air Flamenco’s services, you can call 787-724-1818 or 787-721-7332, or check their web site.

For more information on Vieques Air Link’s services, you can call 787-534-4221, or check their web site.

For more information on M&N’s services, you can call 787-791-7090.

For more information on Isla Nena’s services, you can call 787-741-1577 or 787-741-6362.

We estimate the driving time from the San Juan area to the Ceiba Airport to be about 75 – 90 minutes.