Catch the Ferry from Fajardo to Culebra or Vieques
Posted on May 7th, 2007 by Gwenn • Updated on Jul 2nd, 2010
As of July 2, 2010, there are 3 ferries "out of commission". Ferry transportation between Fajardo and Culebra/Vieques is currently being limited mostly to "locals of these islands". They have priority. Visitors to those islands should plan on flying or just staying on the "big island" and not visiting Vieques and/or Culebra. They are also not selling tickets for future dates at this time. If you really want to try, visitors can go early on the travel day and wait in line to get a ticket, and who knows, you may get lucky.
An economical way to get to the out-islands of Culebra and Vieques is by using the passenger ferry (La Lancha). These ferries, operated by the Port Authority Maritime Division, carry about 200-400 passengers and run during the day hours, 365 days a year.
Depending on the particular ferry they’re using the day you go, you may be able to get a seat outside on the upper deck. There are fewer seats outside than inside. Depending on the wind, the diesel exhaust can make for a smelly ride if you’re outside. I normally try to get a seat outside, because it is a nice view, and the breeze is nice. Inside the main cabins, it is air conditioned to about 65 degrees! Bring a jacket or wrap up in a beach blanket, especially for the ride home when you may still be wet from swimming.
The trip over can be a little rough. Sea sickness bags are available on-board. If you are prone to motion sickness, take sea sickness medicine at least one hour before boarding the ferry so that is ready to work when you need it. Sometimes the seas are flat, and sometimes they’re not. I find the trip back to Fajardo to be less rough than the trip to the islands.
There are only a limited number of tickets available for each ferry. It is recommended to get to the ticket office (across the street from the actual terminal) about one hour before the scheduled departure. There are sometimes long lines, and they do sell out (especially on weekends in the summer and holidays). When you buy your tickets, buy the round trip, so you don’t have to wait on line to buy your return ticket. On a few occasions, we have gone a day or two early before a desired trip and bought the tickets ahead of time. We get to the window right before the ferry leaves…after all the tickets for that ferry are bought, they will sell ticket for future ferries.
It is almost useless to do it, but you can try to call to buy your tickets with a credit card ahead of time. Note- this is not a reservation, it is more of a “hold”. Tickets can be purchased up to a year in advance. It is very difficult to get through to someone in the ticket office, so be patient and try a few times.
If you purchase tickets ahead of time, on the day of your ferry trip, you can go to a separate window to pick up your tickets (it is to the far right). But be aware, your passage on the assigned ferry is not guaranteed- you don’t have a reservation. Until you have a ticket in hand, you do not have a seat on the ferry. The ticket office will be selling tickets that day also. So if you’re late, they will fill the ferry with passengers that were waiting in line ahead of you, selling your ticket. So still get there early. I really wouldn’t bother trying this.
They announce the ferry boarding in Spanish. If you are unsure if you are boarding the correct ferry, just ask the ticket takers or some locals.
You can bring coolers, beach chairs, beach umbrellas, snorkel gear, etc. with you. The coolers (especially if they contain alcoholic beverages) and large things will be stored outside either in the front or the back of the boat – the crew will tell you where to put the items, and you have to go pick it up on the way off the ferry. There may be a charge if you have too much stuff – supposedly only “one suitcase and carry-on” per person allowed, but I have never been charged for extra stuff.
The ferries usually run “on-time”, give or take a little. 
When you get off the ferry on either island, you’ll find a little town right there, where you can find something to eat or drink, and places to rent snorkel gear, etc. There will also be plenty of taxis available.
There is a cargo ferry that runs from Fajardo to the islands, but this is mainly for the locals and supplies. Most car rental companies do not permit their cars to leave the mainland. Reservations must be made in advance for the cargo ferry, and you may be bumped off even if you have a reservation if there is something that has to get to the island at the last minute.
Taking the cargo ferry is not something I would recommend anyone try to do on vacation. There are rental cars available on the islands – reserve a car. On Culebra, there will be a car rental representative available for you when you get off the passenger ferry. On Vieques, it is better to take a taxi to the car rental agency.
If you drive to the Fajardo ferry terminal, there is a public parking lot that is available 24 hours/day. Your car should be fine parked in this lot. Also, there are locals that have parking available in small lots in the area around the ferry terminal.
A one-way ticket to Culebra costs $2.25 per person. A one-way ticket to Vieques costs $2.00 per person. Kids 3-11 years old and seniors 60-74 years old cost $1.00 per person, seniors 75 years and older are free. Parking in the public lot costs $5.00 per day plus tax.
Here is the ferry schedule, accurate as of Nov. 12, 2008:
Fajardo to Culebra (7 days/week & holidays) – 9:00am • 3:00pm • 7:00pm
Culebra to Fajardo (7 days/week & holidays) – 6:30am • 1:00pm • 5:00pm
Fajardo to Vieques (Monday to Friday) – 9:30am • 1:00pm • 4:30pm • 8:00pm
Fajardo to Vieques (Saturday, Sunday & Monday Holidays) – 9:00am • 3:00pm • 6:00pm
Vieques to Fajardo (Monday to Friday) – 6:30am • 11:00am • 3:00pm • 6:00pm
Vieques to Fajardo (Saturday, Sunday & Monday Holidays) – 6:30am • 1:00pm • 4:30pm
As of Nov. 12, 2008, there is no ferry service between the islands of Vieques and Culebra. Also, there is no high-speed ferry service to either island from the San Juan area.
Depending on wind and sea conditions, the trip between Fajardo and either island takes about 1 to 1½ hours each way. If the seas are too rough, or there is mechanical failure, they may cancel the trip. It does occasionally happen.
If you want to try to purchase tickets ahead of time for La Lancha, you can try calling 1-800-981-2005, 787-863-3360, 787-863-4560, or 787-863-0705 ext 222. These numbers are only answered by humans Monday to Friday, from 8:00am to 11:00am, and from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Once you get through, purchase your R/T tickets with your credit card. They will give you a reference #. On your travel day, you can pick up your tickets at the window at the Fajardo ticket office without having to wait in the usual line. There should be a guard or official near the window, just tell him you have already paid for your tickets and need to pick them up. Be sure you have your reference number. You must get there early- even if you pre-purchase, you don’t have a guaranteed seat on a specific ferry trip. You must get there early to pick up your tickets.
Take Route 3 to Fajardo, and turn onto Route 194. There’s a traffic light and a Shell station at this intersection. It’s right near where Route 3 and Route 53 (the toll road) come together. Stay on Route 194 (it’s a winding road) until you get to Route 195. There’s a traffic light at this intersection, and a Burger King just through the light on the left. There’s also a sign for the ferry terminal on the corner. Turn right onto Route 195. Continue on Route 195 (it goes through a little town) until it ends. Pass through the arch at the end of the street (this will make sense when you see it), and the parking lot is on the right. The ferry terminal and ticket office is to the left. Just walk along the water after you park your car.
The ferry terminal in Fajardo is about a 45-minute drive from Rio Grande
You can locate the ferry terminal on our Interactive Island Map
This was very helpful! I was completely unaware that you could reserve tickets in advance. I’ll plan on doing that now!
Comment by Mark on August 3rd, 2007 at 12:06 pmThank u so much, this info answered all my question!!!
Comment by Liz on August 10th, 2007 at 11:54 amvery comprehensive information
Comment by Hina on August 30th, 2007 at 9:37 amHow can I book on-line? We’ve been trying for three days. Please help us. We need 7 tickets to Culebra. Thank you very much.
Comment by FRANK on January 22nd, 2008 at 9:00 pmUnfortunately, you cannot purchase ferry tickets on-line. Your best bet on getting through on the phone is to call right around the time that the ferry leaves. See our ferry schedule above for those times.
The majority of the people just go to the ferry terminal the morning they want to travel and buy tickets at the ticket window.
Unless you’re going on a _really_ popular day (day after Thanksgiving, Easter weekend, etc) you should have no problem getting tickets.
Comment by Ray on January 22nd, 2008 at 9:52 pmi am taking my rent a car…..is there a schedule for this?
Comment by frances on January 26th, 2008 at 6:37 pmIt is our understanding that cars rented on the “big island” cannot be transported to Culebra or Vieques. You should verify that with your rental car company. In most cases, it will void your rental contract.
There is no “car ferry” to the islands. There is a “cargo ferry” used to transport goods and construction materials and equipment. There is no posted schedule for this cargo ferry. You need to make a reservation to get onto it, and you may very well be bumped off if there’s a shipment that has higher priority.
There are ample cars for rent on both Culebra and Vieques, and you can park your rental car in the lot near the ferry terminal for about $5/day.
Comment by Ray on January 27th, 2008 at 8:45 amCan we park the rental in the terminal parking lot for more than 1 day? We are planning on picking up and using the rental for 3 days on the mainland then spending 4 nights on Vieques. We will then drive ourselves back to the airport from the ferry terminal after our visit to Vieques. Is this possible?
Comment by Denise on September 2nd, 2008 at 12:30 pmYes. You can park overnight in the parking lot near the ferry terminal for about $5/day.
Comment by Ray on September 3rd, 2008 at 1:24 pmGreat info! We’ve taken both the cargo and the passenger ferry and I completely agree that unless you absolutely HAVE to take the cargo ferry, don’t. And the info about the passenger ferry being cold, is right on….it’s downright chilly, especially after being in the sun all day!! Thanks for the updated schedules and numbers!!
Comment by Beth on December 29th, 2008 at 5:03 pmcould anyone recommend a way of getting between the san jose airport and fajardo?
we’re arriving at SJU and our ultimate destination will be culebra (or possibly vieques).
is it worth flying from SJU to the islands or driving to fajardo and taking the ferry?
thanks for the help!
Comment by raffi on January 29th, 2009 at 8:29 amI guess it really depends on how many people are in your group. The cheapest way to get from San Juan to Fajardo is a private driver for about $60 one-way. The other option is a taxi @ about $80 one-way. A flight from San Juan to one of the sister islands costs about $70 per person each way. The ferry is about $3 per person each way. So you need to do the math and divide out the per person costs versus the time involved.
Comment by Ray on January 29th, 2009 at 1:53 pmTRAVELER BEWARE! There are a few other things you need to know about the ferry from Fajardo to Vieques/Culebra. (1) Local residents get to jump in line ahead of you to purchase tickets for the ferry – they live there, you don’t, so they get first dibs on tickets. If a ferry is close to full, you can get “bumped” in favor of a resident who’s returning home. (2) The Fajardo terminal does not appear to be well-organized or well-run, and no one appeared to be in charge on the day I was there (2/18/09)…if you have a question or complaint, there’s not a manager present who can help (or is willing to admit that they are the manager). (3) Several of the locals I spoke to were very frustrated because they say that the PR Port Authority does not provide adequate preventative maintenance to keep the ferry fleet moving on a regular schedule. Based on what I saw – there were three ferries tied to the docks that did not move all day 2/18/09, and one that went out of service later in the day – causing 7+ hour delays in departure schedules – I’d have to agree with their assessment. I suspect that part of the reason for all of this is (4) the fact that adult tickets are $2.50 each, meaning that this is a government-subsidized venture with no profit potential – and in turn, that creates an environment for sloppy operations management and maintenance practices. TRAVELER BEWARE! Use the Fajardo ferries only if price is your primary motivation, and you have no time committments on Vieques or Culebra. If you have any kind of schedule to keep, take a commuter flight from San Juan instead (about $160 per person, round trip as of 2/17/09).
Comment by dstyes on February 21st, 2009 at 12:05 amI agree- the ferry is far from perfect.
Comment by Gwenn on April 3rd, 2009 at 7:19 pmThe ferry is actually public transportation for the residents on Vieques/Culebra. These locals need the ferry to go to school or the doctor or to pay taxes etc. It is the only way they can live their daily lives. It is not a money making venture. So- yes, these locals do and should have priority for tickets. I would hate to see a child stuck in Fajardo for the night because a tourist took the last seat.
Yes, it is not well organized. And I doubt you will ever find anyone in charge at the ferry terminals. The head offices are elsewhere.
Tourists need to be flexible. If you HAVE TO get to Vieques or Culebra, then fly. You can get a flight from Ceiba airport for under $30.
If you only want to spend $2.50 for the ferry, then you will need to deal with some inconvenience- that is the way it is.
Luckily, there is a new person in charge of the ferries this year, and he is making some improvements. I hope it helps!
We always say- if you have more money than time- fly. If you have more time than money, take the ferry.
we are flying into san juan late friday night and then thinking of staying at the gran melia in rio grande (since it is one of the less expensive places) and then need to get to the ferry terminal the next day and hopefully take the 9am ferry to culebra and staying (camping ) in culebra until monday am and then will have to head back from culebra to the airport. would it make the most sense to rent a car and just keep it at the ferry terminal until monday when we get back? since it seems like all of the taxi prices will cost more and the car is only about 80 something from friday night until monday evening… ?
Comment by Jaimie on May 1st, 2009 at 11:55 amThe cost of a taxi from the SJU airport to Rio Grande will be about $63 one way. Then by the time you figure in taxi from Rio Grande to Fajardo (metered fare) and taxi from Fajardo back to SJU at the end of your trip (around $80) … it may be more cost effective to rent a car and leave it sit in the lot at the ferry terminal. Just don’t forget to factor in parking (about $5/day) at the ferry and the possibility of a charge to park at your resort.
Comment by Ray on May 2nd, 2009 at 8:55 amCan bikes be brought on the Culebra Ferry?
Comment by LPQ on July 1st, 2009 at 12:35 pmYes. I believe they can.
update: 7/15/09 Technically, bikes can only go on the cargo ferry, but you may get lucky and be able to bring them on the passenger ferry. I think it depends on how busy it is and how much the ferry people care that day about following the rules.
Comment by Ray on July 1st, 2009 at 5:00 pmAs a patron of the ferry for the past 40 years, I can tell you it is at best a third world operation. As a Puerto Rican, I am deeply ashamed of the complete lack of customer service, the behavior of the locals, the lack of information, and the overall attitude of everyone involved. Except for some new ships, you would think this was some ferry service in an underdeveloped country in 1920. I have called 2,000 times for information and only had my phone called answered once! The price for a ferry ride has never changed; I would be willing to pay a little more for better service.
Go to the Ceiba or San Juan airport and fly instead.
Comment by G on July 4th, 2009 at 4:19 pmWe tried to get the ferry from Fajardo to Culebra on Tuesday (july 7th) and the line wrapped down the street, around the corner and down the block. After waiting for 45 minutes in the blazing early morning heat, they announced the ferry was full. The line had only moved maybe 10 feet in that time. Everything I read said that Culebra was pretty empty except on weekends and holidays. So I don’t understand what is going on and whether we should try again tomorrow (thursday). We tried both Vieques Air Link and Air Flamenco and neither have any seats available either. We really wanted to visit Culebra and are extremely disappointed that as of right now, it does not look like we have any possible way to get there.
Comment by finnius on July 9th, 2009 at 12:35 amWhat you’ve read about Culebra being empty may or may not be true for July. You see, July is the big “local” vacation month. We have 5 major holidays in July, so this is the month that locals choose to take their vacations. And where do many of them go? Culebra … expecially for “day trips”.
We live in Rio Grande, and we’ve noticed a considerable amount of “beach traffic” along Route 3 over the past couple of days.
I think what you’re running into is the normal summertime rush.
Comment by Ray on July 9th, 2009 at 6:30 amWhile I don’t disagree with your observations, you have to keep in mind that it only costs $2.00-$2.25 for the ride between the islands. For many locals, that cheap transportation is a god-send and their only option for travel between the islands. And you get what you pay for. If you can afford the difference, fly.
Comment by Ray on July 9th, 2009 at 6:33 amWe plan to visit Culebra on either August 5 or August 6. Is it possible for us to get 9am tickets by getting to the ticket booth 1 hour ahead of time? Since August is in the hurrican season, ordering the tickets ahead of time sounds a bit risky.
Many thanks.
Comment by Jane on July 13th, 2009 at 10:18 amHI Jane- It is almost impossible to book tickets early. So everyone has to go to the ticket booth. Early August is still kind of busy for the ferries, but not like crazy July. You are on the right track getting there 1 hr early and getting on line for tickets. Of course, there is no guarantee there will be tickets left when you get to the ticket window. It is a problem.
Comment by Gwenn on July 15th, 2009 at 8:14 amThe family is planning to go to Culebra on July 19, I would like to know is there only the Lancha or the Ferry is available to bring out our cars
Comment by Mariel on July 16th, 2009 at 4:59 pmPlease answer me as soon you can!!!
Mariel
The regular ferry is a passenger-only ferry … no cars. There is a cargo ferry, but space is limited and hard-to-come-by for personal vehicles unless you live on Culebra. You can contact the port authority to see if they can accommodate you … but I wouldn’t count on it.
Comment by Ray on July 16th, 2009 at 5:37 pmThanks Gwenn for the advice. Is it possible to get tickets the day before? When does the ticket booth close in the afternoon?
Thanks in advance
Comment by Jane on July 29th, 2009 at 4:28 pmSorry for not explaining it in details. What I meant is whether it is possible to go to the ticket booth and buy the advanced round-trip tickets for the next day in person.
Thanks again.
Comment by Jane on July 29th, 2009 at 4:40 pmJane- yes, you can go to the window and buy tickets for a future trip. But you need to go during normal ticket hours (about 1 hr before ferry time until about 10 mins after the ferries leave). The windows are closed the rest of the time (at least that has been what I have seen).
Comment by Gwenn on July 30th, 2009 at 8:46 amThe 9am/9:30 ferry time is crazy- loads of long lines in Fajardo. The lines are much shorter (or non existent!) during the later ferry times.
It was mentioned that bikes were technically only permitted on the cargo ship, but how do you get camp gear over if you are only entitled a small amount of personal belongings? My family and I are planning on going to camp for a night and were hoping to bring our bikes to get around, but with three of them that doesn’t seem to be possible based on these posts. Does anyone have more experience with this?
Comment by SM on October 9th, 2009 at 4:52 pmSM-
You could try to bring the bikes on the passenger ferry, but they may not allow it (I guess it dependson who is working, how busy they are , if they want to look the other way etc). They allow camping stuff (I have seen people bring tons of it!) but no flammable things like lighter fluid are allowed- they will go through your stuff to make sure you don’t have it with your grill supplies.
But the Cargo ferry also carries people and it goes to the islands a couple times/day. Check this post for times for your island:
http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/cargo-ferry/
Have fun!
Comment by Gwenn on October 9th, 2009 at 6:43 pmJust small tidbits I have learned. The ferry is as mentioned above but some other thoughts you might like are these… It is beautiful to lay on the top benches on a clear night and stargaze if you are on the last ferry. It will be cool but you can snuggle under a blanket or what not. There will be taxis (vans) when you arrive and they will only take cash so have some handy but they will take you just about anywhere. In Vieques and I am sure Culebra too, some of the locals will hang around the beach and take you snorkeling for a small fee. I find that you can have a great time if you have fewer people snorkeling with you as the fish get stirred when you go in bulk. The ferry ride itself can be enjoyable if you get there with time to spare and relax. The locals will roll up a shirt and take a nap on deck, as did I. Have fun!
Comment by GeoTravelCat on January 19th, 2010 at 4:20 pm