Best Anchorages in Puerto Rico

[sestina]

Regular puddle jumper from Culebra.

[aeronautic1]

As a delivery captain with dozens of transits thru Puerto Rico, I too like Boqueron just north of Cabo Rojo. The south coast gives you calmer weather and nice anchorages, like Los Jobos. Ponce Yacht Club is a good fuel stop.

[sestina]

Be aware the Ponce Yacht Club charges $10 per day, per person to use their dinghy dock and showers. The swimming pool is out of bounds for visitors. Not very friendly!

[aeronautic1]

Originally Posted by sestina

Be aware the Ponce Yacht Club charges $10 per day, per person to use their dinghy dock and showers. The swimming pool is out of bounds for visitors. Not very friendly!

That's strange. When I pay for dockage at the yacht club, I have been invited to use ALL club facilities.

Anchored last night just south of Mayaguez range in the 15 foot flat near shore; to stage for an 0200 Mona Passage departure... a little rolly, as usual.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by avazquez

Yes behind Cayo Pirata!

+1, good spot

[avazquez]

I believe Ensenada Honda Culebra behind Cayo Pirata is by far the best anchorage. If you want to be in a Marina try Palmas Yacht Club in Palmas Del Mar Humacao.

[rivonia]

We anchored in Culebra and Bouqeron. Both are fantastic. Both have a good live aboard community.

[nautical62]

Can anyone tell me if:

1. U.S. citizens on a U.S. boat need to clear into PR if coming directly from the USVI.

2. Is the U.S. flag good or should one fly the PR courtesy flag.

- Thanks

[gts1544]

Nautical62,

Yes, you have to clear into US Customs when entering Puerto Rico from the USVI, due to the tax/duty free status of the USVI. Immigration is not required. No such requirement when coming directly from the contiguous US mainland as both are taxable. Bear in mind that reasonable amounts of liquor may be brought into the taxable US (Puerto Rico) as ship's stores as long as the seals are broken to prevent resale

A Puerto Rico courtesy flag should be flown on the starboard spreader hoist, as they are a very proud people, but it should not be above the US flag. Suggest the PR flag on the hoist and the US ensign astern. gts1544 (lived there 12 years and married to one)

[gts1544]

Piper's Girl, Ensenada Honda in Culebra is a great anchorage, particularly up behind Cayo Pirata, where you are close enough to the Dinghy Dock Café to row over for morning coffee and breakfast. The town, Dewey, has an internet café if you cannot pick up WiFi on your boat and all of the major cell phone services work just fine in PR. It is a short walk to the ferry terminal in Dewey, where you can catch a $2.50 ferry ride to Fajardo on the mainland. I understand that there is a free shuttle from the Fajardo ferry terminal to the Super WalMart, which is just across the highway from a large West Marine store. Many Puerto Rican towns have a privately owned public car service (publicos) to other points on the island, certainly from Fajardo to the SJU airport, and are much cheaper than a taxi. Fajardo is a very good sized town and the yachting center on the east coast. You will be able to find anything that you need there and most necessary items will be available on Culebra. Enjoy!!
gts1544 George (lived in PR for 12 years and have been married to one for 37 years)

P.S. Be aware that most of the air service between Culebra and San Juan flies into the smaller Isla Grande Airport, necessitating a not inexpensive cab ride to the international airport. Be aware!

[Rubikoop]

Gts has it exactly correct. Make sure you have a US Customs decal sticker on your boat when you call (787) 729-6600 and passport numbers of all persons handy to clear in. Be prepared to write down the 21 digit clearance number they will provide.

[endoftheroad]

Originally Posted by gts1544

Piper's Girl, Ensenada Honda in Culebra is a great anchorage, particularly up behind Cayo Pirata, where you are close enough to the Dinghy Dock Café to row over for morning coffee and breakfast. The town, Dewey, has an internet café if you cannot pick up WiFi on your boat and all of the major cell phone services work just fine in PR. It is a short walk to the ferry terminal in Dewey, where you can catch a $2.50 ferry ride to Fajardo on the mainland. I understand that there is a free shuttle from the Fajardo ferry terminal to the Super WalMart, which is just across the highway from a large West Marine store. Many Puerto Rican towns have a privately owned public car service (publicos) to other points on the island, certainly from Fajardo to the SJU airport, and are much cheaper than a taxi. Fajardo is a very good sized town and the yachting center on the east coast. You will be able to find anything that you need there and most necessary items will be available on Culebra. Enjoy!!
gts1544 George (lived in PR for 12 years and have been married to one for 37 years)

P.S. Be aware that most of the air service between Culebra and San Juan flies into the smaller Isla Grande Airport, necessitating a not inexpensive cab ride to the international airport. Be aware!

Nice post!

Any photos of the anchorage?
Dinghy dock?
Ensenada Honda?

[SmartMove]

Originally Posted by nautical62

Can anyone tell me if:

1. U.S. citizens on a U.S. boat need to clear into PR if coming directly from the USVI.

2. Is the U.S. flag good or should one fly the PR courtesy flag.

- Thanks

We are US citizens currently based in PR. We were told (by C&I) that we would not have to check back in after visiting the USVI, and we did not. We did, however, fly the PR courtesy flag -- out of courtesy and the US flag on the backstay.

[Dockbound2long]

Photo of Dinghy Dock, from town dock

[Dockbound2long]

Ensenada Honda