Saturday is always a good day to head to the outer islands. Perhaps a trip to Vieques and the Puerto Faro Lighthouse should be on your agenda today.
The US Fish and Wildlife Reserve is located at KM 3.2 on Route 997. Inside the gate, take the first gravel road immediately on the right, which runs parallel to Route 997. This is a one lane road, with acacia thorn bushes on both sides, so I would hate to meet anyone coming the other way on this road. You will get scratches on the sides/top of the vehicle. There is a gate at the end, and a parking area on the left.
INFO:
http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/puerto-ferro-lighthouse/
The Puerto Ferro Lighthouse ruins include old ruins, dramatic cliffs, great views and a hike!
The ruins are located on the south coast, in the old Camp Garcia Naval Training area, which is now a US Fish and Wildlife Reserve. There is one small catch … it is in a "restricted area" — which means that you can’t technically go there. Of course, I would never suggest that anyone break the rules.
The Puerto Ferro Lighthouse (Faro de Puerto Ferro in Spanish) began operation in 1896. Its role was to guide mariners along the southern coast, during the heyday of shipping sugar and cattle. The lighthouse was abandoned in 1926. Since then, time, weather and nature have wreaked havoc on the building. Today, though still under the management of the US Coast Guard, it is in ruins.
The walk is just under 1 mile, and takes about 30 minutes. It is all on a slightly overgrown, gravel road, which leads right to the lighthouse. Don’t believe Google Maps — there are no other roads past this gate. It is an easy, gradual climb, though it is hot and humid, and mostly in the sun.
The lighthouse while in ruins still retains its beautiful architecture and majestic position on the rugged cliff. To get to the front door, you will pass some wells/cisterns. The doors/windows are closed up, though holes have been made to provide access to the inside of the building.
Be very careful if you choose to go Inside, vandals have made their mark, but elements of the original structure can still be seen — the pretty, colored floor tile work, the kitchen tile and cooking chimney, and even the bathroom. The circular staircase that leads to the roof and lighthouse tower are still mostly intact. The roof is caving in so please do not venture out.
Outside, the cliffs are lovely although there are no guard rails, and the rock here is very crumbly, so try to not get too close to the edge. You can find paths through the shrubbery that lead out to other rocky outcrops and even down to the beach cove below.
GPS COORDINATES: 18.096182,-65.423509
The US Fish and Wildlife Reserve is located at KM 3.2 on Route 997. Inside the gate, take the first gravel road immediately on the right, which runs parallel to Route 997. This is a one lane road, with acacia thorn bushes on both sides, so I would hate to meet anyone coming the other way on this road. You will get scratches on the sides/top of the vehicle. There is a gate at the end, and a parking area on the left.
INFO:
http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/puerto-ferro-lighthouse/
The Puerto Ferro Lighthouse ruins include old ruins, dramatic cliffs, great views and a hike!
The ruins are located on the south coast, in the old Camp Garcia Naval Training area, which is now a US Fish and Wildlife Reserve. There is one small catch … it is in a "restricted area" — which means that you can’t technically go there. Of course, I would never suggest that anyone break the rules.
The Puerto Ferro Lighthouse (Faro de Puerto Ferro in Spanish) began operation in 1896. Its role was to guide mariners along the southern coast, during the heyday of shipping sugar and cattle. The lighthouse was abandoned in 1926. Since then, time, weather and nature have wreaked havoc on the building. Today, though still under the management of the US Coast Guard, it is in ruins.
The walk is just under 1 mile, and takes about 30 minutes. It is all on a slightly overgrown, gravel road, which leads right to the lighthouse. Don’t believe Google Maps — there are no other roads past this gate. It is an easy, gradual climb, though it is hot and humid, and mostly in the sun.
The lighthouse while in ruins still retains its beautiful architecture and majestic position on the rugged cliff. To get to the front door, you will pass some wells/cisterns. The doors/windows are closed up, though holes have been made to provide access to the inside of the building.
Be very careful if you choose to go Inside, vandals have made their mark, but elements of the original structure can still be seen — the pretty, colored floor tile work, the kitchen tile and cooking chimney, and even the bathroom. The circular staircase that leads to the roof and lighthouse tower are still mostly intact. The roof is caving in so please do not venture out.
Outside, the cliffs are lovely although there are no guard rails, and the rock here is very crumbly, so try to not get too close to the edge. You can find paths through the shrubbery that lead out to other rocky outcrops and even down to the beach cove below.
GPS COORDINATES: 18.096182,-65.423509
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