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Katherine Figueroa, CIPS, CRB, GRI, TRC - Lic.6747

Katherine Figueroa, CIPS, CRB, GRI, TRCKF REAL ESTATE

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Vieques

Issued : Friday, July 11, 2008 09:07:00 AM

Vieques gets top tourism award

By CB Online Staff

Travel + Leisure magazine gives the island top honors among Caribbean destinations

Travel + Leisure, a travel magazine based in New York City, recently announced that the island municipality of Vieques will get one of the publication’s top awards for a tourism destination.

Vieques will get the award for Best Island in the Caribbean, Bermuda and Bahamas category as part of the magazine’s annual World’s Best Awards, which is based on a readers survey rating destinations and travel providers.

Puerto Rico Tourism Company executive director Terestella González Denton said she was ecstatic at the announcement. “This international recognition not only benefits the Isla Nena, but all Puerto Ricans who are aware and proud of the growth that Vieques has seen in recent years,” stated the executive director.

On the Travel + Leisure reader survey, Vieques got an overall score of 78, placing it ahead of other islands like Bermuda, St. Lucia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The top vote getter among islands worldwide was the Galápagos Islands, with a score of 87.64. The Travel + Leisure survey also recognized a handful of local hotels –namely the Ritz-Carlton, San Juan and Hotel El Convento– among the Top 25 hotels in the Caribbean.

The Vieques award is the latest in a recent spate of recognitions given to Puerto Rico destinations, such as the most recent Traveler’s Choice Awards for 2008, which placed San Juan among the top 25 tourism destinations in the Caribbean. In addition, a recent study made by Mercer Consulting, a human resources consulting firm, concluded that San Juan was the city with the best quality of life in Latin America.

“The starring role that Puerto Rico is occupying as a first-class destination for tourism in the Caribbean is more evident with each passing year,” said González Denton.

The Travel + Leisure World’s Best awards will be given on July 24th at the Four Seasons Hotel Restaurant in New York City.

(vee-AI-kais)

Vieques is known as "La Isla Nena" (little girl island) and "Isabel Segunda" (Isabel II). Vieques was founded in 1843 by Francisco Saínz.

It's 21 miles (34 km) long and 3 miles (5 km) wide, and it is 52 square miles (135 square km) in area. It was annexed to Puerto Rico in 1854. Vieques derives its name from the Taino Indian word for small island (bieques).

Land Area:	135 sq km (51.7 sq mi)
Water Area:	213.15 sq mi
Population:	9,351
Density:	67.7 per sq km (176.1 per sq mi)
Housing Units:	4,388
Housing Density:	86.3
Per Capita Income:	$6,562
Source: 2000 Census
Coordinates:	Latitude: 18.13º N Longitude: 65.40º W
Wards:	Isabel Segunda, Florida, Puerto Diablo, Puerto Ferro, Puerto Real, Llave, Mosquito and Punto Arenas.
Driving Distance:	29.1 miles to Fajardo *
Driving Time:	52 minutes to Fajardo, take a Ferry *

The island is located between Puerto Rico and St. Thomas (USVI), and is separated from the southeast coast of Puerto Rico by approximately 8 miles of sea, although if you are taking a ferry from Fajardo the distance will be 18 miles. Numerous other small cays (islets) lie offshore of Vieques.

Beauty and history merge on this 21 by 4 mile island. Arawak Indians once lived here and it was an infamous heaven for pirates during the 17th century. Various European powers fought for control of Vieques. The Punta Mulas Lighthouse also known as Morropó was built in 1893. This old lighthouse still protects the port, boasts a reflector imported from Paris in 1895, which extends a beam that can be seen from as far as 16 miles.

Snorkeling is excellent, especially at Blue Beach. The island is also the home of phosphorescent Mosquito Bay. This rare and remarkable phenomenon is caused by millions of luminescent dinoflagellates lighthing up when disturbed by movement. The dinoflagellates, a tiny form of marine life, have characteristics of both plants and animals, their size range from about 5 to 2,000 micrometres (0.0002 to 0.08 inch).

Isabel Segunda port, holds the distinction of being the last fort built by the Spaniards in the New World.

There is an excellent historical museum at the beautifully restored fort, El Fortin Conde de Mirasol, located in Isabel Segunda. This fort holds the distinction of being the last fort constructed during the Spanish Empire in the New World, over time also served as a jail. After it's careful restoration in 1991 by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, the fort serves as the island's main museum, housing the Vieques Museum of Art and History and the Vieques Historic Archives. The museum contains the Vieques Historic Archives, which includes thousands of documents and other materials related to Vieques' history.

To get to the island, you can either take a small plane from San Juan International Airport (20-30 minute flight), or a ferry boat from Fajardo, available twice a day, flights are also available. You can also get a flight from St. Croix or St. Thomas (St. Thomas - Fajardo - Vieques) for airlines rates visit www.AirFlamenco.net

Accommodations on Vieques are comfortable and readily available. Camping is permitted at Sun Bay with a free permit. Cars are available for rent through most hotels. Its reefs are popular with sport divers and several Puerto Rico dive operators schedule trips here.

For more details, please contact neighborhood specialist Mrs. Katherine Figueroa, CRB, GRI, TRC at 787-562-3287 / 787-289-7808 or visit our site www.RealEstateInVieques.com