TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums US VI and Puerto Rico Free on-line SVI Cruising Guide

Just learned of a 200 page guide to cruising the SVI.
It's free, and can be found here:

http://freecruisingguides.com/puerto-rico/

Perfect! Thanks!

Nice! Thank you

Thanks! Discovered just in time for my trip preparation. Headed to the SVI in June! At first glance, it looks fairly detailed.

Yes. We'll be going back for the 3rd time in August.

One update... Mamacita's has moved to the location of what was once called "The Dingy Dock" - on the Dewey waterfront just south of the bridge.

Would love to hear a trip report guitar_mon if you get a chance. Also Twanger, do you have any tips on the SVI from your previous trips. Thinking about headed there in November.

I would try to make it to Susies for dinner, very good. We like provisioning at the market left of the Dewey Bridge.

Cruzdoc - the key thing that may rule your planning is water and Diesel availability. That can only really be had at Marina Puerto Del Rey in Fajardo.

When leaving from STT we plan a stop at Del Ray in the middle of the trip to tank up and buy more Heineken. It's also well worth spending two days there, renting a car and driving up into the rainforest (El Yunque) for a hike, and perhaps a day in Old San Juan.

Other random thoughts...

Anchor either in Sun Bay or off Esperanza, Vieques.
See the Bio Bay. Go with a reputable tour guide.

Culebrita is worth two days ... the Jacuzzi's and the lighthouse are worth a visit.

If you need provisions, the supermarket Isabella Segunda in Vieques is good, and the bus from Esperanza is only $4.

Esperanza has some great places to eat. We like Duffy's.

I'm told that getting the anchor to hold off Esperanza is difficult, but we've not had any trouble. Find a spot without grass between the shore and the western Cay.

Green Beach just south of Punta Arenas on the west end of Vieques has great holding in about 10-feet of water. You feel like you're at the end of the world there.

There is great snorkeling off the boat at Tamarindo Bay, Culebra.

If you are on a catamaran you can anchor in Flamenco Bay in the NE corner near the beach. Excellent snorkeling off the boat near the rocks on the east side. The surge in the Bay can make a monohull a bad choice here. Flamenco Beach is one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean.

Don't worry if there are lots of power boats in the anchorages you choose. They will all leave by 5pm. That gives you a chance to move the boat closer to the beach if you want.

Twanger,

This is awesome information! Really appreciate the help. I am assuming you typically leave from Charlotte Amalie for your previous trips judging by your info. Is this a trip you can make in 7-8 days from STT or do you need 10-11 days?
Which charter company do you prefer in STT?

I have just started to process the possible itinerary possibilities and trying to figure out if it is better starting from STT vs. PR.

Have you had or heard of any concerns for cruiser in the SVI?

And one last silly observation/question but I'm assuming you do not have to clear customs from STT into the SVI and back. Is that assumption correct?

Thanks again!

Twanger and others will help, we've only done the SVI once before. One week would be cutting it close, you may not get the weather you need going or coming back - some of this depends on time of year. We try to leave several days to get back just in case the weather isn't cooperating.

You'll need to check with the charter company AFAIK CYOA and Island Yachts are ok with the SVI from St. Thomas. From the BVI it depends although we will be going with BVI Yacht Charters from the BVI this time and we are ok weather permitting.

I don't get the sense that the SVI is problematic; fewer charterers there and more boats from PR - no problems.

You'll have to check in at Culebra when you arrive, we did this with a phone call last time. This time we'll have non-US people so we'll just have to go to C&I at the airport. NO problem on the way back. We plan to return to the BVI and won't do C/I in to the USVI, just C/I to the BVI just like we have done every time we left the BVI, went to the USVI and returned to the BVI. If you are returning to the USVI I don't think you have to check back in if you went to the SVI.