Finally getting around to finishing up my trip report. We had a great time on Vieques as we did last year. We swam and snorkled at nearly empty beaches, and had some decent meals out when we weren’t lounging by our private pool. The guys did the bioluminescent bay kayak tour but I skipped it (I did it last year and had to go with a stranger, who was nice but it isn’t as fun…plus, he was an awful kayaker). We’ve already made return plans to PR for April 2027, which is totally unlike us to plan so far in advance, but we have all fallen hard for this place and its people.
We ate twice at Duffy’s, where we also ate last year. Our hosts told us just go there when we asked for a recommendation (they’ve lived in Vieques for nearly 20 years). It’s LGBTQ+ friendly, the staff is great, and the food is good. What more could you want? First meal of coconut seafood chowder for me (I should have stirred it up a bit before taking a photo…I had it last year and it’s really good, although I could prefer it a tad less sweet…but nothing goes to waste in the kitchen, as they toss in leftover seafood bits, which is awesome); crab dip, fish bites, and a spicy chicken sandwich for B. Tropical drinks and Ocean Labs beer.
We found Alaska wild sockeye salmon at our local grocery store at a decent price but it was definitely not the high-quality stuff we get from our local salmon dealer. But it was ok thrown on the grill with some Spanish-esque rice and baby broccoli-butter bean mix with some lashings of our favorite hot sauce. Nice NEIPA from London UK. I actually love the challenge of travel cooking.
Second meal at Duffy’s of fish bites again (it’s Spring Onion’s favorite thing there), tuna poke bowl for B, I wasn’t hungry so just got the rice and beans and tostones, which turned out to be much bigger than I expected.
We had yet another meal of salmon, broccoli, and rice and beans to finish up our loose ends.
We stopped in Luquillo on our way back to San Juan, at Boardriders. Forgettable food but chill vibe and a delicious mojito. I got some kind of local fish wrap, a grilled chicken bowl for B, big burger and onion rings for SO.
Wrapped up in San Juan, where we stayed at a big American hotel chain that we stayed at last year, but the staff is great and the pool is awesome.
Until next year, gracias PR!
