La Chiva Beach “Blue Beach”

Understanding La Chiva’s Numbered Beach Spots

La Chiva is one long beach with a series of numbered access points, rather than one main entrance and a large parking lot. Beach spots run from 1 through 19, each with a small parking area and access to its own section of shoreline.

When someone tells you to meet them at “La Chiva 12,” they mean the numbered beach spot. Remember your number when you park—it makes finding your car, meeting friends, and describing your favorite stretch much easier.

Spots 8–19 have little covered bungalows with picnic tables, offering a shaded place to eat lunch and take a break from the sun. These are open picnic shelters, rather than overnight accommodations.

You don’t have to drive to the last spot to enjoy La Chiva. Stop along the way, look at the water, and choose somewhere that suits your group.

Choosing Your Spot

The earlier stops are worth exploring, particularly if you’re hoping for a little more space. Many visitors continue farther along the road, so it can pay to look at the first few access points before following everyone else.

As you move along the bay, the view changes. Some sections have deeper turquoise tones, while others reveal broad stretches of pale, clear water over sand. Seagrass beds add darker patches beneath the surface.

Farther along, the picnic bungalows make settling in for lunch convenient. If shade is a priority, arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays. Bring your own chairs and an umbrella so your beach day doesn’t depend on finding an empty shelter.

What the Beach Is Like

La Chiva has room for long walks, quiet afternoons, and beach days that stretch well beyond the original plan. Coastal greenery backs the shoreline, and the open bay offers beautiful views across the Caribbean.

The colors are part of the attraction. Sunlight, passing clouds, water depth, and the bottom beneath the surface all change what you see—from nearly transparent shallows to turquoise and deep blue.

Conditions vary along the beach and from day to day. Seagrass, washed-up seaweed, and natural debris may be more noticeable at some spots than others. Take a look before unloading the car.

Swimming & Visiting with Children

On calm days, La Chiva offers inviting water for swimming and floating. Sandy shallows in some sections can make it a lovely choice for families who arrive prepared with shade, snacks, and plenty of drinking water.

Choose your spot based on the conditions you see. A beach that was glassy yesterday may have waves today, and neither winter nor summer guarantees calm water.

Stay close to children and check the bottom before entering, since sand, seagrass, and rocky areas vary along the bay. Clear water can make distances look shorter than they are, so keep your swimming plans within everyone’s ability.

Snorkeling at La Chiva

La Chiva is a favorite for snorkeling, with seagrass beds, rocky areas, and reef habitat offering different underwater scenery. When visibility is good, you can spend a long time watching fish move through the grass and around underwater structures.

Bring your own equipment and choose an entry point that matches your experience. Beginners should get comfortable close to shore before considering a longer swim. A local snorkeling guide can help you choose suitable areas based on the weather, visibility, and your group’s ability.

Keep your fins clear of coral and seagrass, never stand on reef structures, and give marine life room to move.

About the Offshore Cay

The small offshore cay is part of La Chiva’s scenery, but don’t treat it as somewhere to walk onto or explore. Follow current refuge signs and restrictions, and don’t assume shallow-looking water provides a safe or permitted crossing. Parts of the former military lands remain closed because of unexploded ordnance and ongoing cleanup. fws.gov

Ask refuge staff or an experienced local guide about permitted snorkeling areas rather than following older directions recommending access to the cay.

Bungalows, Shade & Facilities

The covered bungalows at spots 8–19 provide picnic tables and welcome shade. They’re useful for lunch, organizing your beach gear, and giving children a break from the sun.

Shade on the sand varies, so bring an umbrella if you want to sit closer to the water. Keep your belongings contained and leave picnic tables clean for the next group.

La Chiva is a natural beach within the refuge. Bring your food, drinking water, chairs, and snorkeling equipment rather than expecting beach concessions or rentals.

Bathroom access within the refuge can depend on staffing and maintenance. Check availability when you enter, and don’t plan your day around having an unlocked restroom beside your chosen spot.

Garbage & Keeping the Beach Clean

Public garbage bins are provided, but bring a trash bag and be prepared to carry everything out if the nearest bin is full.

Never leave bags beside an overflowing can. Horses and other animals can tear them open, allowing garbage to scatter and reach the ocean, where it can harm sea life and turtles.

Before leaving, check around your bungalow, parking space, and beach setup for wrappers, bottle caps, food scraps, and anything that might blow away. Taking a few extra pieces of litter with you helps care for this beautiful shoreline.

Getting to La Chiva

Enter the eastern section of the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge from Route 997 at García Gate. Follow the main refuge road, continuing past the turns for Caracas and Pata Prieta, and follow signs toward La Chiva.

The route includes unpaved sections. Drive slowly, watch for potholes and washouts, and check with your rental company about current road conditions, especially after heavy rain.

Once you reach La Chiva, follow the numbered beach accesses and park in the small designated areas. Keep the main road, entrances, and turning areas clear.

What to Bring

Plan for a full beach day, even if you think you’re only stopping briefly:

• Plenty of drinking water
• A cooler with lunch and snacks
• Beach chairs and towels
• An umbrella or portable shade
• Snorkeling equipment
• Sunscreen, hats, and sun-protective clothing
• Insect repellent
• A bag for trash

Remember that a covered picnic table doesn’t provide shade while you’re swimming or walking. Take breaks from the midday sun, and keep repellent handy near vegetation, especially after rain or later in the afternoon.

Why Is It Also Called Blue Beach?

Blue Beach was the name used during the U.S. Navy’s presence on Vieques. Today, we use La Chiva, although the older name still appears in travel guides, maps, and visitor recommendations. Both refer to the same beach.

Refuge Hours & Visiting Responsibly

La Chiva is inside a gated wildlife refuge. Check the posted closing time when you enter and allow enough time to pack up and drive out from your beach spot.

Check the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge website for current hours and access information.

Stay on designated public roads and paths, respect closure signs, keep pets leashed, and give wildlife and marked turtle nests plenty of space. Refuge rules prohibit off-road driving, drones, camping, and open fires.

Enjoy your spot, remember its number, and leave it clean for whoever finds it next.