COUPLE'S RETREAT WITH ROMANTIC JACUZZI AND AMAZING VIEWS

Although I'm a regular in Vieques, this is my second stay at "la Casita". This week was very windy and cool. This time I found a par of binoculars and spent some time checking out the ocean looking for whales. None seen. It's such a great place to chill out. We went to Mambo"s and picked up a couple of bottles of wine, jumped in the jacuzzi and relaxed. We prefer to go out for dinner, then hang out in Esperanza for a while. We enjoy the peaceful atmosphere here at "La Casita". Better than most hotels and quest houses on the island. This is a 5 star resort in my book.

Allen has a very nice and very clean little house on the hill with a great view of the ocean. It's in a peaceful location where you can really relax. Allen was very helpful and the house was well stocked.

Vieques is an eclectic and rewarding vacation spot -- a little rough around the edges, with limited activities available, but it is a 25-mile long Caribbean island (half of which is now national park) offering a half dozen excellent and unpopulated beaches; great snorkeling or diving; boating; fine dining; and the feel of small-island life. The weather is excellent; when it rains it's not for long, and it usually ends with a rainbow.

Colores del Mar is a wonderful place for a couple to vacation on Vieques. It's an extremely comfortable and well-appointed house, clean and well furnished. The bedroom has a firm king-size bed; satellite TV; sitting areas and a desk. The kitchen is great for making meals. Upstairs is a fantastic deck with a hot tub whose view frames the El Yunque mountain range and rain forest of the Puerto Rico main island. There is also a view of Culebra, another Caribbean island to the north. After a day at the beach or in the water snorkeling, the hot tub is fantastic late in the evening when the stars are out.

The house is about 15 minutes to town, and 20, 30 or 40 minutes to the various beaches on the island. An SUV is pretty much essential, because the roads are challenging, and you want to explore some of the far-off beaches, and get the many views from the roads that crisscross the island. The owners can provide an SUV and there are also rental places on the island.

Best beaches: Sun Bay, Playa Grande (when the surf isn't up), Red Beach, all have excellent swimming. Snorkeling: Green Beach, and the Mosquito Pier (great for the fish but watch out for the fishermen). All of the beaches have reef nearby so it's easy to see fish as well as sea turtles.

We ate meals at home quite a lot (you can buy lobsters at the Pescaderia near the Ferry), but good restaurants by report or experience include El Quenepo in Esperanza, and El Patio and Cafe Mamasonga in Isabel Segunda.

An early morning or late evening walk up the road by the house offers good exercise and a variety of vistas of the island and surrounding seas.

The Conservation and Historical Trust offers tours, activities and a small museum, and the Fort is also well worth a visit. It's very easy to get to be familiar with what's going on around the island.

The hosts are very helpful, and have provided everything you need for a Caribbean vacation. The web site and pictures give an excellent portrait of the house.

This vacation place is highly recommended!