Spanish Virgin Islands

The Spanish Virgin Islands are a group of islands east of Puerto Rico, principally Vieques and Culebra. They are also known as the Puerto Rican Virgin Islands.

Connect

Vieques: Vieques is an island municipality of Puerto Rico east of the main island. It is the largest and most populous island in the Spanish Virgin Islands.
Mosquito Bay: Mosquito Bay is a bioluminescent bay on Vieques, Puerto Rico. Its glowing water is among Vieques’s best-known natural attractions.
Spanish colonization of Puerto Rico: Spanish colonization of Puerto Rico began in 1508 and lasted until the island passed to the United States in 1898. The islands’ Spanish name reflects Puerto Rico’s colonial history.
United States Virgin Islands: The United States Virgin Islands are a U.S. territory comprising Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas, and smaller islands. They are the neighboring eastern islands, governed separately from Puerto Rico.
Culebra: Culebra is an island municipality of Puerto Rico east of the main island. It is the other principal island in the group.
Flamenco Beach: Flamenco Beach is a white-sand beach on Culebra, Puerto Rico. It is a prominent destination for visitors to the islands.
Treaty of Paris (1898): The Treaty of Paris of 1898 ended the Spanish–American War and transferred Puerto Rico from Spain to the United States. The treaty established the political transition that brought the islands under U.S. rule.
British Virgin Islands: The British Virgin Islands are a British Overseas Territory in the northeastern Caribbean. They share the Virgin Islands archipelago but not Puerto Rico’s political status.
Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico is a Caribbean archipelago and an unincorporated territory of the United States. The Spanish Virgin Islands are administratively part of Puerto Rico.
Vieques National Wildlife Refuge: Vieques National Wildlife Refuge protects coastal, marine, and terrestrial habitats on Vieques. The refuge covers much of the island’s former military lands.