787dailyPuerto Rico, en inglés
Morning Brief

On the Water · Sailing

Anchorages in Puerto Rico

Where to drop the hook from Fajardo to Mona, what NOAA says each one is sheltered from, and the places you must not anchor at all. Pick a wind to see which anchorages are calm in it.

On the map

Each dot is the place's guide point, not a charted anchorage. Choose one to open its row.

Each dot opens its row in the table below.A ring is approximate: the area, not the spot.

Calm in this wind

By region, the biggest first where a source gives a size. Shelter is as NOAA's Coast Pilot words it, and nothing more. Not for navigation: check the chart and the forecast.

AnchorageIn this windAreaDepthShelter and hazards
Fajardo and the east
Isla Palomino, west sideSize not publishedLa CordilleraAbout 40 ft, 0.5 mile off the west sideLee of the island in the trades. Moorings: DRNA public moorings: day use only (6 h), boats to 60 ft. Arrecifes de La Cordillera nature reserve.
Cayo IcacosSize not publishedLa CordilleraNot published5 NM from Puerto del Rey (Sail Caribe); the closest day-trip stop. Moorings: DRNA public moorings: day use only (6 h), boats to 60 ft. Arrecifes de La Cordillera nature reserve.
Cayo Lobos, Cayo Diablo and PalominitoSize not publishedLa CordilleraNot publishedDRNA mooring sites in the reserve. Moorings: DRNA public moorings: day use only (6 h), boats to 60 ft. Arrecifes de La Cordillera nature reserve.
Rada Fajardo, Cabo San Juan to PalominosSize not publishedFajardo28 to 60 ftDeep-draft anchorage in ordinary weather.
Bahía de Fajardo, inside and south of Isleta MarinaSize not publishedFajardoBay 3 to 24 ftSmall vessels, either side of the channel. Reefs extend 0.5 mile from Isleta Marina.
Puerto de Naguabo, northeast partSize not publishedNaguabo3 to 10 ftGood except in southeast or south winds.
San Juan
San Juan: northwest of La Puntilla, or Anchorage Dhurricane harborSize not publishedSan JuanNot publishedBahía de San Juan is one of Puerto Rico's best hurricane harbors.
The south coast
Bahía de Guayanillahurricane harborNOAA: the largest hurricane harborGuayanillaThick mud, good holdingThe largest hurricane harbor and one of the best; some dragging can be expected.
Bahía de Joboshurricane harborSize not publishedSalinas and GuayamaNot published"A good hurricane anchorage". Mar Negro sector: jet skis banned (manatees).
Bahía de Rincón, east part (Playa de Salinas)Size not publishedSalinas24 to 30 ftGood in ordinary weather.
Isla Caja de Muertos, northwestSize not publishedPonce90 to 115 ft, 0.8 mile northwest of the center"Good lee"; landings on the west side in ordinary weather. Moorings: DRNA moorings under the 2012 reserve plan; locations not listed.
Ponce: Isla de Gatas and Caleta de CabullonesSize not publishedPonce19 to 30 ft; 18 to 30 ftWell protected for small boats northeast of the yacht club; Cabullones has little swell in ordinary weather. Bahía de Ponce is not a hurricane anchorage.
Bahía de Guánicahurricane harborSize not publishedGuánicaNot published"Small but one of the best hurricane harbors".
The west coast
Puerto Real (Cabo Rojo)A round basin 0.7 mile acrossCabo RojoBasin 6 to 15 ftSome small boats use it as a hurricane anchorage.
La PargueraSize not publishedLajas6 to 10 ft to the landingSomewhat protected. Moorings: DRNA moorings under the La Parguera reserve plan.
Bahía de BoquerónSize not publishedCabo RojoTwo entrances around Bajo Enmedio (4 to 17 ft, rocky)A good harbor, easily entered; the better hurricane anchorage is Guánica.
MayagüezSize not publishedMayagüez7 to 12 ft, 1.2 miles south of the terminalThe pleasure-craft anchorage; nearest hurricane anchorage Guánica.
Isla de Mona: Anclaje Sardinera and Anclaje IsabelaSize not publishedMonaNot publishedSardinera (west) is best in southeast winds; Isabela (south of Punta Arenas) in northeast winds. With a strong wind from any direction the sea draws into all the anchorages. DRNA reserve: visits need DRNA's prior permission.
Culebra and Vieques
Ensenada Honda: Dewey, Cayo Pirata, Dakityhurricane harborAbout 200 boats sheltered here in Hugo (1989); 20+ moorings at DakityCulebraControlling depth 26 ft through the buoyed, ranged entrance"The most secure anchorage in the area"; one of NOAA's best hurricane harbors. Moorings: 20+ moorings behind the reef at Dakity (cruising guide). Hurricane Hugo (1989): about 200 boats sheltered here and more than 130 were destroyed or badly damaged.
Canal de CulebritaSize not publishedCulebra60 ft; closer under Culebrita by draftThe "best anchorage" on the east side.
Bahía Tortuga, CulebritaunconfirmedSize not publishedCulebraNot publishedOpen to northerly ground swell; many treat it as a day stop. Moorings: Moorings reported by a cruising guide, day use.
Puerto del ManglarSize not publishedCulebra18 to 37 ft, sand and mud"Small but well-sheltered". Entrance 100 yards wide between reefs.
Bahía de AlmodóvarSize not publishedCulebra19 to 24 ft"Well sheltered from all winds" (small boats). 10-ft bar on entry.
Between Cayo de Luis Peña and CulebraSize not publishedCulebra30 to 79 ftGood in ordinary trades. Moorings: DRNA moorings; anchoring only on the southern sandy zone. Rocky patch 42 to 53 ft, 0.6 mile west of Punta Melones. Canal de Luis Peña: about 2 kt of current, "hazardous for sailing vessels". Canal Luis Peña reserve: no fishing; moorings or the southern sand only.
Bahía Tamarindo entranceSize not publishedCulebra20 to 30 ft"Comfortable" for small vessels. Inside or next to the Canal Luis Peña reserve.
Northwest side of Cayo de Luis PeñaSize not publishedCulebra40 to 55 ft, 0.3 mile off"Fair".
Bahía de Sardinas (Dewey ferry harbor)Size not publishedCulebraLanding 8 ftThe town's harbor.
West end of Vieques, south of Punta Arenas (Green Beach)Size not publishedViequesNot published"Smooth anchorage with east winds but exposed to the south and west". Naval restricted area 1,500 yards off the west part of Vieques.
Bahía de Mulas, Isabel SegundaSize not publishedVieques4 to 12 ft along the pierFair shelter in ordinary weather; with north winds a heavy sea makes in and small craft drag.
South of Arrecife MosquitoSize not publishedVieques40 ft, sand, 0.3 mile south of the reef"Fairly smooth" in ordinary weather. 9-ft spots on the approach.
Bahía Salinas, near Punta EsteSize not publishedVieques12 to 24 ftGood for small craft with local knowledge; "should not be attempted by strangers". Strong tidal currents around Punta Este.
Bahía Salina del SurSize not publishedVieques18 to 24 ft, west halfSheltered from winds north of east.
Ensenada Honda (Vieques)avoidSize not publishedViequesFoulAvoid without local knowledge.
Bahía de la ChivaavoidSize not publishedViequesShallow bightUnexploded ordnance reported around Isla Chiva: "Vessels are cautioned not to transit or anchor around Isla Chiva". Unexploded ordnance (reported 2013).
Puerto FerroSize not publishedVieques6 to 8 ft entrance, 7 to 15 ft insideBoat harbor. Sunken rock at 18°06'21"N 65°25'30"W.
Puerto Mosquito (bio bay)avoidSize not publishedViequesEntrance 2 to 3 ftSmall craft only; a bioluminescent bay nature reserve. Bioluminescent bay: swimming is prohibited.
Ensenada Sun BaySize not publishedVieques18 to 24 ftExposed southeast through southwest.
Puerto Real, Esperanza and Cayo RealSize not publishedVieques15 to 25 ft; pier 10 ftGood in ordinary weather. Moorings: "Caribe" moorings west of Cayo Real (Sail Caribe) ($25 a day, cash, to the field's operator).
Show all 38 anchoragesShow fewer
Sources (10)

DRNA moorings

The public mooring buoys in five reserves are first come, first served, and day use only.

ReserveWhereNote
Arrecifes de La CordilleraCayo Icacos, Cayo Lobos, Cayo Diablo, Isla Palomino and PalominitoReserve since Jan 2, 1980; about 10,000 recreational boats a year
Canal Luis PeñaWest of CulebraAnchoring only by mooring, or on sand in the southern zone
Caja de MuertosOff PonceMooring locations are not listed in the plan
Bosque Estatal de GuánicaGuánicaMooring locations are not listed in the plan
La PargueraLajasMooring locations are not listed in the plan

The rules on every DRNA mooring

  1. Public, first come, first served.
  2. Day use only (six hours). No overnight.
  3. Boats up to 60 ft long.
  4. Look for divers and swimmers before you approach.
  5. Approach slowly into the wind or current, and check the depth against your draft.
  6. Inspect the mooring: the skipper is responsible for the boat.
  7. Tie a 10 to 20 ft bow line from your boat to the buoy's surface line (more for a bigger boat). Never cleat the pennant directly.
  8. No sailboat on a mooring with sails up.
  9. Not when winds exceed 40 mph, and never as storm or hurricane shelter.
  10. Removing, misusing or damaging a mooring is a crime.
  11. No mooring free? Anchor on sand.
  12. Use is at your own risk; DRNA accepts no liability.
  13. One boat per mooring.

The DRNA plan's rules (2012). Whether every rule is enforced in 2026 is unconfirmed; cruising guides report day-use signs at Luis Peña and Culebrita are not enforced. We print the official rule. Ley 430 also bars tying to any DRNA buoy that marks an area or a speed limit: those are not moorings.

Sources (4)

Where not to anchor

Unexploded ordnance, no-take reserves and restricted areas. Some are not on current charts.

ZoneWhat applies
Vieques: Isla ChivaUnexploded ordnance was reported in 2013 about 600 yards south of Bahía de la Chiva, around Isla Chiva. NOAA: "Vessels are cautioned not to transit or anchor around Isla Chiva." Some charter itineraries still suggest it as a snorkel stop.
Vieques: former naval areasRestricted areas 1,500 yards off the west part of the island and off the south shore (33 CFR 334.1480), and a former bombing area off the northeast and southeast coasts (33 CFR 334.1470). Unexploded ordnance remains.
Culebra: northwest peninsula and caysUnexploded ordnance north of a line from 18°19'55"N 65°18'58"W to 18°19'31"N 65°14'34"W, including Cayo Lobo, Cayo Botijuela, Alcarraza, Los Gemelos, El Ancón, Piedra Stevens, Cayo Ballena, Cayo Tiburón, Cayos Geniquí and Cabo del Pasaje (danger area 33 CFR 334.1460; exercises ended 1975).
Canal Luis Peña reservePuerto Rico's first no-take marine reserve: no commercial or recreational fishing. Anchor only on a mooring, or on sand in the southern zone. In April 2026 Culebra fishers asked for the limits to be put on nautical charts, so they are likely not on yours.
Culebra and its keysCritical habitat for the green sea turtle (50 CFR 226.208).
Isla de Mona and MonitoCritical habitat for the hawksbill turtle (50 CFR 226.209). A DRNA reserve: visitors need DRNA's prior permission.
Ensenada Honda (Ceiba)Inside a restricted area from Punta Figueras to 2 miles west of the entrance (33 CFR 334.1480); the naval station was reported closed in 2007.
Mangroves, coral and seagrassLey 430 art. 7.9(l): $250 for tying to mangroves, or for anchoring outside designated areas near mangroves, corals and seagrass inside protected areas.
Sources (6)