On the Water · Sailing
Passage distances
How far it is from Puerto Rico's harbors to Culebra, Vieques, the Virgin Islands and on down the islands, and how long it takes at your speed. Most boats leave from Puerto del Rey, the big marina in Fajardo.
To the islands
A line per passage, with its miles and the hours at 6 knots (move the speed above).
The trades build through the day: about 12–13 knots in the morning and 13–15 in the afternoon (NOAA Coast Pilot), so eastbound boats often leave at night or early morning; the return leg reverses it. Hours are at a steady speed; a beat takes longer, since tacking adds miles.
When to leave
Every passage on the map, leaving today or on one of the next three days: the forecast wind and seas where you would be at your speed, and the official word for the waters you cross.
Planning aid, not routing. Check the official forecast before you leave.
Loading the forecast…
| To | Today | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra. The forecast is read at 2 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra. The forecast is read at 3 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra · Coastal waters from Cabo San Juan east toward Anegada. The forecast is read at 3 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra. The forecast is read at 3 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra · Coastal waters from Cabo San Juan east toward Anegada. The forecast is read at 3 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra · Caribbean waters south of Puerto Rico, 10 nm out to 17°N. The forecast is read at 2 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra · Offshore Waters Leeward Islands (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 4 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra · Offshore Waters Leeward Islands (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 4 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra · Offshore Waters Leeward Islands (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 4 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico · Atlantic waters north of Puerto Rico, 10 nm out to 19.5°N · Atlantic S of 22N between 65W and 70W including Puerto Rico Trench (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 5 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra · Offshore Waters Leeward Islands (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 5 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico · Mona Passage. The forecast is read at 3 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico · Atlantic waters north of Puerto Rico, 10 nm out to 19.5°N · Atlantic S of 22N between 65W and 70W including Puerto Rico Trench (its warnings are in that text, not read here) · Atlantic S of 22N W of 70W including approaches to the Windward Passage (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 5 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra · Caribbean N of 15N between 64W and 68W (its warnings are in that text, not read here) · Caribbean S of 15N between 64W and 68W including Venezuela Basin (its warnings are in that text, not read here) · Caribbean S of 15N between 68W and 72W (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 5 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra · Caribbean N of 15N between 64W and 68W (its warnings are in that text, not read here) · Caribbean S of 15N between 68W and 72W (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 5 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra · Caribbean N of 15N between 64W and 68W (its warnings are in that text, not read here) · Caribbean S of 15N between 68W and 72W (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 5 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico · Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra. The forecast is read at 3 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico · Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra. The forecast is read at 3 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico · Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra. The forecast is read at 3 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico · Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra. The forecast is read at 3 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico · Caribbean waters south of Puerto Rico, 10 nm out to 17°N. The forecast is read at 2 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico · Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra · Coastal waters from Cabo San Juan east toward Anegada. The forecast is read at 3 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico · Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra · Offshore Waters Leeward Islands (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 4 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico · Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra · Offshore Waters Leeward Islands (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 4 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico · Atlantic waters north of Puerto Rico, 10 nm out to 19.5°N · Atlantic S of 22N between 65W and 70W including Puerto Rico Trench (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 4 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico · Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra · Offshore Waters Leeward Islands (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 4 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico · Atlantic waters north of Puerto Rico, 10 nm out to 19.5°N · Mona Passage. The forecast is read at 5 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico · Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra · Offshore Waters Leeward Islands (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 5 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico · Atlantic waters north of Puerto Rico, 10 nm out to 19.5°N · Atlantic S of 22N between 65W and 70W including Puerto Rico Trench (its warnings are in that text, not read here) · Atlantic S of 22N W of 70W including approaches to the Windward Passage (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 5 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Caribbean N of 15N between 64W and 68W (its warnings are in that text, not read here) · Caribbean S of 15N between 64W and 68W including Venezuela Basin (its warnings are in that text, not read here) · Caribbean S of 15N between 68W and 72W (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 4 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico · Caribbean N of 15N between 64W and 68W (its warnings are in that text, not read here) · Caribbean S of 15N between 68W and 72W (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 5 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
| – | – | – | – | |
Waters you cross, each linked to its NWS forecast: Caribbean N of 15N between 64W and 68W (its warnings are in that text, not read here) · Caribbean S of 15N between 68W and 72W (its warnings are in that text, not read here). The forecast is read at 4 points at sea on the straight line. | ||||
- Advisoryan NWS advisory for waters you cross
- Rough22 kt+ or seas 8 ft+
- Upwindhard on the nose: a beat most of the way in 12 kt+ or 5 ft+
- Lively17 kt+ or seas 6 ft+
- Lightunder 6 kt most of the way: expect to motor
- Easyanything calmer
Our rule of thumb for a cruising monohull, the first that holds, on the forecast where you would be: leaving at 6 AM (today, the next hour) on the straight line at your speed. Tap a passage for its numbers and the NWS forecast for its waters.
No forecast could be read just now. NWS San Juan's marine forecasts cover these waters.
From any port
Every destination we have a distance for, nearest first.
From Fajardo
- Ceiba14 NM2 h 20 min
- Vieques18 NM3 hSE · reach
- Humacao21 NM3 h 30 min
- Culebra25 NM4 h 10 minE · beat
- San Juan40 NM6 h 40 minWNW · downwind
- Charlotte AmalieUSVI46 NM7 h 40 minE · beatCBP on return
- Cruz BayUSVI53 NM8 h 50 minE · beatCBP on return
- FrederikstedUSVI61 NM10 h 10 minCBP on return
- Bahía de Jobos65 NM10 h 50 min
- Road TownBVI66 NM11 hE · beatCBP on return
- ChristianstedUSVI68 NM11 h 20 minESE · beatCBP on return
- Ponce83 NM13 h 50 min
- Guánica99 NM16 h 30 min
- Mayagüez121 NM20 h 10 min
- MarigotSt Martin146 NM1 dayE · beatCBP on return
- PhilipsburgSint Maarten149 NM1 day 1 hE · beatCBP on return
- GustaviaSt Barth161 NM1 day 3 hE · beatCBP on return
- SamanáDominican Republic217 NM1 day 12 hWNW · downwindCBP on return
- St John’sAntigua228 NM1 day 14 hESE · beatCBP on return
- Santo DomingoDominican Republic242 NM1 day 16 hW · downwindCBP on return
- Cockburn HarborSouth Caicos, Turks and Caicos383 NM2 days 16 hWNW · downwindCBP on return
- KralendijkBonaire402 NM2 days 19 hSSW · downwindCBP on return
- WillemstadCuraçao419 NM2 days 22 hSSW · downwindCBP on return
- OranjestadAruba432 NM3 daysSW · downwindCBP on return
- CBP an arrival in Puerto Rico (Culebra and Vieques included) from the Virgin Islands: the skipper reports it to CBP, 1-877-529-6840. How to clear in and out
- CBP on return coming back from here means the same call.
- a straight line, not in NOAA's table: the straight line between NGA World Port Index harbor positions, longer under sail.
- ENE · beat the leg's starting heading (from the two harbor positions) runs within 60° of the trade wind's 070°: close-hauled into the trades, tacking where the course is higher than the boat points. reach 60° to 120° off the wind; downwind a broad reach or run. No heading where a port has no position on file.
Times are distance divided by speed, with no allowance for current, tacking or weather. Not in NGA's index, so not given: Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Anegada, Anguilla, English Harbor, Antigua, Punta Cana and Cap Cana, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.
Short hops from Puerto del Rey
Day-trip legs off Fajardo, in a charter operator's own figures (not in NOAA's table).
The bar is each hop's length; the time follows the speed above. A "~" marks the operator's "about". The Vieques leg has no published distance, only the operator's sailing time.
- Isla Palominofrom Puerto del Rey~4 NM40 min
- Cayo Icacosfrom Puerto del Rey5 NM50 min
- Cayo Luis Peña (Culebra)from Isla Palomino~13 NM2 h 10 min
- Puerto del Reyfrom Punta Arenas (Vieques)—2 h 30 min
All distances
Every distance in NOAA's official port-to-port table: 39 pairs between 17 Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands ports, each listed from both ends, with the time at your speed.
From Fajardo
- Ceiba14 NM2 h 20 min
- Vieques18 NM3 hSE · reach
- Humacao21 NM3 h 30 min
- Culebra25 NM4 h 10 minE · beat
- San Juan40 NM6 h 40 minWNW · downwind
- Charlotte AmalieUSVI46 NM7 h 40 minE · beatCBP on return
- Cruz BayUSVI53 NM8 h 50 minE · beatCBP on return
- FrederikstedUSVI61 NM10 h 10 minCBP on return
- Bahía de Jobos65 NM10 h 50 min
- Road TownBVI66 NM11 hE · beatCBP on return
- ChristianstedUSVI68 NM11 h 20 minESE · beatCBP on return
- Ponce83 NM13 h 50 min
- Guánica99 NM16 h 30 min
- Mayagüez121 NM20 h 10 min
From San Juan
- Fajardo40 NM6 h 40 minESE · beat
- Arecibo43 NM7 h 10 min
- Vieques55 NM9 h 10 minESE · beat
- Humacao59 NM9 h 50 min
- Culebra59 NM9 h 50 minESE · beat
- Aguadilla74 NM12 h 20 min
- Charlotte AmalieUSVI80 NM13 h 20 minE · beatCBP on return
- Mayagüez92 NM15 h 20 min
- Road TownBVI94 NM15 h 40 minE · beatCBP on return
- Bahía de Jobos103 NM17 h 10 min
From Arecibo
- San Juan43 NM7 h 10 min
From Aguadilla
- Mayagüez23 NM3 h 50 min
- San Juan74 NM12 h 20 min
From Mayagüez
- Aguadilla23 NM3 h 50 min
- Guánica60 NM10 h
- Ponce74 NM12 h 20 min
- San Juan92 NM15 h 20 min
- Fajardo121 NM20 h 10 min
From Bahía de Guánica
- Ponce22 NM3 h 40 min
- Mayagüez60 NM10 h
- Fajardo99 NM16 h 30 min
From Ponce
- Guánica22 NM3 h 40 min
- Bahía de Jobos31 NM5 h 10 min
- Humacao65 NM10 h 50 min
- Mayagüez74 NM12 h 20 min
- Fajardo83 NM13 h 50 min
From Bahía de Jobos (Salinas)
- Ponce31 NM5 h 10 min
- Fajardo65 NM10 h 50 min
- San Juan103 NM17 h 10 min
From Humacao
- Fajardo21 NM3 h 30 min
- San Juan59 NM9 h 50 min
- Ponce65 NM10 h 50 min
From Ensenada Honda (Ceiba)
- Fajardo14 NM2 h 20 min
From Isabel Segunda, Vieques
- Culebra15 NM2 h 30 minNE · beat
- Fajardo18 NM3 hNW · reach
- Charlotte AmalieUSVI33 NM5 h 30 minENE · beatCBP on return
- ChristianstedUSVI54 NM9 hESE · beatCBP on return
- San Juan55 NM9 h 10 minWNW · downwind
From Ensenada Honda, Culebra
- Vieques15 NM2 h 30 minSW · downwind
- Charlotte AmalieUSVI24 NM4 hE · beatCBP on return
- Fajardo25 NM4 h 10 minW · downwind
- Cruz BayUSVI31 NM5 h 10 minE · beatCBP on return
- Road TownBVI47 NM7 h 50 minE · beatCBP on return
- ChristianstedUSVI48 NM8 hSE · reachCBP on return
- San Juan59 NM9 h 50 minWNW · downwind
From Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas
- Cruz BayUSVI11 NM1 h 50 minE · beat
- Culebra24 NM4 hW · downwindCBP
- Road TownBVI24 NM4 hENE · beat
- Vieques33 NM5 h 30 minWSW · downwindCBP
- ChristianstedUSVI38 NM6 h 20 minSSE · reach
- Fajardo46 NM7 h 40 minW · downwindCBP
- San Juan80 NM13 h 20 minW · downwindCBP
From Cruz Bay, St John
- Charlotte AmalieUSVI11 NM1 h 50 minW · downwind
- Culebra31 NM5 h 10 minW · downwindCBP
- Fajardo53 NM8 h 50 minW · downwindCBP
From Christiansted, St Croix
- Charlotte AmalieUSVI38 NM6 h 20 minNNW · reach
- Culebra48 NM8 hNW · reachCBP
- Vieques54 NM9 hWNW · downwindCBP
- Fajardo68 NM11 h 20 minWNW · downwindCBP
From Frederiksted, St Croix
- Fajardo61 NM10 h 10 minCBP
From Road Town, Tortola
- Charlotte AmalieUSVI24 NM4 hWSW · downwind
- Culebra47 NM7 h 50 minW · downwindCBP
- Fajardo66 NM11 hW · downwindCBP
- San Juan94 NM15 h 40 minW · downwindCBP
NOAA's table covers Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands only; the islands beyond are straight-line miles between NGA World Port Index harbor positions, in the lists above. CBP an arrival in Puerto Rico from the Virgin Islands (how to report).
Held back, San Juan to Ponce, Guayanilla, Tallaboa, Bahía de Guánica: NOAA prints these four in green, its mark for "via Mona Passage": west about, round the island's west end. East about, add San Juan to Bahía de Jobos (103 NM) to Jobos's own distances: Ponce 31, Tallaboa 36, Guayanilla 37, Guánica 47.
Sources (7)
- NOAA Distances Between United States Ports, table 19 (opens in a new tab)
- NGA World Port Index (Pub. 150), current database (opens in a new tab)
- NGA World Port Index (Pub. 150), 2019 edition shapefile (2019) (opens in a new tab)
- NOAA Tides & Currents station positions: Culebra (9752235) and Isabel Segunda, Vieques (9752619) (opens in a new tab)
- NOAA U.S. Coast Pilot 5, chapter 13 (Puerto Rico) (Oct 11, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Sail Caribe 7-night itinerary (operator) (opens in a new tab)
- Natural Earth 1:10m land, public domain: the map's coastline (opens in a new tab)