Mona Island, Puerto Rico – A Treasure Left Untouched

Mona Island is the third largest island of the archipelago of Puerto Rico, after the main island of Puerto Rico and Vieques. It is the largest of three islands located in the Mona Passage, a strait between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico is known worldwide for its pristine beaches and luxury resorts. Travelers come to this Caribbean Island to take advantage of the natural beauty and luxury Puerto Rico Resorts. What many don’t get to experience are the ‘untouched’ natural wonders surrounding Puerto Rico.

Located in the Mona Passage, Mona Island is something you don’t read much about. This natural preserve is a flat plateau surrounded by dazzling cliffs on most sides. On Mona, you’ll find many species that are either endangered or cannot be found anywhere else in the world. If is for this reason that Mona is often compared to the Galapagos Islands.

Mona Island Iguana – Photo by jcolonmd via Flicrk

Take a tour of Mona and you’ll find countless species of animals. On land, the Mona Iguana freely roams the island but cannot be found anywhere else in the world. You’ll also find several species of rare birds. In the ocean, several endangered species of sea turtles swim freely amongst the unspoiled mangroves and rich coral reefs. If you’re lucky, you may catch a glimpse of dolphins or humpback whales.

Things to do in Mona

Most visitors spend a great deal of time simply exploring the island. For ocean-lovers, it has been said that Mona offers some of the best snorkeling and diving in the Caribbean. Healthy coral reefs, clear visibility and warm waters attract ocean-lovers from around the world to this off the beaten path island.

Blue Waters of Mona Island – Photo by jcolonmd via Flickr

Camping 0n Mona Island

You won’t find any hotels on Mona. In fact, the only way to stay overnight is to pitch a tent on the inland. Camping is allowed on three different beaches and is restricted to weekends-only during hunting season.

Sardinera Bay, Mona Island

Getting to Mona Island

Accessing Mona can be done from the towns of Mayaguez and Cabo Rojo in Puerto Rico. Charter boats carry visitors to the island. Since the trip takes 6 hours, you may want to plan to spend at least a couple days.

Old Mona Island Lighthouse

Next time you’re in Puerto Rico, consider spending a couple days of your vacation in the natural wonder that is Mona Island.

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If anyone has explored Mona Island, I would love to know what you thought.

Cheers,
RumShopRyan