Virgin Islands (Spain) Holiday
Island paradise off the coast of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands near Spain are the ideal location for a relaxed holiday full of adventures, such as reef diving.
Traditions and culture in Virgin Islands (Spain
)The Spanish Virgin Islands - also occasionally referred to as the Passage Islands - are located just east of the main island of Puerto Rico.
There are a number of islands which make up the group, but the main two are Vieques and Culebra.
Vieques is renowned as the scene for one of Puerto Rico's most infamous political sagas, as the US navy spent five decades on the island for military target practice - a situation which only ended in 1999.
Meanwhile, the distinctly smaller Culebra has developed something of a reputation for its alternative charms and its lack of surrender to the rise of tourism.
Things to do in the Virgin Islands (Spain
)Since the US military pulled out for good in 2003, Vieques has been widely touted as the next Caribbean island to become a genuine holiday favourite among travellers.
Despite its potential for development, however, the land formerly occupied by US forces (around 70 per cent of the island) has now been designated as a US Fish and Wildlife Refuge.
It should remain relatively untarnished as the locals - who tend to be expats - are proud of the island's Caribbean heritage and are resistant to grandiose hotel building and glitzy new resorts.
If Vieques could be viewed as understated, anyone taking a holiday to Culebra will be instantly struck by its superior ambience and its slightly wackier, hit-and-miss lifestyle.
There are no signs of major tourist expansion on the island and the inhabitants are a peculiar blend of people disenchanted with modern life - rat-race dropouts, idealists and eccentrics.
However, it is not without its qualities, as its golden beaches and scenery offer anyone taking a holiday on the island plenty of aesthetic pleasure and its diving reefs are world-class.
Weather in the Virgin Islands (Spain
)The islands tend to be hot and humid throughout most of the year, while the greatest chance of a downpour occurs between August and October.
Most visitors arrive between December and May when the weather is distinctly cooler in the northern hemisphere.
In relation to diving opportunities, the waters are usually calmer and clearer between April and August.
Destination checklist for the Virgin Islands (Spain
)The Spanish Virgin Islands have a population of roughly 12,000.
The islands are four hours behind GMT time.
The official currency is UD dollar.
Spanish and English are the official languages spoken.
The islands' international dialling code is +1 284.
