Ceiba

Ceiba is a small seaside town and municipality of Puerto Rico. This small town is the former site of the Roosevelt Roads US Naval Base and the current site of the Ceiba State Forest, one of the largest mangrove forests in the island.

Understand

Plaza and church in Ceiba

Ceiba is on the eastern coast of Puerto Rico between the municipalities of Fajardo and Naguabo. The Roosevelt Roads Naval Station was a US Navy base (today home to José Aponte de la Torre Airport) which used to be one of the most strategic American bases on the Caribbean during World War II. The base was closed down in 2004 and as of 2021 the area is being developed for transportation and tourism.

Get in

By plane

• San Juan: Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
• Aguadilla: Rafael Hernández Airport
• Ponce: Mercedita Airport

José Aponte de la Torre Airport is in Ceiba, in the former airfield of the Roosevelt Roads Navy Base. This airport offers flights from Vieques and Culebra.

By car

From the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, Ceiba is 54 minutes via a toll road and 1 hr 13 min to 1 hr 18 min via non-toll roads. Highway PR-53 connects Ceiba to Fajardo in the north, and to Naguabo and Humacao in the south.

Get around

It is best to get around Ceiba by car. PR-3, PR-53, PR-975 lead into and around Ceiba.

See

• 1 Ceiba Pueblo (downtown Ceiba). See the historic Roman Catholic church, Spanish-style recreational plaza, and the municipal buildings surrounded by streets and shops.
  You can drive around the pueblo or park your car and walk around the square and into the plaza. The Spanish law, which regulated life in Puerto Rico in the early 19th century, stated the plaza's purpose was for celebrations and festivities. (updated Apr 2022)
• Ceiba State Forest (Bosque Estatal de Ceiba). Mangrove forest located between Ceiba and Fajardo. It is one of the 20 state forests of Puerto Rico. When hiking, it is safer to stay on marked trails. If you choose to hike alone, let someone know your route and when you plan to return. (updated Nov 2021)

Do

• Go to the beach at Medio Mundo Beach (Playa Medio Mundo) close to Roosevelt Roads.
• 1 El Yunque National Forest. Rainforest great for hiking, bird watching, and swimming in waterfalls. (updated Sep 2018)

Eat

• 1 Farm Table (Mesa de Campo en Finca La Ceiba), ☏ +1 787 210-4839, +1 787-565-1739, camille@visitrico.org. "Farm Table" workshops held with lunch or dinner prepared by chef using locally-grown products. Vegan meals available. $120. (updated May 2022)

Go next

• Culebra
• Fajardo
• Luquillo
• Naguabo
• Río Grande
• Vieques