It’s been years. Yet, people still search for the W Hotel Vieques Puerto Rico like it’s opening next weekend. Honestly, it’s a bit of a tragedy in the hospitality world. You had this ultra-chic, Patricia Urquiola-designed masterpiece sitting on an island famous for wild horses and bioluminescent bays, and then, Maria happened.
Hurricane Maria didn't just break windows in 2017; it fundamentally altered the luxury landscape of Vieques.
If you’re looking to book a room right now, I have to be the bearer of bad news: you can't. The property remains shuttered. But the story of why it stayed closed—and what that means for your next trip to Puerto Rico—is way more interesting than a standard "permanently closed" label on Google Maps.
The Rise and Sudden Fall of a Caribbean Icon
When the W Hotel Vieques Puerto Rico opened its doors back in 2010, it was a massive gamble. Vieques isn't San Juan. It’s rugged. There are no traffic lights. To put a high-end Marriott-branded "W" there was a bold move to see if the "jet set" would fly into a tiny airstrip and then ride in a van past stray horses to reach a $600-a-night suite.
It worked. For a while, it was the spot.
Then came September 2017. Hurricane Maria slammed into the archipelago with a ferocity that the island’s infrastructure simply wasn't built to handle. The W Retreat & Spa, as it was officially known, took a direct hit. Water damage, structural issues, and a shattered local power grid turned the luxury oasis into a liability overnight.
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Why didn't it just reopen?
Most people assume insurance covers everything and you just rebuild. It’s never that simple with mega-resorts. The owner at the time, REIG (Reidman International Group), got into a massive legal and financial tangle. There were insurance disputes totaling tens of millions of dollars. While other Puerto Rican resorts like El San Juan or the Dorado Beach Ritz-Carlton Reserve poured money into renovations and reopened within a year or two, the W sat rotting in the salt air.
It’s a ghost town now.
If you hike near the property today, you can see the bones of the place. It’s haunting. The vibrant "Living Room" lobby where guests used to sip Medalla beers and craft cocktails is now a shell. The infinity pool is a concrete pit.
The Reality of Vieques Without the W
Does the absence of the W Hotel Vieques Puerto Rico ruin the island? Honestly, some locals might argue the opposite. When the W was at its peak, it created a sort of "resort bubble." Guests rarely left the property to spend money in Esperanza or Isabel II.
Now, the island has shifted back to its roots. You’ve got a more fragmented, boutique style of tourism.
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- Finca Victoria: This is where the cool kids go now. It’s an Ayurvedic farmhouse vibe. Very different from the W’s polished concrete and neon lights, but much more "Vieques."
- El Blok: Located in Esperanza, this hotel is a brutalist architectural marvel. It captures that design-forward spirit the W once held but in a much more compact, walkable setting.
- Hix Island House: If you loved the W for its architecture, you go here. It’s off-grid, Zen, and uses "Wabi-sabi" principles long before they were a Pinterest trend.
The lack of a massive anchor resort means the island feels more like a secret again. You have to work a little harder to find luxury. You have to rent a Jeep—a real one, because the potholes on the way to Playa Caracas will swallow a sedan—and you have to be okay with the occasional power outage.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Site
There’s a persistent rumor that the W Hotel Vieques Puerto Rico is secretly undergoing a massive renovation and will surprise-open in 2026.
Let’s look at the facts.
The property was eventually sold. In 2020, reports surfaced that it was purchased for roughly $18.8 million—a fraction of its original value. The new owners have been relatively quiet. However, the "W" brand belongs to Marriott. Just because someone bought the land and the buildings doesn't mean it will return as a W. In fact, Marriott's own development pipeline hasn't officially listed a Vieques reopening for years.
The cost to bring that specific site up to 2026 luxury standards is astronomical. We’re talking about replacing every electrical wire, every plumbing fixture, and dealing with years of tropical mold.
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Navigating Vieques in the Post-W Era
If you were searching for the W Hotel Vieques Puerto Rico because you wanted that specific mix of high-end service and island grit, you can still find it, but you have to change your strategy.
Don't look for "Resorts." Vieques isn't a resort island anymore.
Search for high-end villas. Places like Martineau Bay (the area where the W was located) have incredible private estates that offer more privacy than the hotel ever did. You can hire a private chef—there are several incredible ones on the island who used to work in the W's kitchens—and get that bespoke experience without the 150 other guests.
The Bioluminescent Bay Factor
One reason the W was so popular was its proximity to Mosquito Bay. It’s the brightest bio-bay in the world, according to Guinness World Records.
Pro Tip: If you’re visiting, check the lunar calendar. If you book a trip during a full moon, the bio-bay will be a dud. You want the new moon—total darkness. That’s when the Pyrodinium bahamense (the tiny dinoflagellates) actually look like glowing stars in the water.
Actionable Steps for Your Puerto Rico Trip
Since the W Hotel Vieques Puerto Rico isn't an option, here is exactly how to replicate that "Luxury Vieques" vibe in the current market:
- Fly, don't ferry. The ferry from Ceiba is cheap ($2), but it’s unreliable and a headache for travelers with limited time. Book a 20-minute flight from San Juan (SIG or SJU) via Vieques Air Link or Cape Air. The view of the reefs from the air is worth the $150.
- Book the Jeep months in advance. There is a literal shortage of rental cars on the island. Maritza’s Car Rental or Vieques Car Rental are the staples. If you wait until you land, you’ll be walking.
- Stay at El Blok or Finca Victoria. If you want the social atmosphere and high design of the W, El Blok is your best bet. If you want the "retreat" aspect, go to Finca Victoria.
- Support the local economy. Eat at El Quenepo. It’s arguably the best fine dining on the island and rivals anything you’d find in San Juan or New York.
- Check the status of the "Black Sand Beach" (Playa Negra). It’s a bit of a hike, but it’s the most Instagrammable spot on the island since the W's infinity pool went dry.
The W Hotel Vieques Puerto Rico was a moment in time. It represented a specific era of "Global Glamour" that hit a wall when faced with the reality of Caribbean climate change and local economic struggles. While the physical hotel is gone, the reason it was built there—the raw, untouched beauty of Vieques—remains exactly the same. Go for the island, not the brand.