Hix Island House is the most distinctive place to stay on Vieques and one of the most unusual small hotels in the Caribbean. Architect John Hix, who also owns it, built a set of open-air concrete lofts on 13 acres of wooded hillside. There is no air conditioning. Instead, walls open to the breeze, showers stand outdoors under the sky and the soundtrack at night is tree frogs and wind in the grasses.
The lofts are minimalist in the Japanese wabi-sabi sense: weathered concrete, wood, white linen and very little else. Each has a kitchen stocked with breakfast supplies, so mornings start on your own patio with Puerto Rican coffee and fresh bread. Casa Solaris, the newest building, runs entirely on solar power and is off the commercial grid.
It suits couples who like design, quiet and a little adventure. They should also be happy to drive to beaches and dinner. Couples who need a cold room, a restaurant downstairs and a daily turndown should book elsewhere. Children under 12 are not accepted, so the mood is calm and grown-up.
Highlights at a glance
- Open-air concrete lofts designed by architect John Hix
- Solar-heated outdoor showers
- Casa Solaris runs fully on solar power
- Kitchens stocked with breakfast supplies
- 13 acres of wooded hillside with sea views
Why Couples Love Hix Island House
The appeal is the feeling of sleeping outdoors without giving up comfort. You wake in a big concrete room with the morning light coming straight in, walk past a planted courtyard to an outdoor shower heated by the sun, then make coffee in a kitchen that looks out over treetops. It is private in a way that a resort room rarely is.
The design is the point. Hix shaped the buildings around sun, breeze and topography, kept the native trees and added mahogany, bamboo and palms. The property is billed as the Caribbean's first green hotel, with solar panels powering fans, lights and kitchens. For couples who care about how a place is built, staying here is half the reason to come to Vieques.
Which Loft to Book
For a honeymoon, book one of the Casa Solaris lofts. Lofts 1 and 2 on the top floor have about 1,010 square feet of indoor and outdoor space with Caribbean Sea views, a kitchen, an outdoor shower and a private patio. Lofts 3 and 4 on the middle level are larger, at about 1,370 square feet, with two patios. All four have a king bed or two twins.
Lofts 5 and 6 on the garden floor are two-bedroom suites with three patios, better for two couples. Casa Redonda, Casa Triangular and Casa Rectangular offer smaller and cheaper units, down to compact studios. The Studio and Matisse units in Casa Triangular are priced like the Solaris lofts.
Every unit has open-air ventilation, a private patio, beach towels, chairs and cooler bags for the day.
Breakfast, Dinner and Wellness
There is no restaurant. Instead, each kitchen is stocked with eggs, juice, Puerto Rican coffee, tea, milk, butter, jam and artisan bread, so you can make breakfast whenever you wake. Many couples pick up groceries and wine in town and cook a few dinners on their patio.
For nights out, Esperanza's waterfront has the island's liveliest run of restaurants and bars, while Isabel Segunda has a handful of good local places. Restaurants on Vieques keep short hours that shift with the season, so reserve ahead in winter.
The hotel has a pool set into the landscape, yoga and Pilates classes and massages for an extra fee. With no televisions or loud common areas, the whole place feels like a retreat even without a formal spa.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do on Vieques
Hix Island House sits in the hills, so a rental jeep is essential. Drive to the refuge beaches on the south coast, such as Caracas, Pata Prieta and La Chiva, where you can often have a stretch of sand to yourselves on a weekday. Sun Bay near Esperanza is wide and easy, with facilities.
The night to plan around is Mosquito Bay, the bioluminescent bay that once held the Guinness record as the brightest in the world. Book a kayak or electric boat tour on a night close to the new moon for the strongest glow.
You will see paso fino horses grazing by the road all over the island. Mosquitoes can be fierce at dusk in an open-air room, so use the nets and repellent. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices for Puerto Rico.
Getting There
Fly into Luis Muñoz Marín International (SJU) in San Juan, then take a small plane to Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (VQS) on Vieques, a flight of about 30 minutes. Some couples fly from the smaller Isla Grande airport in San Juan or from Ceiba on the east coast instead. The other option is the ferry from Ceiba, roughly an hour at sea, which is cheaper but less predictable.
Pick up your jeep at the airport or ferry dock; rental fleets on Vieques are small and sell out in high season, so book one when you book the room. Roads in the hills are narrow, dark at night and shared with horses, so drive slowly after dinner.
Puerto Rico is a US territory, so flights from the mainland are domestic.
Is It Worth It?
For the right couple, yes. Casa Solaris lofts run about $300 a night from late April to mid-December, about $420 from early January to late April and about $475 over Christmas and New Year, plus a 10% service charge and 9% room tax. Smaller units start under $200. There is a two-night minimum most of the year and three nights over the holidays. Treat these figures as approximate and check current rates.
That buys a genuinely original stay, a big private space and breakfast supplies. It does not buy air conditioning, room service or a beach. Couples who sleep badly in the heat, want a pool bar scene or expect hotel-style service at all hours should look at a conventional resort. Couples who want to feel close to the island will remember it.
Insider tips
- Ask for Casa Solaris Lofts 1 or 2 on the top floor for the best sea views and the most breeze.
- Shop for dinner supplies in Isabel Segunda before you check in; there is no restaurant on site.
- Plan your Mosquito Bay tour for a night near the new moon and book it before you arrive.
- Pack a headlamp and light long sleeves for evenings in an open-air room.
