Finding Sea Glass in Vieques, Puerto Rico

Collecting sea glass in Vieques, Puerto Rico is a must do. Visit Sea Glass Beach first to get the taste of sea glass collecting.

Visit Vieques, Puerto Rico and one of the items on your to-do list needs to be: collect some sea glass. There are a few places you can find it – but ask the locals and they will quickly tell you to go to Sea Glass Beach which is easy to get to right in downtown Isabel Segunda.

What are you looking for?

A piece of glass becomes the coveted sea glass when it achieves two characteristics: it has lost its points and sharp edges by its tumbling in ocean waves, and it displays the unique frosted or etched surface. Any other glass you find on the beach is simply glass. Genuine sea glass may have a small "C" shaped pattern or small hair line cracks on its surface. While sea glass hunting you may also find objects that you can identify as bottle necks, bottle bottoms and other unusual shapes and distinguishing features such as mug handles and so forth.

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Sea glass, also known by other names such as tears of the sea and mermaid tears, conjures up exotic and romantic sources for the treasured finds. However, the sea glass you find in Vieques probably has much humbler origins – quite simply it is recycled glass most likely washed to shore from an abandoned dump on an adjacent beach. But believe what you will about your find: lost pirate treasure, shipwrecks, or bottles toss overboard by reckless sailors of yore.

Sea glass is recycled glass

All sea glass starts out as some type of glassware that somehow found its way to the water. The colors you find represent the original colors of the glass. Some colors are considered rare because items made with this color of glass were rare. Rare sea glass colors include orange, red, yellow, and cobalt blue.

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Which beaches are the best?

I would recommend starting with Sea Glass Beach. Choose others to explore as you hear about them. Everyone in Vieques can direct you to Al’s Azul Mar Bar and Grill along the water in Isabel Segunda. Sea Glass Beach is directly behind Al’s. So head there, park on the street wherever you can find a spot, and take the path along the right side of the building down to the water. Head west (or left) which is towards a rusted out barge. Keeps your eyes open. You will find plenty of sea glass.

Besides sea glass you can also find pieces of pottery, ceramics, tile, and china along Sea Glass Beach. These shards are most interesting when they have visible designs or colors on at least one surface.

Plan ahead to increase your chances of good finds

You’ll probably find sea glass on Sea Glass and other Vieques beaches any time you go but here are a few hints to increase your chances of finding a special unique piece.

• Check tide charts to find out when the waters are lowest, and plan to be there about one hour before low tide. You can ask for this info at Blackbeard Sports in Isabel Segunda.
• Go to the beach after a storm. Things get churned up then and you never know what you’ll find.
• Take your time. And move slowly, especially on Sea Glass Beach where some rocks might be slippery.
• Check out areas that look messy: sea glass likes to hide out among rocks and driftwood.
• Look up into the hillside for storm debris – a good place to find hidden treasures.
• And lastly, remember to look up and enjoy the beautiful beach you're visiting!

For more info on sea glass see these websites:

1. North American Sea Glass Association
2. Odyssey Sea Glass
3. Sea Glass Journal