Mona

Introduction

Mona is the third-largest island of the Puerto Rican archipelago, after the main island of Puerto Rico and Vieques. It is the largest of three islands located in the Mona Passage, a strait between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, the others being Monito Island and Desecheo Island. It measures about 11 kilometres by 7 kilometres, and lies 66 kilometres west of Puerto Rico, of which it is administratively a part. The original name given to the island by the Taíno Indians is Amona, which means "what is in the middle", referring to the journey between the islands of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. It is one of two islands that make up the Isla de Mona e Islote Monito Barrio of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.

The island is managed as the Reserva Natural Isla de Mona (English: Mona Island Nature Reserve). There are no native inhabitants; only rangers and biologists from Puerto Rico's Department of Natural and Environmental Resources reside on the island, to manage visitors and take part in research projects.

Geography

Mona has an area of about 57 km2 and lies 66 kilometres west of the main island of Puerto Rico, 61 kilometres east of the Dominican Republic, and 49 kilometres southwest of Desecheo Island, another island in the Mona Passage.

Mona has been designated an ecological reserve by the Puerto Rican government and is not permanently inhabited. The US census of 2000 reports six housing units, but a population of zero. The island is a ward (barrio) of the municipality of Mayagüez, together with Monito Island 5 km northwest (Isla de Mona e Islote Monito barrio). This is the largest ward of Mayagüez by area, and the only one without permanent population. The total land area of both islands in the barrio is about 56.93 km² (Mona Island 56.783 km² and nearby Monito Island 0.147 km²), and it comprises 28.3% of the total land area of the municipality of Mayagüez. Desecheo Island, 49 kilometres to the northeast, is part of Sabanetas barrio.

Mona is a mainly flat plateau surrounded by sea cliffs. It is composed of dolomite and limestone with many caves found throughout. With an arid climate and untouched by human development, many endemic species inhabit the island, such as the Mona ground iguana (Cyclura cornuta stejnegeri). Its topography, ecology, and modern history are similar to that of Navassa Island, a small limestone island located in the Jamaica Channel, between Jamaica and Haiti.

Sights and Activities

Mona Island hosts a large and increasing hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) rookery with over 1,500 clutches laid annually on its beaches. The island is recognized as one of the principal sites for hawksbill nesting in the Wider Caribbean and Western Atlantic region, along with Mexico (Yucatán peninsula beaches), Barbados, Panama (Bocas del Toro), and Brazil.

Weather

Mona has a hot and humid climate with temperatures rarely dropping below 18 °C at night. Average daytime temperatures hoover around 30 °C, a bit cooler from December to April and a bit warmer between June and October. This latter period also is the rainy season with a chance of hurricanes from late July onwards. Obviously, this is not the best time to visit.

Getting There

By Boat

Local’s most common way of getting to Mona Island is by private yacht / boat, and only those that know how to navigate the waters of the Puerto Rican trench are advised to go there.

If you have your own boat, you are allowed to visit the island and use the mooring balls that are near some of the beaches. But to venture onto the beach past the high-tide line requires a 1-day visitor’s permit from the DRNA.

The most reasonable option is to go with an excursion operator that schedules a trip, arranges the boat, and then gets a group of adventurous folks together to share the expense. There are a few companies that provide this service such as Mona Island Tours. Other companies include Adventures Tourmarine, and occasionally the Puerto Rico Chapter of the Sierra Club.

Getting Around

Walking is the way to go on Mona.

Eat/Drink

Food and drinks are partly included in daytrips, or bring your own food and drinks to be sure. If you go camping, bring enough for the whole lenght of your stay as there is nothing to get on the island itself.

Sleep

Camping is allowed from May through November and hunting (to control the population on non-indigenous goats and pigs) is allowed from December through April. Permits are required to set foot onto the island above the high-tide mark - either a camping permit (maximum of 3 days), a 1-day visitor’s permit, or a hunting/camping permit. Permits must be obtained before arriving on Mona from the DRNA (you can get more info by calling 787-999-2200 ext 2100, Spanish only).

The DRNA enforces a strict maximum number of people allowed to camp (110) at any given time, so people need to get their permits as early as possible (usually at least 1-2 months before they plan to come). You can get the permit paperwork online in the Uso de Terrenos y Permisos Forestales section of the DRNA web site.

External Links