- Shelter
- NE, E, S, SE
- Seabed
- sand
- Anchoring
- Allowed
Anchorage off Caja de Muertos, an uninhabited island 8.4 km off the coast and 6.7 NM south of Ponce, protected as a nature reserve since 1980.
- Mooring buoys
- Pontoon
- Beach
Guide
Approach and anchoring
Sand bottom. Sheltered from NE through E to S, open to the west and north. Mooring buoys and a jetty on the western side, where the passenger boats from Ponce land.
Practical
The reserve is managed by the DRNA with the municipality of Ponce. Playa Pelícano, between the jetty and Cerro Morrillo, holds a Blue Flag. No fuel, water or shops: provision in Ponce.
Ashore
Hiking trails cross the island's dry forest, and the lighthouse stands on the 52 m summit at the south-west end. Hawksbill turtles nest on the beaches. Cayo Morrillito lies 180 m off the south-west point.
History
The Caja de Muertos light was established in 1887 and automated in 1945, after which the last residents left; 64 people lived on the island in 1898. The name, Dead Man's Chest, is usually traced to the French writer Jean-Baptiste Labat, who called it Coffre à mort.
Key facts
- Type
- Anchorage
- Coordinates
- 17.89296, -66.52829 (17°53.58'N 66°31.70'W)
- Country
- Puerto Rico
- Shelter
- Sheltered from north-east, east, south, south-east winds
- Seabed
- sand
- Anchoring
- Allowed
- Services
- Mooring buoys, Pontoon, Beach
- Boaters' rating
- 3.6/5
- Updated
- October 14, 2026
Getting there
Isla Caja de Muertos lies at 17°53.58'N 66°31.70'W, that is 17.89296, -66.52829 in decimal degrees.
Boaters' reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience of Isla Caja de Muertos.
Write a reviewFrequently asked questions
Which winds is Isla Caja de Muertos sheltered from?
Isla Caja de Muertos is sheltered from north-east, east, south, south-east winds.
Can you anchor at Isla Caja de Muertos?
Yes, anchoring is allowed at Isla Caja de Muertos.
How do boaters rate Isla Caja de Muertos?
Isla Caja de Muertos is rated 3.6/5 by boaters on BoatMap.
Explore the region
Nearby cities
The free boat navigation app
Official nautical charts, marine weather, GPS and 50,000+ marinas and anchorages with reviews. All in one app, ready to sail.
