Monte Pirata

Monte Pirata, in Llave on Vieques, Puerto Rico, rises 960 feet and is the island’s highest point, located in the western part of the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge. Its Spanish name means “pirate mountain.” The summit served as a U.S. Navy communications site and is now operated by the Department of Homeland Security. Once accessible by the Mount Pirata Trail, the main route has been closed to the public for about 20 years, though efforts to reopen the area include installation of an observation platform. The mountain is especially significant for its rare plant life, including the endangered Thomas' lidflower, a myrtle known from only three Caribbean mountains.

Puerto Rico · United States