Palominos Island

Palominos Island
Native name: Isla de Palominos Nickname: Palomino
	Palominos Island from Fajardo Roads in northeastern Puerto Rico, 2012
	Palominos Island Palominos Island Palominos Island
	Interactive map
Geography
Location	Caribbean Sea
Coordinates	18°20′55″N 65°34′05″W / 18.34861°N 65.56806°W
Archipelago	Puerto Rico Archipelago
Area	0.41 km2 (0.16 sq mi)
Highest elevation	50 m (160 ft)
Administration
	United States; Puerto Rico
Territory	Puerto Rico
Municipality	Fajardo

Palominos Island (Spanish: Isla de Palominos), most commonly known as Palomino, is a small island located off the coast of the barrio of Cabezas in the municipality of Fajardo in the northeast of the main island of Puerto Rico. Along with Icacos Cay, it forms part of a small chain of cays, reefs, and skerries protected by the La Cordillera Reef Nature Reserve. The island is home to El Conquistador Resort hotel.

Geography

Palominos is 0.7 mi (1.1 km) long and maximally 1,722 feet (525 m) wide, measures 102 acres (41 ha) in area and reaches a height of 165 feet (50 m).^{[citation needed]} Coral reefs, seagrass beds, and rocky coast species are among the natural attractions found in Palominos. Another attraction is the neighboring island of Palominitos, which means tiny Palominos. Located about 2,000 feet (610 meters) south of Palominos, Palominitos now almost sank due to erosion.^[2]

Economy

Palominos is the largest of three private islands near Puerto Rico, the other two being the neighboring Ramos island and Lobos cay. The island is owned by the descendants of Alberto Bachman Glauser, the Bachman Family and the Fuertes Bachman Family. Most of the island is rented to El Conquistador Resort for their beach and water activities. A private company provides private yacht charters to the island.^[3] A ferry is used to get guests to the island, which takes approximately 12 minutes.^[4] Palominos horses can be rented by guests for horse-back riding on the beach.^[5]