Ceiba is a municipality on the east coast of Puerto Rico, named for the ceiba, or kapok, tree that ranks among the island's most iconic native species. Roughly 11,000 residents live across the municipality, which, like all Puerto Rican municipalities, is organized into barrios — the traditional minor civil divisions — around a central pueblo. That pueblo, known as Ceiba barrio-pueblo, holds the municipal buildings, the central square, and the large parish church near the heart of the municipality. Ceiba's eastern coastline faces the waters between the main island and the offshore island municipalities of Vieques and Culebra, giving the town a distinct maritime orientation. For much of the 20th century, Ceiba was defined by Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, a major U.S. Navy installation popularly known as "Rosy Roads." The base grew into one of the largest naval facilities in the Caribbean and included José Aponte de la Torre Airport. The Navy began disposing of the station in 2004, and in the following years most of its land — roughly three-quarters by 2012 — was returned to the government of Puerto Rico, including dozens of coastal miles, ports, and docks. Parts of the former base have since been used again for regional military and counter-drug operations. Today the former Roosevelt Roads grounds hold the Ceiba Ferry Terminal, the main departure point for passenger and cargo ferries to Vieques and Culebra. That terminal makes Ceiba the practical gateway to the two offshore island municipalities, drawing a constant flow of travelers bound for Vieques' Mosquito Bay and beaches and Culebra's shores. The airport on the old base adds regional air connections. Away from the former base, Ceiba's southern coast offers beaches and natural reserves, including Los Machos Beach and the Medio Mundo y Daguao Natural Reserve with its mangroves and calm water. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company also points visitors to Charco Frío y Las Tinajas and Playa Los Machos. The municipality blends naval heritage, ferry traffic, and a quiet coastal character, drawing both day-trippers headed to the offshore islands and visitors exploring Puerto Rico's eastern shore.