Culebra, Puerto Rico Journey Information

With numerous direct flights and no passport wanted for U.S. vacationers, Puerto Rico is without doubt one of the most handy and inexpensive locations for a Caribbean seaside trip. However these looking for the most effective seaside in Puerto Rico must go just a little additional than San Juan to Playa Flamenco in Culebra, thought-about one of many finest seashores on the planet.

The island of Culebra, a municipality of Puerto Rico situated simply 20 miles off the island’s jap coast, has way more to supply than simply its most well-known stretch of sand. “Although Playa Flamenco steals the highlight, the island is well-rounded with nice meals, pleasant folks, and a laidback vibe, and has too many stunning, naked seashores to depend,” says Jorge Montalvo, founder and CEO of Patria Excursions. “I am unable to consider a greater seaside vacation spot within the Caribbean.”

The numerous locals packing the ferry and toting seaside chairs and coolers stuffed with Medalla are the final word affirmation that the journey to Culebra is effectively definitely worth the effort. Crack a coconut and sink into the sand, or cruise the island coast to coast in simply 25 minutes. Both means, you are in for uncooked seashores and untouched landscapes that really feel more and more exhausting to seek out within the Caribbean.

Finest Locations to Keep

Aleli Cottages

Colourful Caribbean bungalows, some becoming as much as eight company, dot the 33-acre hillside property at Aleli Cottages. Stripped down and easy, “the cottages are cool, however the view is even higher,” says Joshua Diaz, founding father of Wander Camp Puerto Rico, ranking it the highest place to remain on the island. Rooms reveal sweeping vistas overlooking the close by island of Cayo Luis Peña, which completely frames every spectacular sundown.

Villa Flamenco Seaside

“There are surprisingly few locations to remain close to the well-known Playa Flamenco,” says Montalvo. The colourful Villa Flamenco Seaside is one among them, ticking each field for an prolonged seaside stick with kitchenettes, a barbeque grill within the yard for company, and loads of seaside chairs, all inside steps of the sand. “It is my favourite place to remain on Culebra, and one I am going to all the time come again to,” he says.

Membership Seabourne Resort

Whereas Culebra is finest recognized for its easy guesthouse and villa leases, Membership Seabourne Resort is a superb selection for vacationers searching for the conveniences and facilities of a boutique lodge. Each day à la carte breakfast and transfers from the airport or ferry terminal are included within the room price, as is using bicycles and kayaks. Set in a tranquil cove on Culebra’s southern coast, it feels conveniently near the most effective of the island whereas peacefully secluded.

Villa Pelicano

A tranquil inlet lined with mangroves and dotted with cottages hides Villa Pelicano, a six-bedroom trip villa superb for households and teams of pals. The property’s non-public dock is interesting whether or not you are crusing in from the mainland or are merely wanting ahead to spending lazy days by the water. A breezy, shaded deck full with hammocks and an outside kitchen means you will be spending most of your keep outside.

Finest Issues to Do

Take in the solar on Playa Flamenco.

An ideal crescent of sugar-fine sand meets crystal-clear waters at Playa Flamenco, a seaside so breathtaking you will marvel that it is nonetheless so untouched. Practically waveless waters make it the right spot for households, and seaside facilities like showers, altering amenities, and bogs make it superb for lengthy, pretty days on the sand. Playa Flamenco bears a singular characteristic that stands as a testomony to the island’s previous as a U.S. Navy munitions testing and coaching web site: an deserted tank, now coated in colourful graffiti, sits on the west facet of the sand.

Snorkel with sea turtles.

Dozens of dive websites replete with rays, colourful fish, and coral make Culebra a coveted vacation spot for divers, however there’s a lot to see even only a few ft below the water. Hire snorkeling gear from Culebra Divers and head to the protected waters of the Reserva Pure Canal de Luis Peña on the western facet of the island for the most effective likelihood to swim alongside sea turtles. They’re notably keen on munching the ocean grasses close to the shore at Playa Tamarino and Playa Melones.

Hike to Playa Resaca.

A hidden trailhead and a small parking zone off Freeway 250 on the north facet of Culebra leads beachgoers to Playa Resaca, some of the stunning seashores on the island. “It is a journey to get to, but it surely’s attractive, and you will have all of it to your self,” says Diaz of the mile-long stretch of golden sand. The hike is simply about half-hour, but it surely’s nothing to scoff at, so come ready with sturdy, close-toed footwear.

Discover Culebrita.

In case you thought the seashores on Culebra had been naked and unblemished, simply wait till you see Culebrita, an uninhabited islet off the island’s jap coast. No ferries attain the island, so you will need to take a water taxi or non-public constitution to the island recognized for Tortuga Seaside, the place sea turtles nest close to clear waters. Regardless of its tiny measurement, it is one of many finest locations to go to in Puerto Rico.

Go to Museo Histórico de Culebra El Polvorín. 

“I like to recommend visiting Culebra’s museum should you’re searching for a little bit of a break from the seaside or are curious to be taught just a little extra concerning the island’s Indigenous roots and fashionable historical past,” says Montalvo of the Museo Histórico de Culebra El Polvorín. The museum occupies the constructing as soon as utilized by the U.S. Navy for housing munitions and options all the things from Taíno pottery to reveals detailing the historical past of the U.S. navy presence on the island.

Finest Eating places

Dinghy Dock

Just some blocks from Culebra’s ferry terminal, the waterfront Dinghy Dock is an compulsory first cease for each customer to the island. This colourful eatery hoisted above the harbor serves hearty parts of basic Puerto Rican dishes, heavy on the seafood and accompanied by chilly beers and stay music within the evenings.

Blac Flamingo Espresso

Blac Flamingo Espresso is the one cafe of its variety on the island, with a powerful array of coffees and candy and savory choices for breakfast and brunch. The comfortable indoor area and colourful mural outdoors give a cosmopolitan cool to an in any other case laid-back Caribbean cafe.

Susie’s

A breezy out of doors eating area illuminated by string lights and surrounded by vegetation makes a meal at Susie’s really feel like coming house. This well-liked eatery is legendary for its lobster tail and recent fish however has a wide-ranging menu of refined island favorites. Reservations beneficial.

Zaco’s Tacos

Mexican road meals favorites are solid in Caribbean taste at Zaco’s Tacos close to the waterfront dealing with Ensenada Honda. Frequent stay music and free-flowing margaritas make it some of the beloved spots on the island for dinner and drinks.

Areas to Go to

Ensenada Honda

The realm round Ensenada Honda (in English, “Deep Cove”) is the primary business coronary heart of the island, the place ferries and flights disembark, and retailers, eating places, and residences dot the shoreline and hillside. Nevertheless, do not count on a bustling metropolis; Culebra has simply over 1,000 everlasting residents, lending even the busiest streets that pleasant, small-town really feel. Vacationers searching for comfort will discover it an excellent place to remain.

Playa Flamenco

Positioned on the northern shore of Culebra, Playa Flamenco feels something however built-up and busy regardless of being the island’s essential attraction. Instantly surrounding the seaside are only a few tiny cottages and trip leases and solely sufficient locations to eat and drink to depend on one hand. A big parking space and well-maintained seaside facilities like showers and altering rooms imply many guests are out and in.

The West Coast

Dealing with the protected waters of the Reserva Pure Canal de Luis Peña, the west coast of Culebra is house to a number of the island’s most stunning seashores. Shielded from waves and wake by the uninhabited island Cayo Luis Peña simply offshore, seashores like Playa Tamarindo, Playa Tamarindo Grande, and Playa Carlos Rosario are a number of the finest on the island for snorkeling and sunning, “however get only a fraction of the guests at Playa Flamenco,” says Diaz.

Finest Time to Go to

The finest time to go to Culebra is between December and Could when the island enjoys sunny skies and heat climate with mild breezes, excellent for a seaside day. Costs are barely increased throughout these months, although not drastically so, as extra guests escape colder climate again house, however locals have a tendency to go to in the summertime months.

The island’s location makes it vulnerable to tropical climate throughout hurricane season, which lasts from June by the top of November. Even when storms or hurricanes keep away from the island, the season is mostly marked by hotter, wetter climate.

The way to Get There

By Ferry

For only a few {dollars}, vacationers can ebook tickets for the 45-minute ferry to Culebra that embarks from Ceiba, simply an hour’s drive east of San Juan. Passengers can ebook tickets upfront on-line or buy them instantly from the ferry terminal, and they’re beneficial to reach one hour upfront of their departure time.

By Aircraft

Culebra receives direct flights from San Juan, Ceiba, and the close by island of Vieques on the tiny Benjamín Rivera Noriega Airport (CPX) close to Ensenada Honda. Cape Air affords flights instantly from San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín Worldwide Airport (SJU), however extra carriers like Vieques Air Hyperlink fly the 25-minute route out of San Juan’s smaller Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (SIG). Personal constitution planes from main regional suppliers like Tradewind Aviation fly on to Culebra for these trying to skip the effort altogether.

The way to Get Round

Culebra’s tiny measurement makes navigating the island a breeze. Taxis are the simplest means for many guests to get round, particularly those that plan on sticking to well-liked locations like Playa Flamenco. These trying to discover with a bit extra freedom can hire Jeeps, vans, and even all-terrain golf carts at Jerry’s Jeep Rental. “The island is sufficiently small that many individuals discover all of it completely by golf cart,” explains Diaz. “It is well-liked, handy, and naturally, a whole lot of enjoyable.”