Culebra, Puerto Rico Journey Information

With numerous direct flights and no passport wanted for U.S. vacationers, Puerto Rico is likely one of the most handy and inexpensive locations for a Caribbean seashore trip. However these trying to find one of the best seashore in Puerto Rico should go a little bit additional than San Juan to Playa Flamenco in Culebra, thought-about one of many finest seashores on the earth.

The island of Culebra, a municipality of Puerto Rico situated simply 20 miles off the island’s japanese 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 individuals, and a laidback vibe, and has too many lovely, naked seashores to rely,” says Jorge Montalvo, founder and CEO of Patria Excursions. “I can not consider a greater seashore vacation spot within the Caribbean.”

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

Greatest Locations to Keep

Aleli Cottages

Colourful Caribbean bungalows, some becoming as much as eight friends, 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, score 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 Seashore

“There are surprisingly few locations to remain close to the well-known Playa Flamenco,” says Montalvo. The colourful Villa Flamenco Seashore is one in every of them, ticking each field for an prolonged seashore stick with kitchenettes, a barbeque grill within the yard for friends, and loads of seashore 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 identified for its easy guesthouse and villa leases, Membership Seabourne Resort is a good selection for vacationers searching for the conveniences and facilities of a boutique lodge. Day by day à la carte breakfast and transfers from the airport or ferry terminal are included within the room charge, as is using bicycles and kayaks. Set in a tranquil cove on Culebra’s southern coast, it feels conveniently near one of the best 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 perfect for households and teams of associates. The property’s non-public dock is interesting whether or not you are crusing in from the mainland or are merely trying ahead to spending lazy days by the water. A breezy, shaded deck full with hammocks and an outside kitchen means you may be spending most of your keep open air.

Greatest Issues to Do

Absorb the solar on Playa Flamenco.

An ideal crescent of sugar-fine sand meets crystal-clear waters at Playa Flamenco, a seashore so breathtaking you may marvel that it is nonetheless so untouched. Almost waveless waters make it the right spot for households, and seashore facilities like showers, altering amenities, and loos make it perfect for lengthy, beautiful days on the sand. Playa Flamenco bears a novel 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 may be a lot to see even only a few toes below the water. Lease 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 one of the best 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, one of the crucial lovely seashores on the island. “It is a journey to get to, however it’s beautiful, 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, however it’s nothing to scoff at, so come ready with sturdy, close-toed footwear.

Discover Culebrita.

In the event you thought the seashores on Culebra have been naked and unblemished, simply wait till you see Culebrita, an uninhabited islet off the island’s japanese coast. No ferries attain the island, so you may need to take a water taxi or non-public constitution to the island identified for Tortuga Seashore, the place sea turtles nest close to clear waters. Regardless of its tiny dimension, 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 in case you’re searching for a little bit of a break from the seashore or are curious to be taught a little bit 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 every part from Taíno pottery to reveals detailing the historical past of the U.S. navy presence on the island.

Greatest 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 traditional Puerto Rican dishes, heavy on the seafood and accompanied by chilly beers and dwell music within the evenings.

Blac Flamingo Espresso

Blac Flamingo Espresso is the one cafe of its sort on the island, with a powerful array of coffees and candy and savory choices for breakfast and brunch. The comfy 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 residence. This fashionable eatery is known for its lobster tail and recent fish however has a wide-ranging menu of refined island favorites. Reservations beneficial.

Zaco’s Tacos

Mexican avenue meals favorites are solid in Caribbean taste at Zaco’s Tacos close to the waterfront going through Ensenada Honda. Frequent dwell music and free-flowing margaritas make it one of the crucial beloved spots on the island for dinner and drinks.

Areas to Go to

Ensenada Honda

The world round Ensenada Honda (in English, “Deep Cove”) is the principle 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 awesome place to remain.

Playa Flamenco

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

The West Coast

Going through the protected waters of the Reserva Pure Canal de Luis Peña, the west coast of Culebra is residence to a number of the island’s most lovely seashores. Protected against 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.

Greatest 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, good for a seashore day. Costs are barely greater throughout these months, although not drastically so, as extra guests escape colder climate again residence, 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 means of the top of November. Even when storms or hurricanes keep away from the island, the season is usually marked by hotter, wetter climate.

Find out how 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 prematurely on-line or buy them immediately from the ferry terminal, and they’re beneficial to reach one hour prematurely of their departure time.

By Airplane

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 provides flights immediately from San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín Worldwide Airport (SJU), however further carriers like Vieques Air Hyperlink fly the 25-minute route out of San Juan’s smaller Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (SIG). Non-public constitution planes from main regional suppliers like Tradewind Aviation fly on to Culebra for these trying to skip the effort altogether.

Find out how to Get Round

Culebra’s tiny dimension makes navigating the island a breeze. Taxis are the best manner for many guests to get round, particularly those that plan on sticking to fashionable locations like Playa Flamenco. These trying to discover with a bit extra freedom can lease 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 fashionable, handy, and naturally, a variety of enjoyable.”