Planning a day journey to Culebra takes a little bit of preparation but it surely’s undoubtedly do-able from San Juan. You’ll have to stand up early with a view to catch a flight or take the ferry, however you’ll have loads of time to make amends for sleep when you’re laying on the seaside.
Mendacity 20 miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico, Culebra is an exquisite, low-key island surrounded by over 20 cays. The island is a haven for seaside lovers, boasting stunning white mangrove forests, sandy seashores, turquoise blue waters and plush surroundings.
From round 1901 till 1976 Culebra was occupied by the U.S Navy and the Flamenco Peninsula was used for gunnery and bombing apply. The #1 attraction in Culebra is Flamenco Seaside, the place you may see tanks left there by the navy.
At present Culebra is extraordinarily common for day journeys and snorkeling excursions and is taken into account probably the greatest locations to go to in Puerto Rico. When you have greater than 3 days in Puerto Rico, be sure to add it to your itinerary.
How you can Get to Culebra from San Juan
By Ferry
The Culebra ferry departs from Ceiba ferry terminal, which is on the east coast of the island close to Fajardo. One of the best ways to get there may be to hire a automobile from San Juan – I like to recommend checking costs utilizing Priceline, Rentalcars.com or Uncover Vehicles.
Goal to choose up your automobile the night time earlier than, because you’ll have to depart fairly early within the morning on your day journey to Culebra. The primary ferry departs at round 3.30am after which there are ferries all through the morning round 6am, 6.30, 7.30 and 9am. The sooner the higher, because you’ll have extra time on the island. Ensure you examine the ferry schedules for up-to-date instances, as they fluctuate based on the seasons.
Tickets for the ferry price $2.25 every method, which is a steal! The journey takes round 45 minutes for the passenger ferry and round 1.5 hours for the passenger + cargo ferry, so goal to take the passenger ferry should you can.
Ensure you buy your tickets on-line right here a few weeks upfront, as they promote out shortly. The web site will say there’s tickets accessible on the field workplace, however choice for these is given to residents and so they are inclined to promote out. It could be unlucky should you went all the way in which to the ferry terminal solely to seek out the tickets are bought out!
Try my Culebra ferry information for detailed data on reserving tickets, parking and what to anticipate.
There’s parking accessible on the ferry terminal, which prices $11 per day. Ensure you carry money! Rental vehicles aren’t allowed on the cargo ferry, so that you’ll have to depart your automobile in Ceiba and decide it up whenever you get again.
When you don’t need to drive to the ferry terminal, there are non-public automobile providers that can take you to Ceiba. They’re costly although, so it’s usually cheaper to hire a automobile from San Juan airport or Isla Verde.
The drive from San Juan to Ceiba can take anyplace from 1 hour to 1 hour 45 minutes relying on visitors, time of day and which highway you are taking. The toll highway is the quickest, however you may’t pay tolls in money so your rental automobile firm offers you the choice to pay a each day price for tolls. You may refuse the toll possibility, however should you do drive on a toll highway, you’ll pay a penalty payment for every toll violation whenever you return the automobile.
When you don’t need to pay for tolls, keep away from PR-66 and journey solely on PR-3.
By Airplane
The quickest technique to get to Culebra is by taking a small airplane. It’s potential to fly direct from San Juan to Culebra with Cape Air, or from Ceiba to Culebra with Air Flamenco. Because of the brief runway in Culebra, the planes are small propeller plane, so should you’re apprehensive in regards to the security of small plane, you could want to take the ferry. That being stated, there have been no airplane crashes on the Culebra route with both airline.
Anticipate to pay round $200 round-trip from San Juan, or round $90-$120 round-trip from Ceiba.
When you’re flying from Ceiba, you’ll have to hire a automobile and drive or ebook a automobile service from San Juan. The airport is known as José Aponte Hernández Airport and is located near the Ceiba ferry terminal.
If you land in Culebra you’ll arrive at Benjamín Rivera Noriega Airport, the place you’ll discover taxis ready outdoors the terminal.
Getting Round Culebra
When you arrive in Culebra you’ll discover taxis ready on the ferry terminal and on the airport that take guests to Flamenco Seaside.
From the ferry to Flamenco Seaside, the taxi prices $20 and seats 4 individuals. The taxis might be shared, so my buddy and I have been paired up with two different ladies and whisked to Flamenco Seaside for $5 per individual. When you can’t see a taxi ready, name one of many following corporations:
When you plan on spending only a day in Culebra, then it’s best to simply get round by taxi. Nevertheless, you can too drive your self round by reserving a golf cart or Jeep rental. The businesses normally supply free pickups from the ferry terminal and airport. Try these web sites for leases:
Seashores & Issues to Do in Culebra
OK, so now you’ve made it to Culebra! Most guests head straight to Flamenco Seaside, which is voted probably the greatest seashores on the earth. We spent our whole day right here simply absorbing the solar, consuming pina coladas and consuming seaside snacks. Nevertheless, there are additionally another nice seashores on the island that you could be need to take a look at.
Flamenco Seaside
Nestled on the north coast of the island, Flamenco Seaside is voted one of many world’s greatest seashores and is known for its painted tank.
Right here you’ll discover an expansive stretch of white sand with turquoise blue water, backed by lush greenery. When you stroll west alongside the seaside you’ll come throughout the tank – a rusty relic left over by the U.S navy. The tank is rotting within the ocean, however it’s repeatedly painted in vibrant graffiti and is likely one of the hottest picture spots in Puerto Rico.
If you arrive on the seaside you’ll come throughout a carpark and an facilities space with meals kiosks, bathrooms and showers. There are additionally umbrellas and chairs accessible for rent, costing $20 for an umbrella and $10 per chair.
Tamarindo and Carlos Rosario
Tamarindo Seaside and Carlos Rosario Seaside are a part of the Luis Peña Nature Reserve and are house to all kinds of underwater life, together with remoras, bluetail fishes, stingrays, angelfish and manta rays. They’re each glorious locations to pop your snorkel on and see what you’ll find.
Tamarindo attracts fewer vacationers than Flamenco Seaside, so it feels quieter and much more secluded. There are not any amenities at this seaside, so that you’ll have to be sure to carry your personal meals, drinks and seaside chairs.
Playa Melones
If you wish to spot sea turtles, head to Melones Seaside, which is situated on the west of the island overlooking the Luis Peña Pure Reserve. The seaside is rocky however is superb for snorkeling and attracts loads of turtles as a consequence of its abundance of seagrass.
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
The island’s coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove forests are teeming with wildlife, making it the proper place for snorkeling or diving. If you wish to hire snorkeling tools, be taught to dive or take a guided tour, take a look at a few of these tour corporations:
Museo Histórico de Culebra
Culebra is de facto all about laying on the sand, however in order for you a break from the seaside, take a look at the Museo Histórico de Culebra, which traces the historical past of the island. Housed in a former Naval munition warehouse, the museum gives details about the island’s ecosystem, in addition to the navy’s presence in Culebra.
The place to Eat in Culebra
If you arrive in Culebra it will likely be breakfast time! Try the next locations:
Blac Flamingo Espresso – This cute espresso store has a vibrant pink exterior and cute out of doors seating – it’s the proper place to seize breakfast earlier than you head to the seaside. On the menu you’ll discover coffees, french toast, avocado toast, bagels, sandwiches and smoothies.
Culebra Espresso – Situated close to the ferry terminal on the primary strip, Culebra Espresso is open early at 7am and serves issues like breakfast wraps, sandwiches, bagels and avocado toast. There’s additionally a present store connected, the place you should buy seaside towels, sarongs and clothes.
For lunch and dinner, these are another good choices:
Restaurant Caracoles – Located near the ferry terminal by the water, Restaurant Caracoles makes a speciality of seafood, providing issues like mahi-mahi, octopus, shrimp, grouper and snapper. You can even order a wide range of steaks, together with churrasco, T-bone and filet mignon.
Dinghy Dock – Immediately recognizable by its vibrant blue facade and blue inside, this indoor/out of doors restaurant serves contemporary seafood and Puerto Rican delicacies with stunning views of the water. On the menu you’ll discover loads of contemporary fish, together with a wide range of each day specials.
Zaco’s Tacos – When you fancy a fast chunk earlier than you head to the ferry, strive Zaco’s Tacos, a colourful, quirky restaurant serving nachos, tacos and refreshing margaritas!
Is A Day Journey to Culebra Price It?
Whereas Flamenco Seaside is gorgeous, there’s actually not that a lot taking place on the island. It’s very quiet, and the selection of lodging and eating places is restricted. So I’d say at some point in Culebra is enough. When you love snorkeling and diving, and also you need to discover extra of the island’s seashores, then perhaps you’d need to rent a automobile and keep one night time on Culebra to be able to have a full two days there.
Lodging on Culebra consists of small guesthouses and residences, so don’t anticipate luxurious resorts or chain motels should you do plan to remain in a single day.
I’ll be sincere, my Culebra day journey was fairly exhausting. My buddy and I needed to stand up in the course of the night time to drive to Ceiba and we didn’t get again to San Juan till about 9pm. When you have the money and also you don’t thoughts small planes, then I’d take into account flying there over taking the ferry.
Nevertheless, the ferry is way, less expensive and should you can snag the ferry instances you need, then the journey shouldn’t be too dangerous. Simply be sure to attempt to sit on deck so that you don’t get too sea sick.
A Closing Phrase…
In order that completes your day journey to Culebra, one in all Puerto Rico’s most well-known islands! Your day will contain an early begin and a late end, but it surely’s completely potential to see Culebra in at some point. Ensure you take out some money earlier than you get to the island, as you’ll want it for issues like parking on the ferry terminal, taxis on Culebra and snacks on the seaside. When you do overlook, there’s an ATM proper by the ferry terminal, so be sure to carry a debit card.
