Planning a day journey to Culebra takes a little bit of preparation but it surely’s undoubtedly do-able from San Juan. You’ll must rise up early in an effort to catch a flight or take the ferry, however you’ll have loads of time to compensate for sleep when you’re laying on the seaside.
Mendacity 20 miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico, Culebra is an attractive, 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 possibly can see tanks left there by the navy.
At the moment Culebra is extraordinarily fashionable for day journeys and snorkeling excursions and is taken into account probably the greatest locations to go to in Puerto Rico. In case you have greater than 3 days in Puerto Rico, be sure to add it to your itinerary.
The right way to 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 simplest ways to get there’s to hire a automotive from San Juan – I like to recommend checking costs utilizing Priceline, Rentalcars.com or Uncover Automobiles.
Goal to choose up your automotive the evening earlier than, because you’ll must depart fairly early within the morning to 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. Be sure you examine the ferry schedules for up-to-date instances, as they range in response to the seasons.


Tickets for the ferry value $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 for those who can.
Be sure you buy your tickets on-line right here a few weeks upfront, as they promote out rapidly. 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 likely to promote out. It might be unlucky for those who went all the best way to the ferry terminal solely to search out the tickets are offered 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. Be sure you convey money! Rental automobiles aren’t allowed on the cargo ferry, so that you’ll have to go away your automotive in Ceiba and decide it up once you get again.


Should you don’t wish to drive to the ferry terminal, there are non-public automotive providers that can take you to Ceiba. They’re costly although, so it’s usually cheaper to hire a automotive from San Juan airport or Isla Verde.
The drive from San Juan to Ceiba can take wherever from 1 hour to 1 hour 45 minutes relying on site visitors, time of day and which street you are taking. The toll street is the quickest, however you possibly can’t pay tolls in money so your rental automotive firm provides you with the choice to pay a every day price for tolls. You possibly can refuse the toll choice, however for those who do drive on a toll street, you’ll pay a penalty payment for every toll violation once you return the automotive.
Should you don’t wish to pay for tolls, keep away from PR-66 and journey solely on PR-3.
By Airplane
The quickest approach to get to Culebra is by taking a small aircraft. It’s doable to fly direct from San Juan to Culebra with Cape Air, or from Ceiba to Culebra with Air Flamenco. As a result of brief runway in Culebra, the planes are small propeller plane, so for those who’re anxious concerning the security of small plane, chances are you’ll want to take the ferry. That being mentioned, there have been no aircraft 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.
Should you’re flying from Ceiba, you’ll must hire a automotive and drive or e book a automotive service from San Juan. The airport known as José Aponte Hernández Airport and is located near the Ceiba ferry terminal.
Whenever you land in Culebra you’ll arrive at Benjamín Rivera Noriega Airport, the place you’ll discover taxis ready exterior 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 folks. The taxis could be shared, so my good friend and I had been paired up with two different women and whisked to Flamenco Seaside for $5 per individual. Should you can’t see a taxi ready, name one of many following corporations:
Should you plan on spending only a day in Culebra, then it’s best to simply get round by taxi. Nonetheless, you can even drive your self round by reserving a golf cart or Jeep rental. The businesses often provide 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 this planet. We spent our complete day right here simply absorbing the solar, ingesting pina coladas and consuming seaside snacks. Nonetheless, there are additionally another nice seashores on the island that you could be wish 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 legendary for its painted tank.
Right here you’ll discover an expansive stretch of white sand with turquoise blue water, backed by lush greenery. Should you stroll west alongside the seaside you’ll come throughout the tank – a rusty relic left over by the U.S army. The tank is rotting within the ocean, however it’s often painted in brilliant graffiti and is likely one of the hottest picture spots in Puerto Rico.
Whenever 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 dwelling to all kinds of underwater life, together with remoras, bluetail fishes, stingrays, angelfish and manta rays. They’re each wonderful 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 aren’t any services at this seaside, so that you’ll must be sure to convey your individual 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 resulting from 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, study to dive or take a guided tour, take a look at a few of these tour corporations:
Museo Histórico de Culebra
Culebra is admittedly all about laying on the sand, however if you need 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 offers details about the island’s ecosystem, in addition to the army’s presence in Culebra.
The place to Eat in Culebra


Whenever you arrive in Culebra it will likely be breakfast time! Try the next locations:
Blac Flamingo Espresso – This cute espresso store has a brilliant pink exterior and cute outside 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 – Positioned close to the ferry terminal on the principle 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 hooked up, the place you should purchase 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 may also order quite a lot of steaks, together with churrasco, T-bone and filet mignon.
Dinghy Dock – Immediately recognizable by its brilliant blue facade and blue inside, this indoor/outside 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 quite a lot of every day specials.
Zaco’s Tacos – Should you fancy a fast chunk earlier than you head to the ferry, attempt 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 occurring on the island. It’s very quiet, and the selection of lodging and eating places is restricted. So I’d say sooner or later in Culebra is adequate. Should you love snorkeling and diving, and also you wish to discover extra of the island’s seashores, then possibly you’d wish to rent a car and keep one evening on Culebra so that you could have a full two days there.
Lodging on Culebra consists of small guesthouses and flats, so don’t anticipate luxurious resorts or chain motels for those who do plan to remain in a single day.


I’ll be trustworthy, my Culebra day journey was fairly exhausting. My good friend and I needed to rise up in the midst of the evening to drive to Ceiba and we didn’t get again to San Juan till about 9pm. In case you have the money and also you don’t thoughts small planes, then I’d think about flying there over taking the ferry.
Nonetheless, the ferry is way, less expensive and for those who can snag the ferry instances you need, then the journey shouldn’t be too unhealthy. Simply be sure to attempt to sit on deck so that you don’t get too sea sick.
A Remaining Phrase…
In order that completes your day journey to Culebra, one among Puerto Rico’s most well-known islands! Your day will contain an early begin and a late end, but it surely’s completely doable to see Culebra in sooner or later. Be sure 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. Should you do overlook, there’s an ATM proper by the ferry terminal, so be sure to convey a debit card.