Culebra is a fascinating island virtually untouched by major developers. When you go to Culebra you won’t find much in the way of nightlife, fancy dining or even luxury accommodations but what you will find is what draws most people to Culebra…fabulous beaches! From a world class beach to tiny secluded beaches, you will find them all here and if that’s not enough to entice you; this tropical paradise has a true laid-back Caribbean Island feel that’s hard to resist!
Where is Culebra Located?
Culebra, an island-municipality of Puerto Rico, is located approximately 17 miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico, half way between St. Thomas and Puerto Rico. It can be reached by a 30 minute flight from San Juan Airport, a 13 minute flight from Ceiba Airport or in two hours by ferry departing from Ceiba. Ceiba is located on the east coast of Puerto Rico.
We took the passenger ferry from Fajardo to Culebra. We parked our rental car in the secure lot by the dock in Fajardo and rented a Jeep from Carlos Jeeps in Culebra. The ferry ride was fast and the view was beautiful. Tickets cost $2.25 one way, per person.
Please note: There are no more ferries leaving for Vieques or Culebra from Fajardo, all services have moved to Roosevelt Roads in the town of Ceiba.
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Hi! We are Lou and Barbara, a world traveling, nature loving couple searching out new and interesting places to explore, photograph and share with you our readers.CONTINUE READING
We passed several small islands along the way to Culebra that we would like to come back to someday. I think it would be fun to enjoy a picnic under an umbrella there, don’t you?
The Town of Dewey
Dewey, Culebra’s only town is where the ferry arrives and departs. Here you can catch a shuttle to and from Flamenco beach for the day. If you’ve made arrangements for a rental car or Jeep you may be picked up here as well.
The town of Dewey viewed from the drawbridge. Some of the Inns on the Island will also pick you up if you let them know when your ferry will be arriving. You can find lodging deals for any season in Culebra at Booking.com. There are guest houses, dive shops and restaurants in Dewey as well.
Beaches on Culebra
Not only spectacular to look at but Culebra also has some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the Caribbean. The reefs are healthy with an abundance of various types of coral and the variety of sea life is outstanding. On this trip we saw octopus, eels, and sea turtles, cuddle fish and barracuda, just to name a few.
Sailboat at Melones Beach, Puerto Rico
Where We Stayed
We chose the Villa Boheme guest house for our 2 night stay in Culebra. The Villa Boheme is basic, clean and reasonably priced. As customary on Culebra the staff is very friendly. Our requests were always met; although with “island time” standards. Smile – relax – you’re on vacation!
What to Do in Culebra?
Relaxing on a beautiful tropical beach is of course the most popular activity (or should I say lack of activity!) on Culebra, but it’s certainly not the only activity. If you’re like us, a few minutes resting on any beach is long enough before we are ready to explore!
Other activities you might enjoy:
On land – hiking, biking, bird watching, or take a sightseeing drive around the island.
In the water – snorkeling, diving, kayaking, hire a captain to go sailing, fishing or to take you to one of the outer islands.
We saw this beautiful view of Dakity Bay as we were sightseeing around the island in our rented Jeep. It reminded us of our visit to Cruz Bay Harbor in St. John in the US Virgin Islands. Both views are stunning!
Places to Eat
Try Pandeli Bakery for breakfast and made to order sandwiches great to eat there or take with you for a picnic at the beach.
Try Mamacitas or Dinghy Dock for lunch or dinner. Both are on the water with a fun atmosphere. Also, El Batey has great hamburgers. It’s across from the water and you can eat outside on their patio.
Culebra – an Island State of Mind
Culebra’s island state of mind is definitely not for everyone. If your idea of a relaxing vacation is a 5 star-resort, gourmet restaurants and fancy shopping malls then Culebra is not for you. There is without a doubt a laid-back vibe here. Businesses tend to open and close with the arrival and departure of the ferry or as they feel necessary. The sign on one vendors cart reads “Open some days ~ closed others” that pretty much says it all!
When you go to Culebra you’ll find basic accommodations, casual dining, and a couple of small grocery stores for your supplies. The residence of Culebra are always friendly and it’s safe to walk around the town at night.
If this style of vacation on a beautiful, unspoiled Caribbean island sounds right for you, then you should look into experiencing Culebra – Puerto Rico’s little paradise!
More Fun Things To See & Do In Puerto Rico!
Visit Ponce – Amazing Flower & Rich History
Best Beaches in Puerto Rico – Our Top 6
Old San Juan – Top 10 Must See & Do
Visit Guavate for Puerto Rican Roast Pork
Have you visited the island of Culebra? Did you swim, snorkle or dive in one or more of the tropical beaches on Culebra? Let us know about your experience in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
Really love your site and all the helpful information you provide. Me and my family are visiting Puerto Rico for the first time during Christmas. Your pictures are amazing and are fueling my excitement over this trip!! While we won’t be staying in Culebra the whole time, we do plan on visiting as a day trip- I can’t wait to experience this myself!
Thank you, Laura. I hope you and your family enjoy Puerto Rico and the tiny island of Culebra as much as we do. We’ve never been there in December during Christmas and we’d love to hear about your experience when you return. Have a great time!
i .ove this i cant wait to go back lol im not lying ……………:)
Me too! Culebra Island in Puerto Rico is one of those destinations you can return to time and time again!
That tank is really weird… As a relic it won’t hurt anyone.
It’s a great idea to cover it in painted art. I suppose it will take ages until it decays… Probably it will still be intact in 1,000 years, but it will probably sink slowly…
The tank certainly is weird and even weirder when you see it in person sitting on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world! I have noticed that the painted art on the tank changes occasionally keeping the tank looking somewhat new and interesting…still very weird!
Oh wow this looks beautiful, definitely somewhere I would love to visit!
It really is one of the most beautiful islands we’re visited. We can’t wait to return, I hope you will be able to visit too!
This looks so beautiful! You have just convinced me to make Puerto Rico one of my next stops…
That’s great, Val. When you do go, please be sure to let me know how you liked Puerto Rico. I enjoy hearing about other peoples experiences when visiting different cultures. Thanks!
Came to my google search on the perfect time. My husband and I are going to culebra in a week for our 15 weeding anniversary.
Congratulations on your 15th wedding anniversary. Enjoy your stay in Culebra!
Thank you for “taking me away” to the Island this morning, enjoyed it!
It was my pleasure, Deborah. I’m so glad you enjoyed the “trip” to Culebra!