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Planning a day journey to Culebra takes a little bit of preparation however it’s undoubtedly do-able from San Juan. You’ll have to stand up early with a purpose 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 seashore.
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 seashore lovers, boasting lovely 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 follow. The #1 attraction in Culebra is Flamenco Seaside, the place you may see tanks left there by the navy.
At present Culebra is extraordinarily in style for day journeys and snorkeling excursions and is taken into account the most effective locations to go to in Puerto Rico. If in case you have greater than 3 days in Puerto Rico, be sure you 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. The easiest way to get there’s to lease a automotive from San Juan – I like to recommend checking costs utilizing Priceline, Rentalcars.com or Uncover Vehicles.
Intention to choose up your automotive the evening 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. Be sure to verify the ferry schedules for up-to-date occasions, as they fluctuate in accordance with the seasons.
Tickets for the ferry value $2.25 every approach, 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 intention to take the passenger ferry in the event you can.
Be sure to buy your tickets on-line right here a few weeks prematurely, as they promote out shortly. The web site will say there’s tickets accessible on the field workplace, however desire for these is given to residents they usually are inclined to promote out. It might be unlucky in the event you went all the way in which to the ferry terminal solely to search out the tickets are offered out!
Try my Culebra ferry information for detailed info on reserving tickets, parking and what to anticipate.
There’s parking accessible on the ferry terminal, which prices $11 per day. Be sure to deliver money! Rental vehicles aren’t allowed on the cargo ferry, so that you’ll have to go away your automotive in Ceiba and choose it up while you get again.
In the event you don’t need to drive to the ferry terminal, there are non-public automotive providers that may take you to Ceiba. They’re costly although, so it’s usually cheaper to lease 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 highway you are taking. The toll highway is the quickest, however you may’t pay tolls in money so your rental automotive firm gives you the choice to pay a day by day charge for tolls. You may refuse the toll choice, however in the event you do drive on a toll highway, you’ll pay a penalty payment for every toll violation while you return the automotive.
In the event 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 attainable to fly direct from San Juan to Culebra with Cape Air, or from Ceiba to Culebra with Air Flamenco. As a result of quick runway in Culebra, the planes are small propeller plane, so in the event you’re nervous concerning the security of small plane, you might want to take the ferry. That being stated, there have been no airplane crashes on the Culebra route with both airline.
Count on to pay round $200 round-trip from San Juan, or round $90-$120 round-trip from Ceiba.
In the event you’re flying from Ceiba, you’ll have to lease a automotive and drive or guide a automotive service from San Juan. The airport known as José Aponte Hernández Airport and is located near the Ceiba ferry terminal.
While 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 folks. The taxis will be shared, so my buddy and I had been paired up with two different women and whisked to Flamenco Seaside for $5 per individual. In the event you can’t see a taxi ready, name one of many following corporations:
In the event you plan on spending only a day in Culebra, then it’s best to only get round by taxi. Nevertheless, it’s also possible to 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 the most effective seashores on this planet. We spent our whole day right here simply absorbing the solar, consuming pina coladas and consuming seashore 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 finest 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. In the event you stroll west alongside the seashore 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 commonly painted in vivid graffiti and is among the hottest picture spots in Puerto Rico.
While you arrive on the seashore 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 residence 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 could find.
Tamarindo attracts fewer vacationers than Flamenco Seaside, so it feels quieter and much more secluded. There aren’t any amenities at this seashore, so that you’ll have to be sure you deliver your individual meals, drinks and seashore chairs.
Playa Melones
If you wish to spot sea turtles, head to Melones Seaside, which is positioned on the west of the island overlooking the Luis Peña Pure Reserve. The seashore is rocky however is superb for snorkeling and attracts loads of turtles as a result 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 right place for snorkeling or diving. If you wish to lease snorkeling gear, 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 if you would like a break from the seashore, 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
While you arrive in Culebra it will likely be breakfast time! Try the next locations:
Blac Flamingo Espresso – This cute espresso store has a vivid pink exterior and cute out of doors seating – it’s the right place to seize breakfast earlier than you head to the seashore. 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 connected, the place you should buy seashore 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 as well order a wide range of steaks, together with churrasco, T-bone and filet mignon.
Dinghy Dock – Immediately recognizable by its vivid blue facade and blue inside, this indoor/out of doors restaurant serves recent seafood and Puerto Rican delicacies with lovely views of the water. On the menu you’ll discover loads of recent fish, together with a wide range of day by day specials.
Zaco’s Tacos – In the event 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. In the event 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 car and keep one evening on Culebra as a way to have a full two days there.
Lodging on Culebra consists of small guesthouses and residences, so don’t count on luxurious resorts or chain inns in the event 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 midst of the evening to drive to Ceiba and we didn’t get again to San Juan till about 9pm. If in case 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 in the event you can snag the ferry occasions you need, then the journey shouldn’t be too dangerous. Simply be sure you 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 in every of Puerto Rico’s most well-known islands! Your day will contain an early begin and a late end, however it’s completely attainable to see Culebra in at some point. Be sure to 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 seashore. In the event you do neglect, there’s an ATM proper by the ferry terminal, so be sure you deliver a debit card.