And to get to these beautiful beaches on the island of Culebra, you can either take a ferry or a plane. Whether to relax or to enjoy the tons of activities offered by Culebra, this place is an excellent choice of location for your vacation. Time to know more about Culebra!
Does Culebra Have One of the Best Beaches in the World?
Culebra is a world-class resort. It is home to Flamenco Beach, one of the best beaches in the world, as well as the home of some of the Caribbean’s healthiest and prettiest coral reefs.
The beaches of Culebra also have shallow waters. These beaches are ideal for adults and tiny children who want to take part in the fantastic experience of snorkeling.
While in Flamenco, don’t miss a chance to see The Tank. It is Flamenco’s most prominent feature and a relic of the US Navy’s occupation of Culebra.
Where Are Culebra’s Beaches?
The world-class beauty of the island of Culebra contains a lot of beaches. These beaches are brimming with white sand and abundant in coral reefs. And these beaches are all around the different shores of Culebra. Some of the beaches in Culebra include:
Flamenco Beach
Located on the northern coast of Culebra. Flamenco Beach is a public beach on Culebra, a Caribbean Island famed for its shallow, blue waters, white sand, swimming spots, and diving sites.
It wraps a mile around a secluded bay in a horseshoe shape. Playa Flamenco is a renowned beach location in Culebra and Puerto Rico.
Playa Tamarindo
Playa Tamarindo or Tamarindo Beach, located on the west shores of Culebra, is the place to be if you enjoy snorkeling, scuba diving, and kayaking. With its spectacular view of Cayo Luis Pena, Tamarindo Beach provides visitors with stunning sunsets. The westward direction of Tamarindo Beach also contributes to the beautiful sunset views.
Tamarindo’s beach is a blend of white sand and coral stone that stretches for over a mile. Its shaded spaces and picnic tables make it ideal for a day at the beach with friends and family.
However, like all other beaches on Culebra (excluding Flamenco), Tamarindo lacks services. These services, such as bathrooms, parking, and kiosks, are not offered in Tamarindo beach. As a result, you should carry your packed meals and snacks for your beach day.
Playa Punta Soldado
Punta Soldado is a peaceful beach on Culebra’s southern coast, and it’s an excellent place for beginners in diving and snorkeling. Thanks to the quiet, clear waters and reefs, that almost reach the beach, providing a home for various aquatic animals.
Although diving is the main attraction at Punta Soldado, sunbathing is also on this beach. You can also enjoy the tranquil sound of the waves lapping against the shore from your beach chair. You might as well enjoy the breathtaking view of Vieques and Puerto Rico, too.
Playa Zoni
Located on Culebra’s northeastern shore. This beach will provide you with one of the most unforgettable beach experiences you will ever have. Due to its white sands and blue waters, Zoni is just as attractive as Flamenco Beach.
Zoni, however, unlike Flamenco, lacks services such as restrooms and parking. Because it is far less populous than Flamenco, it is undoubtedly a more serene place.
Playa Zoni also offers a variety of beach activities for all visitors, including sunbathing, beach volleyball, soccer, and tennis.
Remember to keep an eye out for turtle nesting places if you’re visiting between April and June. And remember, do not walk over them or play in their vicinity.
Zoni Beach is an easy choice for anyone looking to get away from it all and enjoy a calm day at the beach.
Playa Carlos Rosario
Playa Carlos Rosario is a beach almost entirely enclosed by a barrier reef and located on the west shores of Culebra. Playa Carlos Rosario is a white-sand beach that has one of the best snorkeling areas in Puerto Rico.
You can snorkel on either side of it by swimming through the boat channel on the right-hand side of the beach (look for the floating white marker). However, be aware that water taxis and local powerboats frequent this waterway and had injured some swimmers.
On the island of Culebra, Carlos Rosario Beach is a remote beach known for its excellent snorkeling. You’ll have to walk a short distance from Flamenco Beach’s parking area to get to the beach.
How Do You Get to Culebra’s Beaches?
There are many ways to explore Culebra and to reach the different beaches. Here are some of the ways to get to the beaches in Culebra:
- Walking. Some of the beaches in Culebra are not reachable using transportation. It would be best if you walked your way there first before rewarding yourself with the relaxation you can get from the beautiful beaches around Culebra.
- Biking. Renting a bike in Culebra is a beautiful option since there are a small number of public vehicles. While these vehicles only pass through specific points around the island, they also have scheduled trips. That means that you cannot access them anytime you want. Meanwhile, renting a bike will only cost you $20 for the whole day.
- Rental Car. Renting a car is another option for you to get around Culebra and reach those beautiful beach destinations. This mode of transportation is the most convenient but will cost more. Renting a car in Culebra costs around $74 to $120 per day.
- Public Vehicles. Public vehicles in Culebra may cost less than renting a car. But using public vehicles is not the most convenient way of getting into the beaches of Culebra. Using the public bus may cost you around $10, but those trips are always scheduled.
How Do You Get to Culebra’s Beaches From Puerto Rico?
Flying to Culebra from Puerto Rico is the most convenient way to get there if you don’t mind spending a little more money. On the other hand, the ferry can be a good alternative if you have extra time or want to stop in El Yunque or Fajardo along the way.
Upon reaching Culebra, leave your luggage in your accommodation. Then from your accommodation, you can walk, bike, rent a car, and ride the vehicle appropriate to your case.
How Do You Get to Tamarindo Beach in Culebra?
Tamarindo beach is one of the beautiful beaches in Culebra. It is filled with golden sands, black and white pebbles, and colorful corals. You can find Tamarindo on Road 251. And these are the ways to get to Tamarindo:
- Rental Car. Traveling by rental car is for those people who seek adventure through the roads of Culebra. This is a good option when you arrive in Tamarindo early in the morning. Just note that dusk starts at 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM in Culebra. It is hard to get around the roads when it is dusk.
- Shared Shuttle. Traveling by shuttle is for those people who travel solo in Culebra. This mode of transportation is more comfortable than a public bus. Since you can set a place for pickups and locations for your drop-offs, you must adhere to their schedule since it is a “shared” shuttle.
- Public Bus. Traveling by public bus is for those people who seek to travel with less cost. The buses that travel to Tamarindo have a schedule. These buses travel at 11:30 AM and 3:30 PM. The trip costs around $10 per person. Note that there are no online tickets for reservation, and it is on a first-come, first-served basis.
How Do You Get to Flamenco Beach in Culebra?
After you reach Culebra, you can walk, which is not suggested unless you have a lot of time and energy to spare. Or take a taxi which would cost about $5–$10. Or rent a car once you reach Culebra.
The most cost-effective alternative is to rent a car. This is because renting a car allows you to have control of your destination and your schedule. Also, on whether to get out and check other neighboring beaches.
Carlos Jeep Rental and Jerry’s Jeep Rental are the two primary rental firms. They are both located across the street from the airport. They both provide shuttle service from the ferry terminal.
Jeeps and golf carts are popular ways of mobility on the island. Because some more distant routes are difficult, it is recommended to choose the jeep. If all you want to do is view Flamenco Beach, though, the roads are beautiful all the way there, so a golf cart would suffice.
Is Culebra Good for Snorkeling?
Culebra is a great place to go snorkeling. Its beaches stretch for miles, and the island has little development. This results in virgin, clear seas ideal for snorkeling.
Although the beaches are rocky on the west side of the island, the waters are calm. This is the place in Culebra best for snorkeling. This provides excellent visibility, allowing you to view some of the marine life in Culebra, such as the turtles, fishes, corals, and squids.
Some of the beaches in Culebra are great not only for swimming but also for snorkeling. Find out now what these beaches are!
Can You Snorkel From the Beach in Culebra?
The island of Puerto Rico is fortunate in that it still has beaches with healthy coral reefs. And Culebra is a part of Puerto Rico which means that the island has some good snorkeling beaches in the Caribbean. Some of the beaches include:
Flamenco Beach
Flamenco is a great place to go snorkeling. You can access the first reef somewhat to the left of the beach when facing the waters. It is challenging to overlook due to the many snorkeling aficionados there.
At Flamenco, you may rent all kinds of beach gear, but it’s usually advisable to bring your own snorkeling gear for sanitary and safety reasons.
Tamarindo Beach
Tamarindo beach is one of the favorites of the locals because of its protected and tranquil waters. The water of Tamarindo beach has reasonable depths and diverse undersea life.
You can also find various coral species and a variety of Caribbean fish. These include trumpetfish, trunkfish, octopuses, squids, and sea stars. The most excellent part is that you’ll almost certainly see stingrays and sea turtles!
Note that you should also bring swim shoes because pebbles, boulders, and even sea urchins fill the vicinity of the beach.
Carlos Rosario Beach
Carlos Rosario beach has a well-deserved reputation as the best snorkeling spot on Culebra. Its underwater life is spectacular. This is because of its remote location and affiliation with the Culebra Nature Reserve.
In relatively shallow water, there is a large variety of colorful fish. You can also find a diverse collection of corals and sea fans on this beach.
Melones Beach
Melones is a beautiful beach in the Luis Pea Channel Natural Reserve. There are spectacular undersea rock formations and an accompanying coral reef to appreciate.
You can also find soft coral and sea fans, as well as hard coral, covering the floor. Nearby, there are seagrass fields that attract a variety of turtles.
Melones is incredibly convenient because it is only a short drive from the island’s ferry station. While it is an excellent snorkeling area in Culebra, swimmers will not appreciate it due to the stony bottom. Pebbles, coral, and sand make up the beach, and only a few trees nearby provide a little shade.
Playa Sardinas
Playa Sardinas is an excellent area to relax and snorkel. You can enjoy the natural beauty, peace, and clear waters of Playa Sardinas. It is important to remember that the bottom is rocky; thus, swimmers should wear water shoes.
Cayo Luis Pena
The modest but lovely Luis Pena Beach on Cayo Luis Pena is one of Culebra’s most stunning snorkeling spots. To reach here, you’ll need to take a boat, but it’s well worth the time and effort.
The coral and marine vegetation are in excellent condition. And the area is home to a diverse range of water critters. You can expect to see coral reefs and mangroves here. All of which shelter and nourish an abundance of undersea life.
Where Do You Snorkel With Turtles in Culebra?
The seashore and cays surrounding Culebra include some of the best snorkeling and beach spots. These shorelines and cays are also the habitats of these sea turtles. In particular, Green Sea and Leatherback Turtles prefer to live on the shores of Zoni Beach.
On the beaches of Flamenco, Tamarindo, Luis Pea, Culebrita, and Carlos Rosario, you can swim among these turtles. These beaches are rich in coral reefs. These reefs are teeming with all sorts of marine life. Including turtles, making them excellent spots to snorkel with turtles.
