Visiting Culebra

Culebra is a ten-square-mile island that lies just 20 miles east of Fajardo. A haven for snorkeling, diving and enjoying the numerous beaches, it is surrounded by 20 cays; there’s plenty to explore. 

Check out our map of things to do, transportation options and places to stay: here.

If you take the ferry to the island, you’ll be greeted by Hector the Protector, a Thomas Danbo troll made of pallets from the local junkyard over the course of five days. The artist has numerous trolls that span the globe so it’s pretty special that Culebra has its own! 

Things to Do 

Flamenco Beach

The main draw on Culebra is Flamenco Beach, considered one of the top ten beaches in the world. The long stretch of powder white sand contrasts with the turquoise blue of the water and rolling green hills in the backdrop. The iconic tanks leftover from when Culebra was a naval base at one end of the beach and a reef on the other end make this a great spot for snorkeling. 

Tamarindo Beach

For snorkeling, there are many pristine spots to explore on Culebra. Tamarindo Beach is a great location for spotting wildlife, especially sea turtles and a variety of tropical fish.

Culebra National Wildlife Refuge

The Culebra National Wildlife Refuge is home to many sea turtles and the largest nesting site of seabirds in the Caribbean. 

Bright Paddle

Rent a Kayak or Stand Up Paddleboard from their website. They offer nighttime glow paddles as well as a variety of excursions on Culebra. 

Culebrita Lighthouse

Visit Culebrita, which is also part of the wildlife refuge. There are pristine beaches and an abundance of snorkeling in the clear waters. The only man-made structure on the small cay is an abandoned lighthouse. You can reach the cay via one of the many local charter companies or with a water taxi: H20 Water Taxi. If the sea is calm and you are an experienced paddler, get there by kayak or stand-up paddleboarding.

Culebra Historic Museum / Museo Histórico de Culebra

When you need a break from the beach, visit the Museo Histórico de Culebra which contains documented Taíno artifacts as well as information on the military history of the island. 

Transportation

For day trips to Culebra there are numerous boat charters that depart from Fajardo to take you on snorkeling, guided excursions and beach trips. Check out our article on boat charters on the east coast. 

To stay in Culebra for more than a day, you have a couple of options to get there, the ferry or flying. 

If you are on the main island of Puerto Rico and want to get to the ferry in Ceiba, you’ll need to either rent a car or take a taxi. If you can’t get to the ferry or are unable to procure tickets, another option is to fly from San Juan to Culebra.

Taxi Isla

Isla Taxi is based in the metro area and will take you to the Ceiba ferry.

Luquillo Taxis and Tours Co.

To reach the ferry terminal, Luquillo Taxi is a good option from just about anywhere on the East side of Puerto Rico. 

Terminal de Lanchas de Ceiba (Ceiba Ferry Terminal)

To take the ferry, visit the Puerto Rico website for reservations. They make a block of tickets available for the following month approximately two weeks to three days before the end of the previous month. Tickets are $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children and residents of the islands. Tickets for the ferry on the day of travel are available until sold out, except for cargo tickets which are for residents only. 

Ferries depart from Ceiba to Culebra as early as 3:30am and as late as 7:30pm. It is a 45-minute ferry ride. 

From Culebra back to Ceiba the boat departs as early as 6am and the last boat of the day is 9:30pm. 

If you can’t get ferry tickets, it may be worth flying to Culebra. 

For $45 roundtrip per person, you can fly on a commercial flight to Culebra from Ceiba. Flights are also available from San Juan for about $92 each.

Vieques Air Link

1(787)741-8331

José Aponte Hernández Airport

Taxi Aereo is a private airplane charter company. To charter a flight for 4 passengers it is $385 each way to fly from Ceiba to Culebra, making it less than $100 per person. Flights from San Juan are $945 for up to 4 passengers. 

Taxi Aereo Airline

1(787)718-8869

Once you are in Culebra, you have several options for transportation around the island.

Jayleen Transportation is next to the ferry dock and if you call ahead of time they will pick you up and take you where you want to go.

If you are day-tripping to Culebra, there are Público vans that will meet you at the ferry to take you to Flamenco Beach. 

At the port, it is possible to hire a private shuttle driver to take you around the island for about $150. They will take you to local beaches and sights, then take you back to the ferry at the end of the day.  

For more flexibility and multiple-day stays, it is recommended that you rent a vehicle from one of the local agencies:

Choco’s Bronco Rental

Choco’s Broncos have 2022 Broncos available for rent. You can take care of everything pertaining to your rental online and in advance so you don’t have to spend any time on Culebra dealing with paperwork. 

Carlos Jeep Rental

Carlos Jeep Rental is a well-established rental agency in Culebra. They have offices at the Culebra airport and Ceiba airport (for rentals on the main island of Puerto Rico) in addition to their main office on Culebra.

Jerry’s Jeep Rental

Jerry’s has Jeep, SUV and golf cart rentals on Culebra. They are located across the street from the Culebra airport and will meet you at the ferry terminal or airport for pickup. 

Culebra UTV Rental

With locations on Culebra and Vieques, UTV Rentals offer club cars, which are essentially souped-up golf carts on both islands. 

‍Places to Stay

There are numerous places to stay on the island, from Airbnbs to villas. Some favorite options are listed below:

Villa Flamenco Beach

As it isn’t near any restaurants or amenities, you will need transportation. The guest rooms contain small kitchenettes so you can prepare your own meals if you wish. Make a reservation early, as they are often booked up far in advance. Walk through their front gates and you are on Flamenco Beach. Enjoy a stroll on the beach at sunrise or sunset, it is gorgeous anytime. 

Mamacitas Guest House

Mamacitas Guest House is within walking distance of the main town, restaurants and the ferry. It is a convenient central location if you want the ease of going out to restaurants and not having to cook. Melones Beach is about one mile away. 

Marbella House

Casa Marbella has amazing views of Culebrita and is within walking distance of Zoni Beach. Car or golf cart rental for this location is recommended. If you don’t want to rent a vehicle, they will pick you up and give you a ride to the house. There aren’t restaurants nearby, so be sure to pick up groceries on the way there.

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