Planning a day trip to Culebra requires a little preparation, but it is definitely possible from San Juan. You’ll have to get up early to catch a flight or ferry, but you’ll have plenty of time to catch up on sleep once you’re lying on the beach.
Located 20 miles from the east coast of Puerto RicoCulebra is a beautiful and simple island surrounded by more than 20 keys. The island is a beach lover’s paradise as it features beautiful white mangrove forests, sandy beaches, turquoise blue waters and lush landscapes.
From about 1901 to 1976, Culebra was occupied by the US Navy and the Flemish Peninsula was used for artillery and bombing practice. The number one attraction in Culebra is Playa Flamenco, where you can see the tanks abandoned there by the navy.
Today, Culebra is extremely popular for day trips and snorkeling tours and is considered one of the best places to visit in Puerto Rico. If you have more than 3 days in Puerto Ricobe sure to add it to your itinerary.
How to get to Culebra from San Juan
By ferry
The Culebra ferry departs from the Ceiba ferry terminal, which is located on the east coast of the island, near Fajardo. The best way to get there is to rent a car from San Juan; I recommend checking prices using Priceline, Rentalcars.com or Discover Cars.
Try to pick up your car the night before, as you’ll need to leave fairly early in the morning for your Culebra day trip. The first ferry leaves around 3:30 am and then there are ferries throughout the morning around 6:00 am, 6:30, 7:30 and 9:00 am The earlier the better as you will have more time in the island. Be sure to check the ferry schedules for up-to-date times as they vary with the seasons.
Ferry tickets are $2.25 each way, which is a bargain! The trip takes about 45 minutes for the passenger ferry and about 1.5 hours for the passenger + cargo ferry, so try to take the passenger ferry if you can.
make sure buy your tickets online here a couple of weeks in advance, as they sell out quickly. The website will indicate that tickets are available at the box office, but preference is given to residents and they tend to sell out. It would be a shame if you went to the ferry terminal and found out that the tickets are sold out!
look at me Guide to the ferry to Culebra for detailed information on ticket booking, parking and what to expect.
Parking is available at the ferry terminal, which costs $11 per day. Make sure you bring cash! Rental cars are not allowed on the cargo ferry, so you will have to leave your car in Ceiba and pick it up when you return.
If you don’t want to drive to the ferry terminal, there are private car services that will take you to Ceiba. However, they are expensive, so it is generally cheaper to rent a car at the San Juan airport or Isla Verde.
The trip from San Juan to Ceiba can take between 1 hour and 1 hour 45 minutes, depending on traffic, the time of day, and the route you take. The toll road is the fastest, but you cannot pay the tolls in cash, so your car rental company will give you the option to pay a daily rate for the tolls. You can decline the toll option, but if you drive on a toll road, you will pay a fine for each toll violation when you return the car.
If you do not want to pay tolls, avoid PR-66 and travel only on PR-3.
By air
The fastest way to get to Culebra is by taking a small plane. It is possible to fly directly from San Juan to Culebra with cape airor from Ceiba to Culebra with Flamenco in the Air. Due to the short runway at Culebra, the planes are small propeller planes, so if you are concerned about the safety of small planes, you may prefer to take the ferry. That said, there have been no plane accidents on the Culebra route with any of the airlines.
Expect to pay around $200 round trip from San Juan, or around $90-$120 round trip from Ceiba.
If you are flying from Ceiba, you will need to rent a car and drive or book a car service from San Juan. The airport is called José Aponte Hernández Airport and is located near the Ceiba ferry terminal.
When you land in Culebra you will arrive at the Benjamín Rivera Noriega Airport, where you will find taxis waiting outside the terminal.
Getting around Culebra
Once you arrive in Culebra you will find taxis waiting at the ferry terminal and airport that take visitors to Flamenco Beach.
From the ferry to Flamenco Beach, the taxi costs $20 and seats 4 people. Taxis can be shared, so my friend and I were paired with two other girls and taken to Flamenco Beach for $5 per person. If you don’t see a taxi waiting, call one of the following companies:
If you plan to spend just one day in Culebra, then the easiest way is to get around by taxi. However, you can also drive yourself by reserving a golf cart or jeep rental. Companies usually offer free pick-ups from the ferry terminal and airport. Check out these websites for rentals:
Beaches and things to do in Culebra
Well, now you’ve arrived in Culebra! Most visitors head straight to Flamenco Beach, voted one of the best beaches in the world. We spent the whole day here just sunbathing, drinking pina colada and eat snacks on the beach. However, there are also other fantastic beaches on the island that you may want to visit.
Flamenco Beach
Located on the north coast of the island, Flamenco Beach is voted one of the best beaches in the world and is famous for its painted tank.
Here you will find a wide expanse of white sand with turquoise blue water, backed by lush vegetation. If you walk west along the beach you will come across the tank, a rusting relic left behind by the US military. The tank is rotting in the ocean, but it is regularly painted with bright graffiti and is one of the most popular photo spots in Puerto Rico.
When you arrive at the beach you will find a parking lot and a services area with food kiosks, toilets and showers. There are also umbrellas and chairs available for rent, which cost $20 per umbrella and $10 per chair.
Tamarindo and Carlos Rosario.
Tamarindo Beach and Carlos Rosario Beach are part of the Luis Peña Nature Reserve and are home to a wide variety of underwater life, including remoras, bluetail fish, stingrays, angelfish and stingrays. Both are great places to snorkel and see what you can find.
Tamarindo attracts fewer tourists than Playa Flamenco, so it feels quieter and more secluded. There are no facilities at this beach, so you’ll need to make sure you bring your own food, drinks and beach chairs.
Melones Beach
If you want to spot sea turtles, head to Melones Beach, which is located to the west of the island overlooking the Luis Peña Natural Reserve. The beach is rocky but is excellent for snorkeling and attracts many turtles due to its abundance of seagrass.
Snorkeling and Diving
The island’s coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove forests are teeming with wildlife, making it the perfect place for snorkelling or diving. If you want to rent snorkel gear, learn to scuba dive, or take a guided tour, check out some of these tour companies:
Culebra Historical Museum
Culebra is really all about lying on the sand, but if you want a break from the beach, visit the Culebra Historical Museum, which tells the history of the island. Located in a former naval ammunition warehouse, the museum provides information about the island’s ecosystem, as well as the military presence on Culebra.
Where to Eat in Culebra
When you arrive in Culebra it will be time for breakfast! Check the following places:
Black Flamenco Coffee – This adorable cafe has a bright pink exterior and cute outdoor seating; It is the perfect place to have breakfast before going to the beach. On the menu you’ll find coffees, French toast, avocado toast, bagels, sandwiches and smoothies.
Culebra Coffee – Located near the ferry terminal on the main strip, Culebra Coffee opens early at 7am and serves things like breakfast, sandwiches, bagels, and avocado toast. There is also an attached gift shop, where you can buy beach towels, sarongs and clothing.
For lunch and dinner, these are other good options:
Caracoles Restaurant – Located near the waterside ferry terminal, Caracoles Restaurant specializes in seafood and offers things like mahi-mahi, octopus, shrimp, grouper, and snapper. You can also order a variety of steaks, including churrasco, ribeye, and filet mignon.
boat dock – Instantly recognizable by its bright blue facade and blue interior, this indoor-outdoor restaurant serves fresh seafood and Puerto Rican cuisine with beautiful views of the water. You’ll find plenty of fresh fish on the menu, plus a variety of daily specials.
Zaco Tacos – If you fancy a quick bite before heading to the ferry, try Zaco’s Tacos, a colorful and quirky restaurant serving nachos, tacos and refreshing margaritas.
Is a day trip to Culebra worth it?
While Flamenco Beach is beautiful, there isn’t actually much going on on the island. It is very quiet and the choice of accommodation and restaurants is limited. So I would say that one day in Culebra is enough. If you love snorkeling and diving, and want to explore more of the island’s beaches, then you may want to rent a vehicle and stay one night in Culebra so you can spend two full days there.
Accommodation in Culebra consists of small guesthouses and apartments, so don’t expect luxury resorts or chain hotels if you plan to stay overnight.
I’ll be honest, my day trip to Culebra was pretty exhausting. My friend and I had to get up in the middle of the night to drive to Ceiba and didn’t get back to San Juan until 9 pm. If you have cash and don’t mind small planes, then I would consider flying there and taking the ferry.
However, the ferry is much, much cheaper and if you can get the ferry times you want then the trip shouldn’t be too bad. Just make sure you try to sit on the deck so you don’t get too seasick.
One last word…
Thus ends your day trip to Culebra, one of The most famous in Puerto Rico. islands! Your day will involve an early start and a late finish, but it is entirely possible to see Culebra in one day. Make sure you take out some cash before you arrive on the island, as you’ll need it for things like parking at the ferry terminal, taxis in Culebra, and snacks on the beach. If you forget, there is an ATM right next to the ferry terminal, so make sure you bring a debit card.
