Culebra is a beautiful little island that is a municipality of Puerto Rico. It is one of the most popular day trips and is less than an hour ferry ride away from the main island of Puerto Rico.
Culebra is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and has an endless supply of white sand beaches with crystal clear water. Although breathtakingly beautiful, Culebra was once used as a bombing range for the US military, which you will see remnants of in certain areas. Make sure to bring snacks and extra food as most of the businesses were only open for several hours throughout the day.
I recommend 2-3 days on Culebra so you can fully take in the island without having to rush. However, for those short on time, a day trip is also enough as long as you plan in advance. Below are some of the best things to do in Culebra, especially if you’re an ocean lover.
MUST HAVE TRAVEL ESSENTIALS TO MAKE YOUR TRAVEL LIFE EASIER
culebra travel vlog below:
Table of Contents
DAY 1: how to get to Culebra from San Juan + where to stay
There are two options to get there, either by boat or by plane.
Budget option: take a ferry from Ceiba to Culebra
To get to Culebra you will need to take an Uber, taxi or your rental car to Ceiba on the East side of the island. An uber from San Juan to Ceiba will be around $60 for the hour and a half ride, the taxi will most likely cost $70-100 and a rental car will just depend on the rate of the day plus the $11 per day parking.
From San Juan my friends and I took an uber which we split between the 3 of us which turned out to be $20 each, and got dropped off at the Ceiba Ferry & Airport Taxi Company.
I would highly suggest buying your tickets a week ahead of time or even a month if you’re trying to go at a specific or busy time. You can buy your tickets online through the City Experiences App which will cost $2.25 one way for an adults and $1 for seniors and children under 13 or choose to do it in person at the ticketing counter at the ferry.
More expensive but more convenient option for those short on time: take a flight from San Juan directly to Culebra
You can take a flight from San Juan and fly directly to Culebra for $100 one way on a 35 minute flight. I have heard the views from this flight are spectacular and also a fun experience for those who haven’t been on small inter-island planes before.
If you do have time, I suggest taking the ferry to reduce emissions, save money, and get a feel for how the locals travel!
GETTING TO YOUR STAY FROM THE FERRY PORT
There are taxis available aka golf carts and vans that can take you to your accommodation that are waiting for passengers as they exit the ferry. The island is small enough to walk but it will definitely take at least 30-an hour to get to some places on the island so if you have the extra cash support the local taxi service!
For those who like to plan ahead, you can contact Kiko’s Transportation Service and set up a taxi ride through them-their phone number is (321)-335-8523 and email is sammytrans289@gmail.com.
WHERE TO STAY ON CULEBRA
Budget option: camping at Flamenco Beach! you can rent tents for $15-20, read more here.
Treat yourself option: getting a 180 degree view of the island from above!
We treated ourselves to a nice airbnb since we were able to split it 3 ways, so instead of paying $193 per night we each had to pay $65 per night! It came with a kitchen, two bedrooms, and a beautiful porch to watch the sunrise and take in these views. Here is the link to the Airbnb we stayed at 🙂
DAY 2: ADVENTURE DAY~ going to beautiful beaches + snorkeling with turtles
BEST WAY TO GET AROUND CULEBRA: walk, bike, jeep or golf cart
Like I mentioned earlier, it is possible to walk around Culebra although if you’re trying to go to multiple places it will definitely take you hours to walk from place to place so I suggest getting a form of transportation.
From Carlos Jeep Rental, you can rent either golf cart or Jeep. We chose to get a golf cart since it was less of a hassle- if you’re trying to go to more secluded beaches like Playa Zoni I would suggest a Jeep. *we planned this very last minute but we ended up just walking to Carlos Jeep Rental and asking if they had any golf carts left, which despite what their website said-they had some available!* Travelers under 25 will be charged an underage fee and you will need to make sure you fill up the vehicle before returning it.
THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN CULEBRA:
ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES IN THE WORLD
Flamenco Beach has been rewarded by several magazines the title of “one of the most beautiful beaches in the world” with its white sand, crystal clear water and green mountains in the background. The entrance fee is $2 per person and if you have a golf cart / vehicle you pay an additional $5 which go into the maintenance of the beaches facilities (bathrooms, showers, etc).
TANKS AT THE BEACH
If you walk down the left side of the beach you will actually find tanks that have been left over from the US Navy from when they used this island for bombing practice. Long story short, the locals protested against the military and the military ended up leaving, but also left behind their tanks too. Now you can visit this little piece of history right on the shores of Flamenco Beach.
Find out more about the history here.
GO SNORKELING WITH TURTLES
The best place to go snorkeling with turtles in Culebra is Playa Tamarindo. Here my friend and I were able to swim with at least 5 turtles and observe the shallow reef. Please make sure to not chase turtles, step on the reef and make sure your sunscreen is reef safe before entering the ocean.
travel tip: if you are traveling somewhere with an ocean get yourself a snorkeling mask and bring it on every adventure, it will save you a lot of money that you would otherwise use to rent and not have as much freedom! Also, the best way to capture underwater content is with the GoPro!
BEST PLACE TO WATCH SUNSET
The best place to watch sunset on Culebra is at Playa Melones. It is rocky rather than sandy, but it has the perfect view of the sun slowly make its way towards the horizon and behind a little island.
DAY 3- relaxation day before heading back
This will be your day to truly stop and enjoy the peaceful beauty Culebra has to offer. We chose to spend the day at Playa Flamenco but you can take things to do on day 2’s adventure day list and spread them out throughout your time or try to fit everything into one day if you’re only doing a daytrip!
From Flamenco Beach there are taxi services, if you get more than 5 people you only have to pay $5 per person, but there will be many people leaving that popular beach so it shouldn’t be a problem!
summary of our travel budget for 3 days:
*split between 3 people*
- $2 one way ferry ticket ($4 each)
- Airbnb split between 3 friends = $130 for 2 nights each
- golf cart rental was $31 each ($94 total)
- Flamenco Beach $3.60 each ($2 per entry + $5 for parking)
- golf cart gas refill $3.33 each ($10 total)
~ $180 for 3 days on Culebra
I hope this helps you have an epic time on Puerto Rico’s best day trip- Culebra!
