La Isla Bonita: Culebra, Puerto Rico

Tropical the island breeze

All of nature wild and free

This is were I long to be

La Isla Bonita

Madonna

I can’t help myself but humming this song whenever I think of Culebra… It captures the vibe of this stunning Caribbean island so well…

A ticket to Puerto Rico is probably one of the best ways to escape the grim and cold winter in NYC. The island in the middle of the Caribbean -politically US territory and culturally deeply rooted with its Spanish past – takes you get a tropical paradise without any immigration hassle 😉

Before we checked out the capital San Juan, we decided to spend our limited time on the island of Culebra, one of the so-called “Spanish Virgin Islands”. We even spotted dolphins on the way, but unfortunately I couldn’t snap a decent photo of them 🙁

I won’t tell you too much and let the photos speak for themselves: This island is perfect for those seeking a quiet getaway. No big hotel buildings, no shopping malls, no night clubs – just picture-perfect beaches and lush vegetation and chickens. Lots of free range chickens 🙂

Culebra’s best known “secret” though is Playa Flamenco. This heavenly beach made of white sand and turquoise water is regularly featured on lists of the world’s top beaches, but fortunately remained fairly serene. Plus, it offers everything you need for a perfect day at the beach, including bathrooms and a variety of food stands. Although it never felt crowded there, you may be rewarded with an completely empty beach when you arrive early. It’s so worth it! Btw, this area used to be testing grounds of the US military, therefore you’ll also find two rotten tanks.

Although the island is small, a vehicle is needed to explore most of its beautiful beaches. We had a powerful golf cart (driving licence needed!) which we rented from Carlos Jeep Rental.

More isolated and a favourite among locals is Playa Zoni. I can’t recall when we ever had such a beautiful beach entirely for ourselves. It was magical.

Playa Tamarindo is known for the best snorkeling as turtles live in the bay. Unfortunately they were too shy to show themselves that day but we had a great snorkeling time nevertheless.

A perfect day ends with a gorgeous sunset like this one seen from Punta Melones.

Recommended cafés:

Black Flamingo Café

Recommended eats:

Dinghy Dock: American restaurant and bar right by the water

Zaco’s Tacos: Tasty tacos and other Mexican staples

Tiki’s Grill Burger: Breakfast meals and delicious burgers

Useful information:

The cheapest way to reach Culebra is from the ferry terminal in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. The schedule can be found here however it has a reputation that the ferries aren’t the most reliable. Tickets can be bought either in person at the counter or online (we haven’t tried that option though). One-way ride takes only about 45 minutes. If you’re short on time and large on budget, you can also fly into Culebra.

Although it is possible to visit on a day trip from the main island of Puerto Rico, I would definitely recommend to spend at least one night on Culebra. Considering the rather rustic nature of the island, there aren’t many hotels there, so AirBnB might be a better option. You can check hotel rooms here, but bear in mind that most of them are on the basic side.

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. I may receive a little commission through bookings on this site. This doesn’t cause you any extra costs but at the same time you’ll support me to run this site. Thank you ❤️

---

Check out these articles for more postcard-perfect beaches and island vibes:

The charm of Old San Juan

Salty air and seafood in the Ocean State

Beach hopping and snorkeling in the Riviera Maya

4 reasons to love Koh Samet