culebra itinerary – how to have the ultimate day trip

While Culebra is a small island of the Puerto Rican archipelago, it is a wonderful place if you’re looking to unwind and relax. The turquoise waters, pristine beaches and wonderful dive sites makes it a wonderful escape for anyone looking for a little bit of adventure. In this Culebra itinerary blog post, I will tell you everything you need to know to enjoy a full day on this incredible island. This blog post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase, I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.

Do you need help planning your culebra itinerary ? Check out these helpful resources:

• Flights
• Accommodation for all budgets
• Rental cars
• Ferry tickets
• Activities, tours, and day trips
• eSIM for international data

Culebra itinerary – How to get there?

There are two options to go to Culebra island. The first one is by plane and the second one is to take a ferry ride. 

By plane

If your are considering the options to go by plane, you can have a ticket from San Juan airport to Culebra. The ticket is around 200$. So, it will add up to the cost of the trip if you are on a budget. Plus, depending on where you spend the night and how is your physical condition, you might still need to rent a car. This island have pretty steep hills and it can get tiresome. But, it is totally possible to walk it. We did not want to rent a car for the two days that we were there. So, we walked everyday. 

By ferry

The best bet, in my opinion, is to go by a ferry. Even more so if you are planning to visit mainland Puerto Rico. You can buy your tickets in advance through the City Experience apps or directly at the ferry terminal. I recommend that you by your tickets a couples of days in advance with the apps, because the most interesting departure times will sellout very quickly. The price for a one way ticket from Ceiba is 2.25$ and non-refundable. It is the most affordable option available. But, you need to know that, if you are not a local, you cannot bring your car to the ferry. 

P.S. the ferry schedule might not be optimal if you want to spend a whole day on the island and get up in the morning at a reasonable hour. The best way to enjoy a full day is to go to ceiba ferry terminal the day before, take a evening ticket and sleep on the island for two nights. That way you will have enough time to see everything. 

Culebra itinerary – How to get around?

Since there are no public transportation on the island, the best options available for you would be to rent a golf cart or a car just for the day. Whether your looking for a car rental or a golf cart rental, the best place to get it is from carlos jeep rental. You can easily book online and the employees are really helpful. I highly suggest that you rent in advance, because, since it’s a tiny island, the stock is limited. So, if you happen to visit with a lot of tourist, you might not be able to rent anything. 

What should I rent ? 

The golf cart is definitely the cheapest way to go everywhere you need, beside walking. But, since the island can have some pretty steep hills, you might not have enough power to go all the way up and this can be frustrating. So, depending on where you are sleeping for the night, you might consider renting a car. We slept at Aleli cottage. It was on top of a hill where the golf cart would not have made it.  Also, the golf cart is slower than a car and, if you want to make the most of your day, this is not the best choice.

Therefore, the best option is to rent a car. You won’t have to worry about flash flood, steep hills or even holes in the road with a jeep. Just for that, I really believe that it is a 100$ well invested. Plus, you will be able to go everywhere without loosing to much time! 

Culebra itinerary – Where should I sleep? 

There are a lot of options available for a night in Culebra island. But, the perfect place is absolutely at Aleli Cottages. It’s only a short drive from the ferry and it is totally worth it. Since I was keeping an eye on our budget and that I wanted to experience something new, I rented a small caravan. With this, I had a double bed, air conditioning, a small fridge, microwave and a sink. It is perfect for one or two nights on the island. 

What to except ?

The shower is outside of the caravan.  There is a big wooden fence to make it more intimate. Trust me, you will not see your neighbor and they will not see you, but it is an open space, so if you are traveling with a partner, keep that in mind. The water is not heated. Which is perfect for a refreshing moment, but it can be surprising. 

Then, you have access to a shared bathroom, kitchen and rest area. As far as I’m concern, the kitchen had everything I needed to cook my meals. I made a wonderful breakfast with local product there. The only thing is, that you need to check if the tank is empty before planning to cook. I did not do that and I had to find an employee and wait for him to change the tank, before cooking.

But, if you prefer to have a room, you have the option the rent what they call a nest. You will have a small bungalow, with a balcony and a private bathroom. All with an ocean view, but it will be a little bit more expensive.

Why is this so special ?

The reasons that make this place truly a unique stay is definitely the views. 

The first one, is when you go to the rest area. There are multiples hammocks for you to enjoy with a beautiful view on the whole island. You will have white sand beaches, mangrove forests, blue water and a city view to enjoy as long as you want in day time.  It is also the perfect spot for a wonderful sunrise.

The second one, is directly at the caravan. There is a hammock facing the west coast, which is perfect for the sunset and you are facing directly the ocean and the view is mainly composed of small islands. I can’t express in words how much the view of the sunset was worth every penny spent for this stay.

The night that I was there, the sky lit up and colors ranging from orange to purple colored the sky. As of yet, it was the most beautiful sunset that I saw in my life. It was my favorite things to experience in this beautiful island and I hope that if you decide to stay at Aleli Cottages, you will have the same experience as me. 

Culebra itinerary – What to do in one day? 

This is the best part of the Culebra itinerary. I will tell you everything you should do in one day.

Culebra itinerary – Book a two-tanks scuba diving trip

From the many dive shops in Puerto Rico that I tried, one that I liked a lot and that I would recommend is Culebra divers for your Culebra itinerary. The people working there are simply amazing. They are always ready to help, give useful advice and take an amazing picture of you in action. 

You can expect to dive in crystal-clear waters, swimming along coral reef and maybe sea turtles. When I dove in may, I was lucky enough to  see many thing, such as multi-color sea slugs, sea turtles, varieties of soft  and hard corals, a bunch of tropical fishes and stingrays. This is a different way to enjoy the natural beauty of the island of Culebra. 

You’re not a certified diver? Don’t worry, you can also try a discovery dive. You will go underwater and learn about the all the diving basics, while having fishes swimming around you.

You’re an experienced diver? Try the fluorodive. This tour is not available at many dive shop in Puerto Rico. Therefore, if you would like to give it a try and are comfortable with night dive, this might be the only place you can experience coral fluorescence.

Culebra itinerary – Indulge at Zaco’s tacos

Grab a bite at Zaco’s tacos. They have burritos, tacos, bowls and even quesadillas! They also have options for meat lovers and vegetarian. Everyone will find something to enjoy. 

The food is made from fresh ingredients and the fish option depend on the catch of the day. It can’t get any fresher than this. Additionally, the ambiance is totally on point! So, if your looking to have a good time while eating good food this is the place. 

Culebra itinerary – Relax at Flamenco beach

The best beach to add to your Culebra itinerary is absolutely Flamenco beach. It is crescent shaped and it is about a kilometer long. If your looking to lie down on a beautiful white sand beach, this is definitely the best place for it. One thing that make this place great is that the water is shallow and the water clear. It’s the perfect condition to have the best time snorkeling. Bring your snorkel gear and prepare yourself for a to swim at your own pace with parrot fish, sea turtles and sting rays. You can spot a variety of fishes there since the reef is near the shore. This beach is a paradise for any snorkeling lovers. 

looking for something a bit unusual? On this beach, there are two old and abandoned US navy tanks. They are all covered in graffiti now, but they are so colorful and the view around is so pretty. It makes it the perfect instagrammable spot. 

Compared to other beaches on the island you can grab a bite and a drink at a food stall. No need to pack a bag with snacks and cold drinks, everything can be found on site. It’s also the only one with facilities, since it’s the most popular of the 13 beaches on Culebra.

The famous Flamenco beach is a great place to bring your beach chairs, read a good book and enjoy to good vibes. All of this, with a lot of ocean friendly sunscreen, of course. 

Culebra itinerary – Treat yourself at La cocina del navegante

The food is completely amazing! I had the chef special, mero con camarones with arroz coco side.  It’s a fried fish with a shrimp-based sauce, with shrimps, vegetables and a generous portion of coconut milk rice. The two paired together tasted wonderful. The fish was tender and juicy and the sauce was so flavorful that I would have taken this exact meal another time if I could have spend more time on the island. 

There are a lot of other options available like angus burgers, chicken risotto, ribs and a typical Puerto Rican dish – the mofongo relleno.

If the food was not enough to convince you, the restaurant is facing the bay.  Meaning that the scenery surrounding you will be composed of blue waters, sailboats, mangrove forest and lush mountains. If you can grab a spot near the windows, like I did, you can spend your evening with good food, good drinks and idealy good company.

Culebra itinerary – Watch the sunset

The Culebra itinerary would not be complete without a beautiful sunset. Grab your car keys, and drive to the highest point that you can find. Near Aleli cottage is the best in my opinion, because it is high enough, close to the west shore and it is facing some smaller islands. The sunset is breathtaking from up there and the sky has a fiery looks. 

If you would rather experience the sunset from the beach, you could have a similar point of view as mine if you drive all the way down to Tamarindo beach. Your facing the same island, but from a lower perspective. 

Need help for your next trip? Check out some of my other posts.

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