The bottom line
Come to Culebra for its natural beauty and its rustic and undeveloped charm. Then go to Culebrita to find out what undeveloped natural beauty is really all about.
Pros
- You will never have the crowds of Culebra’s Flamenco Beach, which gives you ample individual space.
- Just a short water taxi ride away, it’s an easy half-day or full-day trip from the island.
- Choose from your choice of at least four easily accessible beaches.
Cons
- Surfing at Trash Beach is rough and not recommended for swimming.
- The water taxi is not the cheapest, but it is the only one.
- There are no lifeguards or facilities anywhere in Culebrita.
Description
- As there is nothing on the island, be sure to bring water, towels, and a picnic if you are spending the day here.
- The only structure in Culebrita, its lighthouse, was built in the 1880s and is closed to visitors. But you can walk closely.
- Surfing at Trash Beach is rough and not recommended for swimming.
Guide Review – Culebrita Island Review of Culebra
I love Culebra; I love its low-key atmosphere, the friendliness of its hometown, and its beautiful, unspoiled beaches. I love his anomalies, like the two rustic tanks at Flamenco Beach, Dick and Cathie’s “Stuff”, and the ever-famous Island Woman.
But one of the main reasons I love Culebra is not even on the island, but rather a water taxi ride. Culebrita (meaning small snake snake snake) is truly a paradise out of the way. Only a man-made structure spoils it; a small out-of-service lighthouse that adds to the visual charm of the island and is so neglected that it almost adds to the natural beauty. The real reason Culebrita shines is its collection of wonderful beaches.
West Beach, where the water taxis dock, is a narrow strip of sand in front of a dazzling menu of shades of sea blue and green. The water is seductively calm and offers divers an abundance of fish, turtles and coral.
Playa Tortuga is simply one of my favorite beaches in Puerto Rico. This is a large, picturesque crescent whose turquoise waters are protected on both sides by long arms of rock that surround it, creating a quiet entrance framed by the lighthouse and a small promontory. Playa Tortuga also has, at its easternmost end, an area of shallow tidal pools and flats perfect for children of any age.
On the south side of the island is the Culebrita reef, called Los Corchos by the locals. And on the way to Playa Tortuga is Trash Beach , so called because a lot of waste due to carelessness or indifference is washed up here. Fortunately, all I’ve seen there is a smaller twin to Playa Tortuga, with the added perks of views of nearby St. Thomas in the distance.
Its beaches make Culebrita a worthy destination for those who really want to escape civilization, lie on the beach, swim in shallow, sun-kissed waters, and catch a glimpse of marine life. What more could you ask for from an island?
