Flamenco Beach

This world famous beach lives up to its reputation.  Stretching nearly 2 miles from end to end, this is the longest beach on the island.  Access is very easy.  Shuttle vans run regularly from the downtown area to a parking lot just behind the beach.  This is easily Culebra’s most popular beach.  In fact on a normal day then you will have more people visiting Flamenco then the rest of the beaches on the island combined.  Still then crowds are sparse and the beach is big enough that you can always escape and find solitude.

There is decent snorkeling at the northeast and northwest sides of this beach.  I have seen turtles & eagle rays here.

More then anything then Flamenco is a great place to enjoy incredible views and just soak up the sun.  If you are a beach person then this is THE beach of your dreams. Click here if you're interested in snorkeling around Flamenco Beach.

This is the only beach on Flamenco where you can find food and drink vendors.

Click Here to Choose Another Destination on the Map

Zoni Beach

This is the second most popular beach on Culebra.  To get there, you drive on Culebra’s main road all the way to the east end of the island.

Zoni is large and rarely are there many people.  This is the local’s favorite beach.  On clear days then you can see all the way to St. Thomas.  From Zoni, you can also see Culebrita Island and it’s lighthouse.

There is decent snorkeling off the south end of Zoni.  You have to swim around the point.  And it is a very shallow swim out to this point.  When the waves are coming in then this might be too much for inexperienced swimmers. Click here if you're interested in snorkeling at Zoni Beach

Carlos Rosario

This area is most known for its incredible snorkeling and diving.  But the beach here is really nice as well.  To get there then you need to park at the Flamenco Beach parking lot.  There is a hiking trail at the southwest corner of the parking lot. 

The trail begins about 50’ from the parking lot and you enter through a gated fence which should be open about 2-3’.  You begin by hiking up for about 10 minutes then down 5 minutes. 

The first beach you arrive at is actually an unnamed beach to the east of Carlos Rosario.  This is a nice beach as well.  Continue on the trail for another 75 yards to arrive at Carlos Rosario.  Here you will find a beach which runs nearly a mile from end to end.

Click here if you're interested in snorkeling around Carlos Rosario

Brava Beach

Brava Beach is probably most famous for being Culebra’s best spot to surf.  You have to hike down for about 10 minutes to get to it.  This makes the hike back up fairly grueling for those of you who are not in shape. 

If you brave the hike then you will be rewarded with a huge beach and probably not another soul on it.  I have been to this beach several times and only once did I see another person (this being a group of local surfers who were tearing the waves up!).

The water at Brava is also known for a strong undercurrent.  I do not recommend snorkeling here for safety reasons.

Resaca

Like Brava then Resaca is another huge beach where you will likely not find another person.  It is a slightly steeper hike then the hike to Brava.

I do not recommend snorkeling Resaca.  I have snorkeled the east end and did not really see much.  My guess is the west end is probably the same.

I think Resaca is best if you are after a huge stretch of beach that you can have all to yourself.

Snorkeling & Diving

I first became a certified diver at age 16.  That was seventeen LONG years ago. Since that time then I have enjoyed diving around the world in such places as Fiji, Tonga, South Africa (with Great Whites), The Keys, St. Croix, Hawaii, about 8 of the Bahama Islands, and Culebra.

I can honestly tell you that the diving around Culebra is not the best in the Caribbean.  It’s good but it is not the best.  My feeling is that when it comes to diving then you want deeper waters.  Culebra is not known for deeper waters.  Nearly all of the dive sites around the island are no more then 40 feet deep.  And the best reef life is found in the shallower waters.  So whenever I go to Culebra then I snorkel.  And I snorkel a lot!  Nearly every day I have ever spent in Culebra then I have hit the water at least once.  I feel fairly confident in saying that I know the waters their probably better then most of the long time island residents.

The shallower waters off the southwest shores of Culebra offer some of the best snorkeling you will find anywhere.  President Theodore Roosevelt wisely established this part of Culebra as a National Wildlife Reserve in 1908.  Since that time then this area has been able to prosper.  You will find turtles, rays, octopus, parrotfish, numerous smaller fish, and super healthy reefs.  You can also dive these areas but I just prefer snorkeling since the waters are typically less then 20’ deep.   

Melones Beach

This is not really a beach.  You can drive right to it as the road ends at the “beach” which amounts to about 10 square feet of sand and then the rest is pebbles.  Once you are there then you will want to snorkel about 45 yards out from shore and then head west.  The reef begins to the west about 125 yards from the parking lot and continues all the way down the coast.

This is my favorite snorkeling spot on the island.  It is so easy to get to and then once you are on the reef then you can casually snorkel in about 8-10’ of water. 

It is like snorkeling in an aquarium.  Turtles are fairly common.  Stingrays are very common if you head just outside the reef where the water gets to about 15-20’ deep.  Fish are everywhere including some of the largest parrotfish you will ever see.

Carlos Rosario

This is the best diving spot on the island.  It is also a fantastic snorkeling spot if you don’t mind slightly deeper waters.  The best parts of Carlos Rosario average depths of about 15-25’ deep.  You can get there by boat or you can actually hike to it.  For details on how to hike to it then see the “Carlos Rosario” description under Beaches.

You can pretty much find every kind of coral and fish at Carlos Rosario.  The area is not known for any particular species but is just a super healthy reef with lots and lots of life.  A super sized barracuda we call “Molly” also resides at Carlos Rosario.  My girlfriend is 5’ 0”.  This barracuda measures the same length when they swim side by side. 

It is a scary looking beast but of course has never been a problem for any of the thousands upon thousands who have snorkeled and dove here in the past years.  My guess is that some of the dive operators probably feed her as she is quite tame.

Tamarindo

Tamarindo is nice because you can drive right to it.  Rarely will you see too many people at this beach.  It is mostly pebbles but has stretches of pure sand here and there.  The reef is near the shoreline and is super shallow.  There are pockets of sea fans of every color.  Lots of baby fish.  If you swim out into the deeper waters then you have a great chance of running into an Eagle Ray.  I specifically snorkel this area to find Eagle Rays.  There are also turtles pretty common here.

The best reef can be found at either the east or west end with the west end being the better of the two.  If you do go to the west end then be cautious of currents as you snorkel out past the point.  There is usually a pretty strong current which will begin to pull you out and it may be a struggle for you to swim back in if you are not in shape. 

We like to ride this current out and then get our exercise swimming back in.  There are some huge coral pillar formations out near the end of the point.  These pillars extend ten feet high.

Punta Soldado

I have heard this area is known for its nude sun bathers.  Out of all the times I have been to this beach then I have seen it once.  But I come here to get in the water and not frolic with nudists!

A reef runs the east end but I think the west end is a little better.  And actually the best snorkeling is found by snorkeling out past the point at the west end and then continuing to the west.  There are lots of cool rock formations.  You can snorkel to the west until you are tired.  The reef extends to the west for nearly two miles.

Zoni Beach

Decent snorkeling can be found by swimming around the point at the south end of Zoni and then continuing to the south.  This is not recommended for beginning snorkelers as the waves at Zoni can be rough and it is a shallow swim over a reef to get around the point.

Flamenco

This famous beach is not known for snorkeling but it actually has some pretty good areas.

  I see lots of turtles at Flamenco and sometimes Eagle Rays.  The best areas are found at either the northwest or northeast end of the beach.  From either side then it is a shallow swim for quite a ways until you get out far enough where the water deepens to 15-25’.

Culebra Casa Azul

I first started renting this beautiful vacation house on my second or third trip to Culebra.  I have been there so many times since then I can no longer remember.  But I always found it to be a very comfortable home. 

When the chance came to purchase this vacation home in January of 2007 then I did not hesitate.  Since then I have made a few improvements and believe it is one of the best vacation accommodation households on the island.

Caribbean breezes drift through the house keeping it cooler on an even the hottest days.  For those who prefer super cool then a couple of AC units are ready to chill ya.

The kitchen is fully ready for meals.  And a barbecue unit is on the porch and ready for grilling.

For those who prefer to relax in paradise with TV and Internet then rejoice that American satellite TV and high speed internet are complimentary for house guests

Ocean views exist from every room in the house.  And hammocks are just waiting for you to drop into.

The house rents as a 2 bedroom house for $145/night.  Up to 4 adults will reside comfortably in the 2 bedroom house.  An apartment was added to the house in May of 2007.  This can be rented for $90/night or with the house for $195/night.  Multi-day discounts are possible except during holiday periods.

To reserve your days in advance then simply click through the calendar link below.  Is it smart to reserve your dates as early as possible since this house frequently books up for an entire month.  If you are looking for good vacation house or resort, look no further, this is a place for you! Your reservation will be confirmed by the house management company. 

Enjoy Your Visit to Culebra!