Flamenco Beach

 5/5

Getting there: Take the ferry from Ceiba to Culebra Island. When you arrive on Culebra, take a taxi to Flamenco Beach. There will be many vans at the ferry terminal all headed there with a fixed price of $5.00 each way. You’ll be dropped off at an entrance point which is private property and you’ll need to pay $2.00 to get in. There will be several pathways on your right that lead to the beach.

Things to do: Walk the beach – if you walk to the left long enough you’ll come across two WW2 era tanks, one to the left on land, the other to the right being claimed by the sea. Snorkel the reef – I always snorkel the reef on the left side of the beach which is visible from the shore. The visibility is usually excellent though the sea life present is just average. Relax in the shallows – the water is calm, clear, and bottom is all white sand. There were restaurants and bars recently built near the beach where you can grab something to eat or drink on the beach.

Heads up: There can be a substantial amount of sargasso (seaweed) that washes up on the beach, just pray you get lucky. If you swim out far to snorkel, be aware of boaters. They should stay away from the reef, though.

For more information, see Culebra Itinerary and Keys & Islands.

Pros

Among the most picturesque beaches in Puerto Rico.
Calm water perfect for relaxing in the shallows.
Decent snorkeling on either side of the beach with amazing visibility.
Showers.
Umbrellas for rent.

Cons

Limited shade.
To get there, parking at the ferry terminal costs $15.00 a day, the ferry costs $4.00, the taxi costs $10.00 round trip, and the entrance fee is $2.00 per person.
Sand flies can be a real issue in the morning and evening. They have painful bites that itch much longer than the typical mosquito bite, in my experience.