Flamenco Beach

 3/5

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.

What to look for: 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. Schools of blue tang are a common sight. We have occasionally seen sting rays, even in very shallow water. There will be more living hard coral the further out you swim. The best and coolest spots I have found where discovered when I was winding my way through channels that connect shallow sections of reef, as opposed to just swimming around the perimeter.

Heads up: Be aware of boaters. They should stay away from the reef, though. The swim out to the reef and back may take longer than you expect so pace yourself and make sure you have enough gas in the tank for the return trip.

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

Pros

Amazing visibility in good conditions.
The reef is visible from the shore.
As with anywhere in Puerto Rico, even if the beach is crowded, the snorkeling never is.

Cons

The swim to the reef takes a few minutes – it’s farther than it looks.
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.