31 Oct, 2007
We seem to be getting a lot of people asking lately if Culebra is a good destination for a honeymoon. This is GREAT news because we love questions! However, I typically like to throw back a few queries to the inquiring party…about how they envision their honeymoon.
Culebra is definitely your stereotypical secluded, exotic, and romantic Caribbean location. However, honeymoons are meant to be a once in a lifetime special occasion and you and your new partner really need to think about what it is you are looking for in a destination. Without question, Culebra is a fantastic place for honeymooners to visit and it has an amazing array of beaches and activities to keep everyone satisfied.
Some of the specific questions include: Would you and your new spouse like to sit on the beach and do absolutely nothing? Would you like to go scuba diving or snorkeling? Are you happy making your own entertainment in an ultra laid-back environment? Typically, if couples answer yes to these questions then I would say Culebra is the place for them.
Because we do not want people to be disappointed with their experience, especially not honeymooners, other questions include: Do you require a five star resort setting? Would you like to go out and party until five in the morning? Do you like all you can eat buffets? Do you have an adverse reaction to sand beneath your toes? If you answered yes to a majority of those questions then I would suggest that you might want to consider a different honeymoon destination. Or, better yet, go to Puerto Rico for a portion of your trip and stay at a large resort, party until the wee hours, and shop at the large malls. When you are tired and ready to relax on the beach then travel on over to Culebra.
Editor’s note: For an interesting read on the origins of how the term honeymoon came about have a lootk at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeymoon.
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28 Oct, 2007
Today the New York Times published an article in their travel section entitled, “Affordable Caribbean” and it looks as though they somehow overlooked Culebra. Well, I am sure some Culebra residents and visitors will see this as a blessing. Others might feel as though our island home has been slighted. Seriously, I am quite happy they did not include Culebra but the fact that they overlooked us is a bit surprising…? Camping on Flamenco Beach! The Caribbean does not get much more affordable than that and you have one of the best beaches in the world just steps away from your tent. Anyway, as the commentary recommends let the masses go to St. Thomas and Vieques, which are both profiled in the article.
The New York Times’ loss is our gain because we have many GREAT guesthouses, hotels, and rentals here on Culebra.
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27 Oct, 2007
Are you traveling to Culebra in the near future? Would you like to be able to access the internet? Have you booked your Culebra hotel or accommodation yet? Well, this is a little weekend shameless self-promotion! At the Palmetto Guesthouse our visitors enjoy WIFI (wireless) connectivity for a minimal fee if they have traveled with their own laptop. Or, if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of carrying your computer with you on vacation our guests are welcome to use our dedicated desktop for surfing the web, or checking email, complete with honor system payment coconut.
If you are coming to Culebra for vacation and would like to have FREE access to the internet then consider staying with us here at the Palmetto Guesthouse on Culebra Puerto Rico.
Have any Culebra specific questions? Send us an email via the Contact page, or give us a call 787.742.0257 and we will try to assist.
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25 Oct, 2007
According to a report on the news this morning, many people are finding it harder to justify taking a vacation these days. Even when people do manage to escape the office it seems that people just can’t resist doing a little work from the road. This claim is further substantiated by Barry Lawrence of CareerBuilder whose research shows, “Working vacations are now the norm.”
Having spent the past five years living on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, and now on Culebra, we see a lot of visitors that can’t quite seem to relax…and they are on vacation! So, whether it’s getting back to nature on a hike, or taking a dip at the very popular Flamenco Beach, Culebra has its own set of unique activities and environments that will help you slow down, loosen up, and actually enjoy being away from the office.
Here are some tips to help you unwind when you come down for your Culebra Caribbean vacation:
- leave your laptop at home
- go with the flow
- make a picnic and hike to one of the out of the way beaches
- spend a day doing absolutely nothing
- turn off your cell phone
- go kayaking
- try something completely different like snorkeling or better yet, get certified to dive
- take a leisurely stroll through town
For the burnt out worker on a vacation away from the office, Culebra Island, Puerto Rico features lots of different adventure activities for both the young and the young at heart. From exciting water and land-based activities like hiking a beach trail, camping at the water’s edge, or swimming at Zoni Beach if you can’t unwind and forget about work here you might just be in trouble.
Need a place to stay while you relax on Culebra? Try the Palmetto Guesthouse for friendly, personal service.
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22 Oct, 2007
According to Gadling, the second addition of Rum and Reggae Puerto Rico is now available. According to the official Rum and Reggae website, “Rum & Reggae’s Puerto Rico, Including Culebra & Vieques will help you find and experience all the best of “La Isla del Encanto.” From the pulsating nightlife of San Juan (both gay and straight) and the architectural wonders of Old San Juan to the rain forests of El Yunque, the surf breaks of Rincón and the serenity of Culebra & Vieques, we are there, giving our own brand of critique for the savvy and in-the-know traveler.”
The writer’s description of Culebra Island (taken from the online highlight section) is very interesting and he states, “Culebra is a small and simple island. Politically part of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, it is light years away from the fast pace of San Juan. Although Spanish is the primary language here, English is spoken everywhere. The main village on the island is Dewey, named for Admiral George Dewey, an American hero of the Spanish-American War. This is where the ferry docks and where the post office and most of the commerce are located. There are only a few hundred guest/hotel rooms on the island, a few good restaurants, and no nightclubs, discos, or casinos. The pace is slow, slow, slow! Overall, one gets the impression that this is what the Caribbean used to be like. Indeed, Culebrenses – as residents are called – are very covetous of their way of life and are very suspect of any change.” I strongly agree with the last sentence of the highlight section where he says, “Culebra is one of the Caribbean’s best kept secrets.”
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17 Oct, 2007
Culebra Island, Puerto Rico as we all know is a tiny unspoiled island located 17 miles east of Puerto Rico and 12 miles west of St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands). It measures about 7 miles long and 4 miles wide. Its total area, including surrounding cays, is 7700 acres. However, when you arrive on island you will want to be able to travel at your own pace, get around, sightsee, and go to the beach and as such, renting a car might be an option. As stated on this site before, it is NOT recommended to rent a car on Puerto Rico and then try to take it to Culebra on the cargo ferry. You are strongly recommended to come to Culebra and rent your vehicle here and please make sure to follow your chosen rental agent’s policy on vehicle damage and driving on poor roads:
CARS
Willy’s Jeep Rental 787-742-3537
Carlos Jeep Rental 787-742-3514
Jerry’s Jeeps 787-742-0587
Dick & Cathie’s Jeep Rental 787-742-0062
If you prefer to bike or scooter around the island the following companies can assist you:
SCOOTERS
Culebra Scooter Rental 787-742-0195
BICYCLES
Culebra Bicycles 787-742-2209
Dick & Cathie’s Bicycle Rental 787-742-0062
This post is brought to you by the Palmetto Guesthouse offering friendly hotel accommodation on Culebra.
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15 Oct, 2007
For those looking for an adventurous day trip from Culebra, and as part of Blog Action Day’s focus on the environment, I thought I would draft a post on a very worthwhile excursion to the El Yunque Rainforest.
Amazingly, the El Yunque National Forest is the sole tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest System and it draws some 600,000 visitors from all over the world. According the USDA Forest Service website, “El Yunque’s relatively small 28, 000 acre size belies its importance. It differs significantly from all the other U.S. National Forests because of its year-round tropical climate and immense biodiversity.”
Within the El Yunque National Forest the rugged Luquillo Mountains rise to 3,533 ft. above sea level and the steep slopes can sometimes receive rainfall of over 200 inches (508 centimeters). The forest has an average temperature of 73° F (21° C), and seasonal changes are almost imperceptible. Due to the environmental preservation efforts within El Yunque, the rain forest is noted for its biodiversity. According to the website, “it is “home” to thousands of native plants including 150 fern species, 240 tree species (88 of these are endemic or rare and 23 are exclusively found in this forest). The El Yunque National Forest has no large wildlife species, but hundreds of smaller animals abound in this gentle forest, many of which exist nowhere else on the planet!”
To get to El Yunque from Culebra take the early ferry (or fly) to Fajardo and then follow PR # 3 for approximately 15.7 kilometers/9.8 miles (through Fajardo and past the communities of Luquillo and Fortuna) until you see the sign for “Palmer-El Yunque” on your left. Turn left at the traffic signal and follow the road through the village of Palmer until you see the sign for PR Road # 191. (Hint: there is a restaurant called “Noname”, painted a bright-turquoise on the corner!) Turn left on PR # 191 and follow it for approximately 4 kilometers/2 miles until you see the El Yunque National Forest sign. The entrance to the El Portal Rain Forest Center is on your right-hand side just after you enter the forest (directions takne from El Yunque website). For more directions and a map please refer to the “About Us” page on the El Yunque website.
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13 Oct, 2007
While searching for some information online today I came across a very interesting and eye opening 1902 New York Times article on Culebra and Dewey entitled, “Uncle Sam’s Naval Base in the Caribbean Sea.” Louis Labadie Driggs drafted the article, who after a further GOOGLE search, appears to have been a New York Times staff writer in 1902 who focused on military affairs.
Since I am not sure of the New York Times’ copyright law I will just provide a link to the full article (as opposed to reproducing it here).
1902 Culebra Article Abstract
1902 FULL New York Times Culebra Article (opens as PDF)
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12 Oct, 2007
For people who like to travel, Culebra Island, Puerto Rico has just been listed by author Patricia Schultz as one of the 1000 places you must visit before you die. In a recent Forbes Magazine article Schultz says, “that unquenched sense of curiosity to explore what awaits down the road is a great part of my character.”
Schultz also gamely admits, “there are some regions she still hasn’t visited. Large parts of South America still “surprisingly draw only limited American tourism,” she says. And she points to places like Culebra, off the coast of Puerto Rico, Saba or the Grenadines archipelago–all in the Caribbean.”
The full article can be read at Forbes Magazine and you can also find the book on Amazon.
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9 Oct, 2007
If you are coming to Culebra and are interested in land based transportation advice to get you to Fajardo so that you can catch the ferry, the following might offer you some options. First off, it is highly recommended that you don NOT take your rental car on the Culebra cargo ferry from Fajardo. In most cases you will actually break the rental contract if you do as it is generally prohibited for insurance reasons. Additionally, it would not be all that uncommon for your car not to get on your designated ferry, as priority is given to commercial vehicles & residents.
Probably your easiest alternative would be to take a taxi, or have a car service meet you at the airport. As of this writing, May 5, 2008 a taxi will cost between $60-$100 and will take between an hour to an hour and a half depending on the traffic (p.s. – Friday afternoons could take even longer). A reputable taxi service that the Palmetto Guesthouse recommends is Al’s Car Public Service. Mr. Alvaro Cuellar speaks English & Spanish & generally charges closer to the $60 range. You can book in advance with Al by phoning 787-590-9001
Lastly, you could rent a car. Leaseway (787) 791-5900 will rent you a one way car from $95 (economy car, which includes their Fajardo drop off fee.They can pick you up at the San Juan International (787) 806-5000.
No matter which option you choose, it is ALWAYS best to phone to confirm & to make arrangements in advance.
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