Bob M. and his wife recently stayed with us at the Palmetto Guesthouse and took these fabulous photos of Zoni Beach.
Zoni Beach — looking west.
Zoni Beach — looking east.
Zoni Beach — beautiful water!
Bob — enjoying a BLT lunch after Zoni Beach.
If you are suffering through all of the terrible weather around the northeast lately, here’s some recent Culebra Island video that I took. Enjoy…
Flamenco Beach Video:
Morning Mangroves Video:
Want to escape the cold and gloomy weather? Give us a call at the Palmetto Guesthouse!
Continuing on from our most recent post “Biking on Culebra Island” I thought that I would put up some quick information for folks who might like to go running/jogging while here on island.
Even though Culebra is only 7×3 miles we have some fantastic running routes. One of my favorites is a six mile loop that runs through town and then heads out east along the coast road by the Culebra cememtary and back again.
If you start at the four way intersection near the Culebra Island airport and Carlos Jeep rental and run to town and go past Mamacitas restaurant, over the hill past Butiki and then cruise on the coast road (and back again) it’s exactly six miles.
I did the run today at a fairly easy 9.30 minute pace and burned 711 calories.
If you would like to come to Culebra Island for some sun and fun, or if you’re looking for a warm weather training destination, give us a call at the Palmetto Guesthouse and we can help get you sorted.
This time of year we find many folks coming to Culebra Island from the northeast United States to escape the cold. One of the more common questions we get is, “Can you bike around Culebra?” (Culebra bike rental information.)
And the answer is a definitive YES! Some want to bike for exercise, and others just want a simple mode of transportation.
There are any number of bike routes on Culebra and this morning I took a bike ride with my Garmin 305 and mapped a couple of the routes:
1. My first ride was to the top of Zoni Beach. I started at the four way intersection (at Carlos Jeep Rental) and headed east. According to my Garmin the ride is 9.43 miles, it took me 50 minutes (round trip) and I burned 645 calories.
And half-way through the ride you get to enjoy this view over to Culebrita Island and St. Thomas in the USVI.
2. My second ride again started at the four way intersection and this time I went through town and then headed to Flamenco Beach. For the less motivated visitor, this is an easier option.
Although there is one pretty good hill half way through the ride. According to my trusty Garmin 305 the ride is 5.13 miles, it took me 27 minutes, and I burned an additional 335 calories.
Of course, there is a killer view at the half-way point!
Want to get away to a warm weather destination for your training? If you have further questions about biking (or running and swimming) on Culebra Island, please get in touch with us at the Palmetto Guesthouse.
If you are planning a trip to our island the first question many people ask is, “What is there to do in Culebra?” Here are ten suggestions to help get your Culebra tour planning started:
Here’s ten answers to the ever pressing question, “What to do in Culebra?”
If you have further inquiries, or would like to stay at a great small Culebra hotel, then give us a call at the Palmetto Guesthouse.
You can get to Culebra by ferry and by airplane. It really is not that difficult, although, there seems to be a lot of conflicting information out there…
Although there is a phone number to make reservations (787) 863-0705), it can be very difficult (nearly impossible) to reach someone in the Fajardo office.
The ferry operates daily (weekends and holidays as well) and the full schedule can be found here: Culebra Ferry
The cost is $4.50 r/t per person to/from Culebra and please note – there is NO ferry between Culebra and Vieques.
The ferry leaves from Fajardo, located on the eastern part of Puerto Rico. To get to Fajardo from San Juan you can rent a car and drive and then park it in a secure lot (on the right before the ferry terminal-$5.00/day). It is NOT usually permitted to bring a rental on the ferry for insurance purposes. Moreover, it is NOT recommended as priority on the cargo ferry is given to commercial vehicles and then residents.
The ferries can be VERY full (i.e. sold out) during holiday periods, April, and in the summer months with additional travelers from Puerto Rico. The Palmetto Guesthouse can purchase tickets and mail them (for a slight fee) for guests who make reservations in advance. Most other months, the ferries are not full, but being at the dock in Fajardo at least one hour prior to the scheduled departure is recommended.
The fastest, most convenient way to get to Culebra is to fly from the smaller regional airport in San Juan, called Isla Grande. It is about a 15 minute taxi ride from the main international airport and should cost about $15.00 + $1.00/bag.
From there you fly via Flamenco Air (787-721-7332 or 787-724-1818) or Vieques Airlink (888-901-9247) to Culebra. The price is $105 per person round trip and the flight takes ½ hr. ADVANCE RESERVATIONS are always recommended and you will likely have to try several times to reach a reservation agent. Don’t bother with email or leaving a message. You must speak to a person to make a booking.
There are scheduled flights daily with Flamenco Air and Vieques Airlink to/from Culebra/San Juan and Culebra/Ceiba (on the eastern end of the island near Fajardo) as well as charter services available and “on-demand” for routes/times outside of the normal schedules.
This information was orginally posted on our Palmetto Guesthouse “Frequently Asked Questions” page. If you would like to make a reservation or have further questions, please feel free to contact us: Palmetto Guesthouse Contact.
Our little island has always been a low-key paradise and hotels on Culebra are not much different.
Most people come to Culebra for the beach, nature, and to escape the hustle and stress of their everyday lives.
Culebra hotel accommodations tend to be located in neighborhoods (where you will most certainly hear dogs barking, roosters crowing, and children playing) and are of the guesthouse, INN, and B&B variety.
If you are ready for a well deserved (and affordable) break, give us a call at the Palmetto Guesthouse.
We will pick you up and drop you off when you arrive, provide amazing complimentary coffee in the mornings, and include everything you’ll need for the beach (snorkel gear, beach towels & chairs, and even coolers).
Also, we are rated number one by your fellow travelers on – Palmetto Reviews on TripAdvisor.
Many people come to Culebra, Puerto Rico (and the Caribbean in general) to experience what lies beneath the surface of the water. Without a doubt, the easiest way to do that is with a snorkel and a mask.
As long as you can swim, you do not need any specialized training or certification. Just put on your snorkel, mask, and fins and go!
The island boasts many fine snorkeling spots which include; Carlos Rosario Beach, Melones Beach, and Playa Soldado to name just a few.
Guests of Palmetto Guesthouse can use our assortment of snorkel equipment (not to mention: beach chairs, beach umbrellas, beach towels, etc) for FREE.
Give us a call if you have any questions.
(Editor’s note: All photos by Doug & Sheryl at Carolina Currents Magazine)
Since I am going on vacation soon, I that thought it would only make sense to give you some pictures of Culebra’s beaches that might get you to finally take that vacation you have been dreaming of.
1. Flamenco Beach – one of the top ten beaches in the world.
image source: chente922
2. Zoni Beach – looking west with Cayo Norte in the background.
image source: bvincent
3. Culebrita – the island of Culebrita has the Caribbean’s oldest lighthouse.
image source: tomburre
4. Sea grape – sea grape trees can provide some much needed relief from the sun.
image source: alicesoup
5. Pure relaxation – we have reserved these two chairs for you.
image source: Bill Gracey
Are you ready to get away? Give us a call at the Palmetto Guesthouse.
Have you been thinking about making a trip to see the amazing beaches of Culebra, Puerto Rico but have been holding back because of the flight cost?
Well, pack your snorkel gear because JetBlue just announced their “All-You-Can-Jet” special today. Starting from September 8, and running until October 8, you can have unlimited flights on their airlines for one month for just $599.
You read correctly.
All of the flying you can do to anywhere Jet Blue flies for $599. Lucky for you, if you have been wanting to come to Culebra, JetBlue flies to San Juan every day from many major cities.
If you have any questions about how you get to Culebra from San Juan or Fajardo, give us a call at the Palmetto Guesthouse or shoot us an email palmettoculebra[AT]Yahoo.com.
Full details of the JetBlue offer can be found here – All-You-Can-Jet
