Archive for culebra
Empty Culebra Beach
Are you stressed at work, or need a quick weekend beach escape? Why don’t you come down to this empty beach here on Culebra Island.
Want to get away? Give us a call at the Palmetto Guesthouse.
Crab Digging on Culebra
As Kona demonstrates, the beaches on Culebra can be a great place to dig for crabs.
Want to come play in the sand at Flamenco Beach? Give us a call at the Palmetto Guesthouse.
Flamenco Beach on Saturday
After quite a few days of rain here on Culebra Island, the sun finally broke out for most of today. We went down for a quick walk with the dogs this morning and Flamenco beach is looking as great as ever.
If you’re looking for a small INN to stay at when you visit Culebra, then give us a call at the Palmetto Guesthouse.
Olympic Torch Comes to Culebra
The Olympic torch made a swing through Culebra last week and a few lucky residents got to carry it through town during a formal procession. From Wikipedia Olympic torch entry:
The Olympic Flame or Olympic Torch is a symbol of the Olympic Games. Commemorating the theft of fire from the Greek god Zeus by Prometheus, its origins lie in ancient Greece, where a fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics[citation needed]. The fire was reintroduced at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, and it has been part of the modern Olympic Games ever since. According to legend, the torch’s flame has been kept burning, ever since the first Olympics.
In contrast to the Olympic flame proper, the torch relay of modern times which transports the flame from Greece to the various designated sites of the games had no ancient precedent and was introduced by Carl Diem at the controversial 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Some photos for the day taken by Palmetto Guesthouse.
Culebra – Love Is In the Air (AGAIN!)
During the month of June we had two fantastic couples get engaged while staying with us here at the Palmetto. First, we had Ryan and Najla get engaged at Carlos Rosario beach after a day of snorkeling.
And, this past week Dan and Michelle got engaged at Zoni Beach.
We wish both couples tremendous joy, happiness, and success!
Palmetto Guests Get Engaged at Carlos Rosario Beach
Recent Palmetto guests, Jesse and Louisa, got engaged yesterday afternoon after a day of snorkeling at Carlos Rosario beach!!
We wish them the very best. :-)
TripAdvisor Names Culebra in Top Ten Beach Destinations in the World
Today TripAdvisor ranked Culebra as one of the Top Ten Beach and Sun Destinations in the World. Culebra Island came in number eight in the rankings and according to TripAdvisor, “Culebra is somewhat of the anti-tourist destination, harboring no large hotels or flashy vacation bells and whistles. The beaches are stunning stretches of white sand, great for sunning, windsurfing and diving. The culture and architecture are just as colorful as the waters of the bright blue sea. Stroll around downtown for a truly quaint afternoon activity.”
When planning your trip, if you’re looking for small, quaint accommodation on Culebra Island, then give us a call at the Palmetto Guesthouse.
10 Things You Should Know About Culebra Island
Culebra Island is an amazing place to visit. We have incredible beaches, good restaurants, and untouched natural beauty the way nature intended it. However, we also know that you work very hard and have limited vacation time. When it comes to making a decision on where to go, you need to get this right.
To be sure, a Culebra island vacation is unique and not for everyone.
In order to help you and your traveling companions make an informed decision, we compiled a list of ten things that you should know about Culebra.
1. Most Culebra accommodation options are located in neighborhoods. They are not fancy resorts.
2. You will most likely hear roosters crowing (at ALL hours), children playing, people laughing, and loud music.
3. Most of Culebra’s treasures are outside in the natural environment, if you want a vacation where you can spend hours on end in your room then you might want to go elsewhere.
4. If you are coming from a large metropolitan area, think New York or Washington D.C., realize that hyper-speed does not really exist here. The “pace” is sometimes referred to as “island time.”
5. There are NO high-rise hotels or all inclusive properties on Culebra. A typical stay is like visiting a friend’s home.
6. Culebra has one bank, one gas station, and zero traffic lights.
7. As Culebra is a tiny island, almost EVERYTHING must come to the island via plane or boat (including YOU if you decide to visit). Thus, resources can be limited and therefore things might be a bit more costly. This includes things like water and electricity, so you should be prepared to try to help out and conserve Culebra’s resources.
8. The beaches are beautiful and natural. There are no cabana boys waiting to serve umbrella drinks. There certainly are much fancier islands in the Caribbean, but Culebra is very unpretentious.
9. The dress code is very informal, such that the 25 lbs allotted for baggage on the airlines is more than enough for what you’d need to pack for Culebra.
10. Culebra’s grocery stores are small, smaller than most 7-11’s in the United States. However, you can get pretty much everything you need right here on island. And the fruit and veggie guy comes every Friday.
If Culebra sounds like your kind of low-key vacation paradise then please get in touch with us at the Palmetto Guesthouse. Also, check out our F.A.Q. page if you still have questions.
Ultimate Culebra Beach Information Guide
Here at the Palmetto Guesthouse, on a weekly basis we get emails requesting information on Culebra’s beaches. Typical inquiries include:
- Where are Culebra’s best beaches located?
- What is the access like?
- How’s the snorkeling?
To try and help our potential visitors, below is a list of Culebra Island’s most visited beaches and some general information on each.
Flamenco Beach
The gem of the island and consistently ranked among the top ten beaches in the world. Flamenco is probably the most accessible beach on Culebra. All of the publicos (for $3.00 per/person each way) go there during the day, if you have a rental car it’s an easy drive, or you can even walk 1.7 miles from the Palmetto Guesthouse to find yourself on this amazing stretch of Caribbean sand.
During the winter, Flamenco (like all of the north facing beaches) is exposed to north swell. All of that snow and awful weather you see reported on T.V. sends ocean waves and choppy seas our way. Normally that results in some great breezes as well!
Flamenco has some snorkeling spots down on the left hand side by the tank and over on the eastern side, by the mullecito (little dock), but by and large there are better snokel spots to be had on island.
Carlos Rosario Beach
One of the better snorkeling locals is Carlos Rosario Beach. It is one place that you definitely want to visit while you are on Culebra. Located via a twenty minute walk from Flamenco Beach, Carlos Rosario, is one of the best locations for snorkeling on Culebra.
The trail leaves from the left hand side (as you enter) of the Flamenco parking lot. At the bottom of the path (after traipsing up & over the hill-about 20 minutes), you will see a beach area on your left. This is not yet Carlos Rosario. Keep going straight ahead until the path ends & the water is straight ahead. Then, turn right and walk down the beach about 200 yards to find some nice sea grape trees for shade and a nice bit of snorkeling reef waiting for you.
Zoni Beach
Zoni beach is another popular stretch of golden white sand on Culebra that does not require any hiking. To reach Zoni, however, you will be required to have some type of transport; a bike, a car, or a scooter as the publicos do not like to venture out there.
Zoni beach is exactly 5 miles from the Palmetto Guesthouse and is as far east as you can go on Culebra. When you arrive, head down to the right side of the beach (facing the ocean) a bit. Here you will again find sea grape trees offering shade and a great swimming spot directly in front of this area. Too, en route to Zoni, as you reach the final high point prior to heading down a steep slope to the beach/parking area, you have a terrific view of Cayo Norte, Culebrita (with lighthouse) and even St. Thomas in the distance.
Tamarindo Beach
The turnoff for Tamarindo beach is located about 1/2 mile before you reach the Flamenco parking area. If you are coming from town, keep your eyes out for the first tree in the middle of the road followed immediately on the left by a large yellow house and a left hand turn. Take that turn and drive on down. If you park by the Tamarindo sign (just before you start going up the incline passed the beach) there is good shade to either side.
Snorkeling at Tamarindo can be quite good if you head off to the far left or right hand sides. Tamarindo is a great beach, however, since it has an abundance of seagrass, there is a very good good chance you might spot a sea turtle or two.
Melones Beach
Melones is easily accessible by car, foot, or bike and is located just on the other side of town from the post office and the health clinic. If you are heading towards the ferry dock take the right immediately after the post office and follow the paved road direct all the way to Melones.
This beach is not like Flamenco with a mile stretch of white sand. However, what it lacks in grains of sand it more than makes up for with its quality snorkeling. Melones is also a fabulous place catch a sunset.
Brava Beach
Brava beach requires a little more work to reach than the other beaches.
Heading out towards Zoni Beach, you pass the cemetery, climb a hill, see the Culebra museum on your left & take an immediate left hand turn. Follow the road all the way to the end & then begin your hike. Brava is about a 30 minute walk, but is certainly worth it! This crescent shaped beach can be rough, but provides a stunning view of a, many times, beach with only YOU on it!
Resaca Beach
Resaca Beach is similar to Brava, in that it is quite secluded and also requires a hike to reach it. Prior to arriving at the trail head, you would follow the road on the far side (towards Zoni) of the airport, past the Public Works Building and continuing on up, up, and up. The paved road turns to concrete and narrows and once you reach the circular turn around spot at the top you should look for the small turtle sign indicating the path.
Resaca requires a bit of effort as the trail can include scrambling over rocks and ducking under trees. There normally are pink survey markers tied in various spots to ensure that you are taking the proper path. Sneakers are recommended for this trek, but the reward upon reaching this stunning beach is great!
Playa Soldado
Lastly, Soldado Beach is a relaxing little spot, which has shade and good beginner snorkeling opportunities. Driving across the bridge in town you would take a left and keep going. When the paved road ends you can either park at the top and walk down (about 15 min.) or carry on on the dirt road if you have a high clearance vehicle in good shape. At the bottom you will park on the right side and can find a spot in the sun or under the tree and look out towards Vieques as you pass the day.
If you need further information about Culebra Island’s amazing beaches, please do not hesitate to contact us through the Palmetto Guesthouse contact page.
