Getting to Culebra by Ferry & Airplane
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…
Culebra Ferry
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.
Culebra Airlines
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.
