The travel section of the Boston Globe prominently featured Culebra (and the Palmetto Guesthouse) on its front page story today, “Seeking Sun & Savings.”
Author Patricia Borns writes:
“For heat on the cheap, we scoured the warm zone for destinations with great packages, or lodging options under $130 a night, and recent round-trip airfares from Boston under $450. Then we applied our rating system: high scores for barefoot simplicity, debits for resort crowds. And the winners are . . .”
If you want to escape the cold northeast and checkout Culebra’s fine beaches like Flamenco, Brava, and Zoni then give us a call at the Palmetto Guesthouse.
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.
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
If it’s cold, snowy, and miserable where you are, Nathan and Becky Smit were in Culebra recently (staying at the Palmetto Guesthouse) and they shot this fantastic video.
During the course of the seven minute video Nathan has captured video and photos from Flamenco Beach, Resaca Beach, Zoni Beach, Carlos Rosario Beach, and Tamarindo…really great stuff!
Trey and Laurie Porter from New Hampshire were recent visitors to Culebra and guests at the Palmetto Guesthouse. They took some really great photos of the island and I wanted to share some of them with you.
Zoni Beach
Arte Shop
Punta Soldado
Island Dogs
Canal Sunset
Thanks to Laurie and Trey for the photos and you should have a look at the full set on FLICKR.
Zoni Beach here on Culebra Island, Puerto Rico is an amazing place to spend the day. There’s a couple of nice sea grape trees that offer shade if you head off down to the right. Or, if you go to the left you can walk for at least a half-mile and have the place to yourself.
During the right time of the year, Zoni Beach is a sea turtle nesting site. And if you make all the way down to the end of Zoni you might even encounter some rock art or figures made out of coconuts and driftwood.
We went out to Zoni Beach a week ago and it appears as though someone has been doing a “beach art” installation out there…Apologies, I don’t know who did the art so I can’t credit the person.
Zoni Beach Art 1
Zoni Beach Art 2
Zoni Beach Art 3
Zoni Beach Art 4
Zoni Beach Art 5
Finally, two amazing Culebra stray dogs (Satos) need a good home. They are a mother and puppy pair known as Salty and Pepper who have both been fixed, and it would be best if they went to the same home.
I can tell you that they are both extremely well behaved, GREAT with people and kids, and would make a fantastic addition to any loving family. For more information please contact Jill Buckingham at jillbuckingham723@yahoo.com.
Because the northeast has been having quite a run of cold, snowy weather lately, I thought it would be a good time to post about ‘Ten Things You Could Be Doing on Culebra Instead of Shoveling Snow:’
1. Snorkel at Carlos Rosario & marvel at the fish & corals
2. Hike to Brava Beach & have the beach all to yourself
3. Take a boat ride to Culebrita with a picnic & cooler
4. Watch the sunset at Melones & drink in the view
5. Have a pina colada here in the Caribbean
6. Lounge in the sun at Zoni Beach & relax the day away
7. Boogie board at Flamenco Beach & catch some fun waves
8. Search for seaside treasures/shells on Tamarindo Beach
9. Explore the outer Cays & Isles on a scuba trip
10. Make a sandcastle (not a snowman :))
The weather has been a perfect 85 degrees lately with a nice breeze and no rain. Come down and visit if you can…
