Culebra Puerto Rico

The island of Culebra is one of the jewels of Puerto Rico, (hidden jewels). Along with it's sister island of Vieques "La Isla Nena", these can truly be called the last "virgin islands" of the Caribbean and around the world.

The island of Culebra is located just 17 miles east of Puerto Rico. Is is also very close to the island of St.Thomas, just 12 miles west. The island is 7 miles and 3.5 miles wide. Its total area including the surrounding cays is 7,000 acres.

Culebra is called "Isla Chiquita" (small island). Culebra is also called one of the Spanish Virgin Islands.

Dewey is the capital of Culebra. The town of Dewey contains most of the archipelagoes 2000 souls. Culebra shows off beautiful islets great for snorkeling and scuba diving and those individuals that love nature and exploring the waters. Some of these islets include Cayo Geniqui, Cayo de Luis Peña, Culebrita, Cayo Ballena, Las Hermanas, El Mono, Piedra Steven, among the 23 islets.

Population: 1,868 (2000)

Wards: Dewey, Flamenco, Fraile, Playa Sardinas 1, Playa Sardinas 2 and San Isidro.

You can visit the surrounding cays by chatting up the local fishermen or by arranging dives through local operators. There's a ferry to Dewey from Fajardo that takes two hours, and air connections to Culebra from both Fajardo and San Juan. The surrounding cays require special use permits available from the Fish and Wildlife Service, Box 510, Boquerón, PR 00622. Visits to the lands administered by Culebra National Wildlife Refuge are regulated to insure protection of the rich and diverse resources. For information write to: Refuge Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, General Delivery - Lower Camp Culebra, Puerto Rico 00775.

Attractions

Culebrita is the largest cay near Culebra. Culebrita's beach is the finest of white sand and the water visibility is almost unlimited. It is accessible only by boat, and boasts the oldest operating lighthouse in the Caribbean. The Culebrita Lighthouse was built in 1886. In 1975, the Navy and Coast Guard closed the facility. Since then, the lighthouse has sustained heavy damage from hurricanes and vandalism. In 1981, the old lighthouse was registered on the National Register of Historical Monuments of the United States.

Luis Peña is the second largest cay near to Culebra. Many sandy beaches can be found on this cay, as well as wonderful coral reef located on the SW side, perfect for snorkeling.

Marejada Beach it's also known as Turtle Watch beach.

Today, snorkelers wonder through its coral kingdoms, nodding good-day to an astounding variety of sea creatures. Culebra with its 23 offshore islands forms a miniature archipelago. Coral reefs in this area are considered some of the most spectacular of the entire Caribbean region. Culebra's rugged countryside, outrageous beaches and small-scale tourist industry make the 25-square-mile island a Caribbean treasure for travelers.

How to Get There

Driving Time: 1 hour from San Juan to Fajardo, take a Ferry

For information about Air Travel Schedules you may contact Isla Nena Air Services, Inc., Vieques Air Link, Air Culebra (Charter) at (787) 268-6951, or Flamenco Airways Inc. (Charter) at (787) 723-8110 or (787) 725-7707.

You can visit the island by going to San Juan and taking a charter plane or you can just take the ferry in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.

The island has a small airport with domestic service to the mainland and to Vieques. The airport is served by Air Culebra from San Juan's Luis Munoz Marin International Airport and by Vieques Air Link from San Juan, Fajardo and Vieques. To get to the island, you can also take a ferry boat from Fajardo, available twice a day. For schedules of the Culebra Ferry click here.

Wildlife in Culebra

The Puerto del Manglar is surrounded by mangroves, which form a unique habitat which is vital for coastal wildlife. It is known that this area is a favorite roosting site for the endangered brown pelican.

On June 26, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt established the Culebra Naval Reservation. With the outbreak of WWII in 1939, the Culebra Archipelago became the primary gunnery and bombing practice site for the U.S. Navy and continued to be used for these purposes until 1975.

On February 27, 1909, a bird refuge was established, making it one of the oldest refuges in the system. Since then much of the island and the surrounding 23 islets including Culebrita are protected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a nature preserve, making the islands one of only two nesting sites for giant sea turtles in the U.S. The Culebra National Wildlife Refuge, 600 ha, protects large colonies of sea birds (with approx. 85 species), particularly terns, red-billed tropic birds and boobies, and nesting sea turtles. The refuge is accessible by ferry from the east coast or by plane from San Juan.

Culebra has sparse, thin soils and no permanent rivers or streams; water is obtained from a desalinization plant. Grazing and fishing are the principal activities of its few inhabitants.