Culebra

This is one of the most beautiful places I have been to in my entire life. White beaches with spraypainted tanks in the sand, amazingly clear water for fantastic snorkeling, isolated spots on the island for hikes and more snorkeling, and at night the ocean is illuminated by bio-reactive algae that glow green when you swim.

don’t drive. rent a bike. or a scooter.

I used to live in Puerto Rico from the time I was 5 till about 16/17. Needless to say, that country is my home. Culebra is definitely one of the places I took for granted (as most people do that are local to an area) when I lived there. Never been but as soon as I visit family next year, I will DEFINITELY make it out.

PR & Culebra = why Asterisk has been away from 43things for a week :)

I’m not a connoisseur, but I’ve been to nice beaches in Thailand and elsewhere in the Caribbean, and Culebra blew them all away.

The Lonely Planet guidebook made it sound like Culebra’s main beach, Playa Flamenco, is a crowded hellhole on weekends and holidays – and I’ve never thought that Lonely Planet=Antisocial Planet before, but there was plenty of space for everyone. Two food stands serving amazing grilled chicken and pork, all the amenities you could ask for, and the best sand I’ve ever seen in my life.

Finally, we ran into a retired professorial couple in the San Juan airport on the way home who spend a month every year in Culebra…gives you some idea of how ridiculously amazing it is.

You can get there cheaply on a ferry (just $2.25/person currently). Many of the tourist businesses are owned/operated/staffed by white North Americans—there’s a good-sized colony of gringos who are enjoying life off the beaten track here. The good thing is that so far there are no chain stores—no Starbucks, Walgreens, McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s (though there are plenty of these on the main island of Puerto Rico).

We loved Tamarindo Beach, which we accessed by hiking from Flamenco Beach over the hills through the Luis Peña Nature Preserve. We had this beach all to ourselves on a beautiful November afternoon, & the snorkeling was amazing!

This place is amazing. I’ve been there four times now, and every time I find a new definition of peace and tranquility. I’ve never seen a place with such amazingly clear water in my life. And the scuba diving’s not bad, too!

Unspoiled Caribbean is a bit rough around the edges, but it also has some of the best beaches in the world and not many people to muck it up.

crystal clear blue blue blue water with powderfine white sand and sun… NO pollution… remote.

I came here on my twenty second birthday, and swam at Flamingo Beach beneath a full moon. The most awe-inspiring experience with water EVER. Everyone should come here at least once in life… but I hope they don’t.