Culebra is GREAT!
Written: Feb 13 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Laid back, uncrowded, great snorkeling, cheap rooms.
Cons: No hot water, a little inaccessible.
The Bottom Line: Culebra is perfect for people looking for a quiet, laid back beach vacation that's far from the maddening crowd.
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| larisat's Full Review: Culebra |
We decided to visit Culebra after consulting numerous Puerto Rico guidebooks that noted its LACK of large hotels, golf courses, casinos, etc. - all the "amenities" that make San Juan so unappealing.
We weren't disappointed. Culebra is really, really quiet and laid back. We stayed at Harbour View Villas ($115/day for a suite for 3 people with a full kitchen and beautiful views), which is up on the hill above town. Believe me when I say that the only nightlife on the island appears to take place at the ball field where the Little League games get pretty exciting.
But the beaches are great and, although we were there in January, almost deserted. My favorites for snorkeling were: Carlos Rosario, Melones, Soldier's Point. Flamenco is the big tourist beach, but the surf was so rough that we could hardly get in it without being knocked over. Forget about snorkeling there. Melones is much better at high tide. It's not a play beach - there's no sand, just reef that starts at the water's edge. But it's a great beach for kids to learn to snorkel. Just 20 feet out and it's like swimming in an aquarium.
We flew from San Juan on VERY small planes, but it's a lot quicker than taking the ferry. Still, that cost us $300+ for 3 people when we could have taken the ferry and paid for the cab to and from Fajardo for less than $125. Still, it depends on how much time you have on the island. A week or more - take the ferry! A weekend? Fly!
Don't expect a lot in the way of great restaurants. We're vegetarian and our only options were the 2 pizza places (both good and pretty cheap - $12 for an 18 inch pizza) and a little Chinese place. Order carefully there. I somehow managed to order vegetable chow mein that came topped with shoestring french fries!
We had a great time just grilling vegetables at our suite and enjoying the quiet, full moon, and some wine at night. Note that all alcoholic bevs other than Rum are very expensive. Bring your own or buy a bottle of rum and some fresh fruit.
Although they're pretty expensive ($40-60 per DAY!), you'll enjoy the stay more if you rent a car. The island is small, but very hilly and some of the hills are quite steep. You'll soon get tired of hiking around hauling snorkeling stuff, beach stuff, and snacks. Rent a car at least for a day or two so you can see some of the outlying beaches.
We can't wait to go back!
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
larisat
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Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 0 members
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