Unspoiled and friendly isle
Written: Aug 22 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: idyllic, friendly, cheap
Cons: flight in can be a bit scary
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| cfranch's Full Review: Culebra |
Culebra is the Caribbean before big anonymous resorts. Very small and about a 30 minute flight from San Juan it is an undiscovered gem. The island has a few small hotels but we rented a house for the week in high season(winter). At $1000 for the week it was a bargain. High on a hill, secluded with 180 degree views of the Caribbean, lovely gardens populated with tame banaquits that eat sugar out of your hand.
Restaurants on the island are informal, cheap and few but good. Mamacita's was our favorite. The pace is languid and relaxed and everyone if friendly unlike other Caribbean islands. We scuba dived with Reef Link Divers, very professional and very reasonable. The reefs are good for beginning divers.
As the island was never developed it maintains much of its original flora and fauna and then some. Iguanas, parrots, tarantulas, scorpions, many different butterflies... Our favorite beach was Resaca which required a bit of a hike. You are rewarded with an empty beach and spectacular views. All of the beaches, however having something to recommend them.
A boat hire took us to Culebrita an uninhabited island off Culebra. We hiked up the mount to an abandoned lighthouse which looked as if it were plucked from Tuscany. The views were amazing. We then hiked to the main beach, Tortuga(spanish for turtle.) We saw many turtles surfacing for air and while we snorkeled. Incidentally I got better reception on my cell phone on this deserted isle than I do in Manhattan.
If you go bring plenty of sunscreen, bug repellent and books as there is little of these things for sale. No newspapers or magazines but you can go online if you need to at a Mailbox etc. downtown. As this is the U.S. the currency is the dollar.
We are planning on returning to Culebra next year. The only change we are making is that we are packing lighter.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
cfranch
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Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 0 members
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