- Kay Davis
A Pedacito of Playa Flamenco on Isla de Culebra, Puerto Rico
Updated: Jun 19, 2022
I could not contain my excitement as the beach came into view from the boat. This was it. The beach that many have called one of the most beautiful in the world - Flamenco Beach on the island of Culebra.
To fully appreciate the beauty, you just have to go there. Located on the island of Culebra, just a few miles from the main island of Puerto Rico, the only way to get there was by boat, ferry, or a small plane. I tried unsuccessfully, twice, during my first trip to Puerto Rico to make it to Culebra by the ferry. Finally, during my second trip there, I was able to get to this wonderful beach.
My friend and I took a boat that made a snorkel stop before hitting Flamenco Beach. Snorkeling along the reef was outstanding, but I was on this boat for one reason - the beach.
As we got closer, the water was as clear as could be. Even with the slight churning of the boat’s motor, we could see to the sandy bottom through the crystal clear water. Thanks to the sun and the shadows from the clouds and the hills along the peninsula, the colors of the water were just magnificent, from turquoise to light green to dark blue.
The boat stopped and anchored in the shallow waters leading to the soft sand. We hopped off into the water to make our way the final few steps to the dry sand. Once there, my friend and I walked around to see this area of Culebra that seemed to be untouched by the crowds.
Along our stroll, we found a little walkway through the trees and made our way through to a small group of little huts. It was an area that had pop-up bars, a few little shops, and a couple of restaurants. Everything but the bar was closed that particular day since we were there right before high season started. But that was perfectly fine for us and we grabbed a couple of beers for the rest of our afternoon walking and exploring.
We walked around a little but were anxious to get back to the beach. Heading back to the walkway, we had a genius idea: take a fun photo to send back to our friends and make them jealous. We thought we were being super creative and cute. To this day, the “beer on the walkway” photo makes me laugh.
Other than a couple of others, the people from our boat were the only ones on the beach that October afternoon. It was quiet and peaceful, which added to the allure.
My friend and I enjoyed the soft sand of the beach and the warm waters of the ocean. The water was shallow and calm near the beach area, which made it really easy to wade into for cooling off a bit.
Our time on this stretch of beach was entirely too short. I have longed to go back and ever since my few hours on Culebra, I’ve watched every single episode of the various house finding shows that feature the island to learn more.
I rarely advocate for travel to a particular destination, since everyone has different likes and dislikes with regards to travel. However, this is one of the two or three places I’ve been to that I highly recommend, regardless of if you are a “beach person” or not. Trust me, you will not be disappointed as your toes touch the sand on the beach that is considered one of the best in the world. And after going there, I tend to agree.
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