Flamenco
Beach is located on Culebra Island, which is about 10 miles east of the
east coast of Puerto Rico. I believe that Culebra and Vieques Islands
are called the Spanish Virgin Islands (since the US and British Virgin
Islands are in the same neighborhood).
First
things first - how to get to Flamenco Beach: You can take a ferry or
fly out of Fajardo, Puerto Rico (about 30 miles east of San Juan). When
we went over to Culebra we took a puddle jumper plane flight - wooden
bench seats (with seat belts!), a dog, and the pilot walked out of the
airport bar into the plane! The flight only took about 15 minutes and
featured a dive bomber approach to the Culebra runway. Once we landed
on Culebra Island, in the City of Culebra, we took one of many taxis
that show up at the airport to greet arriving planes.
From
the airport it is just a 10 minute drive over a couple of low hills to
an unreal beach! By the way, on the way back, the plane was full, so we
took the ferry back to Fajardo. This was a fraction of the price, but
took 2 hours to get back - but, you are looking at the Caribbean the
whole time, so it is not unpleasant!
Flamenco
Beach is simply put VERY NICE! The sand is almost pure white and
incredibly soft. The beach is very wide and very flat - finding a good
spot is as easy as sitting down. The water clarity is just silly - you
can walk out to your neck, look down and see your toes perfectly clear!
We
were there in the summer, so there was not any north side swells out in
the Atlantic - because of this and the shape of the bay, the water was
glass. In the winter, much like Hawaii, the north facing beaches can
get some action. Being out in the water was like being in a huge,
perfect, sand-bottomed swimming pool - just crazy!
There
are only two options at Flamenco Beach to spend the night - one is the
Flamenco Beach Villas (Google search) at east end of the beach and a
public campground at the west end of the beach. We stayed at the
Villas, which were very basic, but worked. Initially, we had some
issues because we got booked into the main building or lodge in a first
floor room, which was really a basement room - very poor. After some
Spanglish by me and another manager who knew a touch of English, we got
relocated to one of the bungalows (Villas is a bit generous).
If
you are staying at Flamenco Beach, make sure to bring your food and
water, because the little beach bar/snack shack at the Villas has
unpredictable hours. Most of the local tourists, bring over their
supplies, but you can stop in Culebra to stock up.
On
this side of Culebra Island, the only thing to do is the beach - it is
an early to bed and early to rise type of arrangement. Very family
oriented and mellow - not party central.
The
reason it is mid-week paradise, is because of the proximity to Puerto
Rico; all the San Juaneros jump over on the weekend. Flamenco Beach and
Culebra Island get very full on the weekend with all the city folks
from Puerto Rico getting away to the beaches. During our stay at
Flemenco, we only had 10 other people on the entire stretch of beach
and when we did a little impromptu hiking, we did not see anyone else.
On
the way out of Culebra Island, because the flights were full, we took
the ferry. The ride was mellow and inexpensive, but we left 45 minutes
late. It was a Friday afternoon when we departed, and the incoming
ferry was PACKED with tourists - they were unloading pets, coolers,
fishing poles, beach volleyball equipment, just everything - even with
using two exit ramps, it took over an hour to empty the ferry! When we
departed, it was only us and about 5 other people.
If
you want to make a quick escape from Puerto Rico and the crowded
cities, especially on the east side of Puerto Rico, then Flamenco Beach
is the mid-week ticket. For simple paradise on the beach, you can't
beat it!
