Flamenco Beach
Flamenco Beach
5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
This horseshoe-shaped bay is popular amongst travelers for its clear, calm and shallow waters, and flat white sand. There are food stalls that sell food and drinks, shower facilities, and umbrellas that you can rent. As you walk along the shores, spot Flamenco’s most iconic attraction: the abandoned World War tanks decked in graffiti—a reminder of the US Navy’s occupancy of Culebra. It's a popular day trip spot from San Juan, so expect it to be busier on the weekends. Have your day sorted with a tour of Culebra Island, which typically includes transfers to the island and activities like snorkeling. – Tripadvisor
Duration: More than 3 hours
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5.0
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18
SC2350
Los Angeles, CA18 contributions
Jan 2020
When the waters are calm, I think this is one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. However, when the waters are wavy and there is a lot of wind, it becomes less enjoyable. I like that there are kiosks that sell food. Beware of the people who rent umbrellas and beach chairs right by the entrance to the beach. They are not dishonest, but they are also not very friendly. Their attitude can really spoil your time there, because you feel like they are resenting your presence and hating their jobs. The guy who set up our umbrella and beach chair demanded a tip. When he did this to another person, and they refused, he walked around and made funny noises like an upset chicken. It was very strange, and it’s not something that we often see on vacation. Most service people on vacation know that they will get better tips if they give better service. When the umbrellas kept falling over and almost breaking due to the wind, they got upset, and seem to be very put out by having to fix them. They also insisted that everyone set up their beach chairs and umbrellas right by the entrance to the beach. This is understandable as it is close to their rental station, but it also makes it so that there is a lot of traffic and people going by the area where you are trying to relax. Let’s just say that it was not a very luxurious experience. The beach was wonderful but the attitude was ghetto.
Still, I would highly recommend that you visit this beach during the spring. If you want to avoid the ghetto attitude, then either bring your own umbrella and beach chairs or don’t rent them from the people right at the entrance. I think there are people who rent beach chairs in the kiosk area. I don’t know how their attitude is, but hopefully it is better.
Still, I would highly recommend that you visit this beach during the spring. If you want to avoid the ghetto attitude, then either bring your own umbrella and beach chairs or don’t rent them from the people right at the entrance. I think there are people who rent beach chairs in the kiosk area. I don’t know how their attitude is, but hopefully it is better.
Written 31 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
antoniaalexe
Montreal, Canada18 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
we read extensive reviews before deciding to try our luck of reaching Culebra Beach... & we were very pleasantly surprised, unlike what many of the reviews said ! We rented a car and left San Juan at 6 am & arrived at 7:10 am at the Ceiba ferry station. The ferry used to be in Farjado be aware it is now in Ceiba! The drop off area is on the right side, I got off while my dad parked the car in the parking located a few hundred meters away. To my big surprise there was no line at all at this time & was able to get 3 round trip tickets - each ticket costs 4.50$. We then had about 1h40 minutes to wait before the ferry departed at 9 am. The boarding is divided in three residents first, followed by tickets purchased online (which i really advise to buy at least 2 days prior to desired departure day as they sell out quickly online), and finally tickets purchased the day off in person. Although there had been no one in line to purchase tickets, around 8:40 tickets seemed to be sold out. The ride lasted approximately 1h20 minutes & was very pleasant :) Once arrived at Culebra you will be bombarded by taxis offering transportation to either Playa Flamenco (3$ each way pp) or Tamarindo (5$ each way pp), and it takes about 10 minutes to reach the beach. Access costs 2$ per person Overall we spent an amazing day on this gorgeous beach!
~~~~~~ It should noted nonetheless that we went on a WEEK day at the end of January ~~~~~
~~~~~~ It should noted nonetheless that we went on a WEEK day at the end of January ~~~~~
Written 25 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rosa T
Springfield, MA16 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We spent the afternoon sunbathing on the soft, white sand and frolicking in the gorgeous aquamarine water. Make sure to apply a generous amount of sunscreen as the sun is relentless. The beach is easy to access from the parking lot and there is a stand next to the boardwalk to the beach that rents umbrellas and beach chairs. I would highly recommend renting an umbrella to have a respite from the sun. There are military tanks towards the far left of the beach that make interesting photo ops. There are a lot of waves crashing at the shore but if you swim out they are less of an issue. Local vendors are right off the parking lot in little kiosks and stands where you can purchase food, alcohol, and sundries you may have left behind. I recommend the natural ice cream stand and also grab a freshly opened coconut. After you drink the water, come back and he will cut it for you to eat. There is a $2 per person fee as they are raising money for renovations to the beach facilities. This is definitely one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and highly recommend a visit!
Written 30 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D_JOregon
Portland, OR285 contributions
Jan 2020
We went at the beginning of January and while the beach was beautiful and we enjoyed ourselves, the surf was too big for my teens to boogie board. I'm sure it's different during the summer months. Very convenience to have the food stands right there but we still brought a soft side cooler of water because it was a warm day. There are bathrooms to use also. Bring cash because the 3rd time we went they charged us per person in the car to park. I guess the first 2 days we were there were holidays so no one was at the lot checking.
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jasmin A
Bristol, CT122 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
We visited Culebra in April when we were in Puerto Rico for a family wedding. The seas have been unusually choppy for months and there’s been a rip current alert daily. Still, Culebra and Flamingo Beach have been on my bucket list for years so we booked the ferry tickets two months in advance. First of all the ferry was a nightmare, I wrote a separate review for that. I recommend that you fly Air Flamenco for only $100 round-trip per person.
I think that April might be the off-season most of the restaurants and gift shops on Culebra were closed. We did enjoy pizza and salads at Heather’s Pizza. We rented a Jeep at Carlos cheap rental because all the golf carts were already rented out. I suggest that you rent a golf cart in advance to ensure that one is available for you. Flamingo beach is probably beautiful when the seas are calm, unfortunately, I went during choppy, seas with rip currents and unswimmable waters. The lifeguards were alerting people to only swim in a few areas, as the tide was so strong and dangerous. Seaweed piled up on the usual white sands. Stray cats, kittens, chickens, and roosters accompany the food trucks that only sell deep fried food. Listen, I’m Puerto Rican and I love a good empanada, but I also love fresh fruit and smoothies which are really needed when you’re in a tropical area. I have not given up hope on Culebra, and I plan to visit some time in the future during the summer months when the ocean is calm, but I will be flying there Air Flamenco, as I will never, ever, ever, ever get on that ferry again.
I think that April might be the off-season most of the restaurants and gift shops on Culebra were closed. We did enjoy pizza and salads at Heather’s Pizza. We rented a Jeep at Carlos cheap rental because all the golf carts were already rented out. I suggest that you rent a golf cart in advance to ensure that one is available for you. Flamingo beach is probably beautiful when the seas are calm, unfortunately, I went during choppy, seas with rip currents and unswimmable waters. The lifeguards were alerting people to only swim in a few areas, as the tide was so strong and dangerous. Seaweed piled up on the usual white sands. Stray cats, kittens, chickens, and roosters accompany the food trucks that only sell deep fried food. Listen, I’m Puerto Rican and I love a good empanada, but I also love fresh fruit and smoothies which are really needed when you’re in a tropical area. I have not given up hope on Culebra, and I plan to visit some time in the future during the summer months when the ocean is calm, but I will be flying there Air Flamenco, as I will never, ever, ever, ever get on that ferry again.
Written 5 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Enrique B
Great Falls, VA57 contributions
May 2022
Flamenco Beach has a reputation, you'll often find it near the top of any list of top beaches in the world. And for good reasons:
1) Its long, about 1.5 miles long.
2) The water is crystal clear.
3) The sand is light, white, and fluffy. You can walk bare footed without any issues.
In other words, its the type of beach you expect to see in a postcard of the Caribbean.
Getting to Flamenco Beach is the issue if you're not staying in Culebra. You basically have three options:
a) You can take a boat tour there. There are plenty of operators, most of them leaving from Fajardo, that'll take you to Flamenco. It's the easiest way to get there in the sense that the tour operator plans everything for you, and all you need to do is show up and you get a wonderful daytrip to one of the most beautiful beaches in the planet. Tours there usually include an hour of snorkeling off the coast of Culebra before hitting Flamenco beach. While these are convenient, they have one issue: they are often re-routed to Icacos. The reason is the currents can be quite strong, and even when the boat does manage to make the trip to Culebra, its common for a lot of people in the boat to get seasick. So, if the forecast says the water won't be super smooth, the operator will reroute the trip to Icacos, which is much closer to Fajardo. And while Icacos is great, Flamenco beach it is not. So call a day ahead to make sure the tour will actually make the trip to Culebra if going to Culebra is important to you...and it should.
b) You can take the ferry to Culebra, and then either rent a vehicle or take public transportation to Flamenco beach. This will be cheaper and won't get you rerouted to Icacos. The logistics are just a bit more complex.
c) You can fly to Culebra. This is the most reliable way of getting there, but also the most expensive.
If I could re-do my trip to Puerto Rico, I'd probably go with option (b) and I'd try to stay a night or two in Culebra. But whatever you choose, a trip to Flamenco Beach is certainly recommended. There are not many places like it in the world.
1) Its long, about 1.5 miles long.
2) The water is crystal clear.
3) The sand is light, white, and fluffy. You can walk bare footed without any issues.
In other words, its the type of beach you expect to see in a postcard of the Caribbean.
Getting to Flamenco Beach is the issue if you're not staying in Culebra. You basically have three options:
a) You can take a boat tour there. There are plenty of operators, most of them leaving from Fajardo, that'll take you to Flamenco. It's the easiest way to get there in the sense that the tour operator plans everything for you, and all you need to do is show up and you get a wonderful daytrip to one of the most beautiful beaches in the planet. Tours there usually include an hour of snorkeling off the coast of Culebra before hitting Flamenco beach. While these are convenient, they have one issue: they are often re-routed to Icacos. The reason is the currents can be quite strong, and even when the boat does manage to make the trip to Culebra, its common for a lot of people in the boat to get seasick. So, if the forecast says the water won't be super smooth, the operator will reroute the trip to Icacos, which is much closer to Fajardo. And while Icacos is great, Flamenco beach it is not. So call a day ahead to make sure the tour will actually make the trip to Culebra if going to Culebra is important to you...and it should.
b) You can take the ferry to Culebra, and then either rent a vehicle or take public transportation to Flamenco beach. This will be cheaper and won't get you rerouted to Icacos. The logistics are just a bit more complex.
c) You can fly to Culebra. This is the most reliable way of getting there, but also the most expensive.
If I could re-do my trip to Puerto Rico, I'd probably go with option (b) and I'd try to stay a night or two in Culebra. But whatever you choose, a trip to Flamenco Beach is certainly recommended. There are not many places like it in the world.
Written 25 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
noora372
Round Rock, TX11 contributions
July 2019
Even the Puerto Rican come here from the main island to here during the weekend. My son, who in general doesn't express himself much, even he started saying, "O my Gosh, it's so beautiful, the turquoise color is so nice!". To do the snorkeling, you need to go to the right side of the moon/bay.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Orod223
Wallingford, CT177 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
We took a ferry from Ceiba to Culebra. The ferry ride was rough and took about an hour to get there. We took a taxi from the port to Flamenco Beach. The taxi driver was so sweet and nice. Cost for taxi ride is $5 a person for a 10 min. ride to the beach. Or you can rent golf carts or jeeps from different businesses close to the port, if you prefer. Flamenco Beach was the most beautiful beach I have ever visited from the white sand to the clear waters and the great waves, we truly enjoyed this beach and would recommend visiting Culebra to go to this beach.
Written 13 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rafael T
San Antonio, TX9 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
The water is absolutely beautiful the sound is powdery soft. Perfect retreat for a little rest and relaxation. Directly behind the beach you have some beach properties available to rent. I plan to do that on my next visit to Culebra, Puerto Rico.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
diana B
Staten Island, NY11 contributions
Dec 2019
Flamenco Beach is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. White sand beach with ocean water that you can see to the bottom. Getting there and back had problems as the ferry cancelled a few of their trips that day (with no notice). We were lucky to be there before the 9am ferry departed from Cieba because they had cancelled the 9:45 which we had bought online tickets for. Going back we had to leave 2 hours earlier than anticipated because they also cancelled the 5pm ferry. Also, may people onboard got seasick so be sure to take something before. Little shacks on site with food - shrimp in garlic sauce was delicious.
Written 30 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi,
We are going to Culebra in April and have same day round trip air tickets. From the Culebra airport how do we get to Flamenco Beach? Are ther taxis readily available. There will be 3 of us. Or should we rent a jeep?
Thanks
Written 10 March 2022
Experience600953
Falls Church, Virginia
We are staying on Vieques and I am desperately trying to find a way to get to culebra from vieques by boat? Does anyone know a direct boat option to culebra from vieques?
Written 8 May 2021
Martha
San Antonio, Texas
Where can I buy tickets to get from the main island of puerto rico to culebra and to the next flamenco island
Written 7 May 2021
You can go by Ferry from Ceiba to Culebra .... but ( and this is a big “but”) there have been an extreme problem with the ferries... if you have the extra money and you want to get the best out of your trip ... I would fly from San Juan to Culebra and then fly back. This will allow you a trouble free vacation in what is an incredible beach paradise. For flight info , contact Cape Air. You will spend a little more but you won’t be stuck a whole day in Ceiba.
Written 15 May 2021
Debbie G
Hayes, Virginia
Looking for suggestions for a 3-month reasonable studio rental for two adults starting January 2021 thru March 2021
On Culebra Island, Puerto Rico
Written 31 July 2020
No! All facilities, venders and rentals of equipment at the beach have been closed since Maria in 2017.
Written 23 February 2021
Paulo B
Lomas del Mirador, Argentina
Como puedo llegar desde el viejo San Juan? Me gustaría pasar el día en la playa.
Gracias
Written 29 February 2020
Rumor has it that the campground will close on March 15, 2020? Is this true?
Written 24 February 2020
The campground has been closed since 2017.
Written 23 February 2021
We will be staying in San Juan in March. How do we get to Flamenco Beach? We will have a rental car, so would we ferry over or take public transportation?
Written 20 February 2020
You need to take a ferry from Fajardo to Flamenco Beach. You can get your tickets in advance online or get them at the ferry port.
The tickets are minimal when purchased at the port, only a couple of dollars. But about 17.00 online but it guarantees passage.
Written 13 March 2020
Hello! How easy or complicated was to get tickets for the ferry?
Written 1 February 2020
Hello, we booked a snorkeling tour and the tour guides reserved our physical round trip tickets to pick up at the ferry terminal once we arrived. You can purchase tickets ahead of time online which I would recommend since you get priority boarding and if there is no more space on the ferry you will need to wait until the next ferry comes. I kind of felt like a second class citizen with the physical tickets vs online. Another thing to keep in mind is that the ferry service has been notoriously unreliable. While disembarking on our return trip in Ceiba at 6 pm, the ferry scheduled to leave to Vieques was cancelled and only residents would be allowed on the 10 pm ferry. You also have the options of booking the catamaran tours which take you straight to the island or booking a flight. Hope this helps! Best, Rosa
Written 6 February 2020
Did you visit culebra taking a tour or did you do the trip by yourself??
Written 1 February 2020
Hello, We booked a snorkeling tour and definitely recommend booking a tour of some kind. Our guides led us snorkeling on Tamarindo Beach then we got dropped off at Flamenco Beach for the afternoon before being dropped off at the ferry. They took care of booking our ferry tickets, but I would recommend booking online yourself if they allow it so you can get priority boarding. We have not taken a catamaran tour, but based on our experience with the ferry we would definitely consider it on our next trip. Hope this helps! Best, Rosa
Written 6 February 2020
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