Welcome guest bloggers, Manali and Terry, as they take us on a trip to the beach!
Island life is tough! Decisions, decisions, decisions! Do we splash in the warm, bright blue ocean, stroll on the sparkling white sand or snorkel amongst the vibrant sea life? All of these are a must on the gorgeous island of Culebra, located approximately 17 miles east of Puerto Rico mainland. Although only 7 miles by 5 miles, this little island is not only bursting with energy and activities, it epitomizes the charm and relaxed lifestyle for which Puerto Rico is so well known.
On a backpacker’s budget and having only read a few things about the area, we decided to reserve a beach campsite rather than stay in the resort villas on the beach. After flying into the international airport in San Juan and an hour long ride of sheer terror in our maniacally driven local Publico minivan, situated next to one woman holding a TV in her lap and another clasping a sack of potatoes and a rooster, we arrived in Fajardo, the port city. Consistent with island life protocol, the ferry departure was 2 hours late, leaving us slightly annoyed but thankful. Upon arrival in Culebra, although dark with most shops and eateries closed, we managed to find a ride to our campground, hoisted the tent and passed out not knowing what to expect when we woke up the next morning.
When the sun came up around 6am, one word came to mind. Wow. Our spot was a stone’s throw from Flamenco Beach; voted on of the Top 10 most exotic beaches in the world. The scenery was nothing short of breathtaking and for $10 per tent a night we were in budget heaven!
Following a morning dip in the radiant blue waters, we found a quaint bakery and were off to explore! We highly recommend renting a jeep or scooter to drive around town. Jerry’s Jeeps is a great deal and Jerry himself will provide you with a personalized map to point out the ‘not to miss’ spots on the island. With twenty minutes behind the wheel, we were experts and felt like locals; we could get very used to this!
During our 5 day stay, we found exotic coral reefs in pristine bays, watched a soccer game at the neighborhood street-side bar and spent lazy afternoons under the shade of a coconut palm. The highlight of our trip was waking up at 3am to watch a nest of about 80 tiny sea turtle hatchlings scurrying towards the surf, hopeful to pursue starring roles in a future Disney movie. This was island nature at its finest!
Rather than take the crowded choppy ferry ride back to the port, we decided to splurge a little on the small 4-person propeller plane back to San Juan. Nervous? Yes, extremely. Even more so when we found out that our pilot was 20 years old! Nonetheless, he did a fabulous job flying us a short 30 minute ride over the most spectacular and breathtaking views as we waved a tearful goodbye to island life.
Manali and Terry are adventurous newlyweds who are embarking on a journey of a lifetime. They chronicle their one year around the world journey as they begin their life together and transition from corporate cube dwellers to backpacking beach bums.
You can follow them on twitter @manaliandterry and check out their blog at www.manaliandterry.com
Find even more things to do in San Juan.
Wonderful place, a bit cludy, but I guess that’s how Atlantic islands are…
Been to sevral islands and a budget trip to Puerto Rico will be my next choice
When it comes to travel, there are two things you can count on: (1) you’ll always find a cheaper exchange rate after you’ve traded your money, and (2) you’ll always go over budget. I don’t mean to be negative, but these are the Murphy’s Laws of travel.