Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Flamenco Beach in Puerto Rico
PLANNING A VISIT TO FLAMENCO BEACH IN PUERTO RICO?
You’ve landed on the right article! We enjoyed a wonderful vacation in Puerto Rico and really loved our time spent at Flamenco Beach. The beach is consistently ranked as one of the top beaches in the world.
The beach is perfect for families and a beautiful place to spend the day. It is home to a perfect white sandy beach cove and calm, turquoise water.
Candice’s Top Tips for Visiting Flamenco Beach
✔️ If you’re taking a ferry ride, bring Dramamine if you get motion sickness. Our group all got really sick on the way over because the ocean was really rough.
✔️If you can, take the latest ferry back if you aren’t spending the night on the island. You’ll have the beach more to yourself as everyone typically leaves around 4 p.m. to catch that ferry back. We took the last ferry back and had the beach to ourselves and had a nice dinner on the island.
✔️ There are campsites right on this beach. If you have camping gear or want to rent some, this is one of the prettiest campgrounds we have ever seen. Then, you can experience the beach first thing in the morning before everyone arrives from the main island.
✔️ If you’re planning to snorkel, visit the far right end of Flamenco Beach. You’ll find a thriving reef with lots of fish and other sea life there.
✔️ If you’re a family of picky eaters, consider bringing a picnic lunch on the Flamenco Beach ferry. Even though some kiosks sell food at the beach, it’s always an option to bring your own if you don’t want to eat at the places at the beach.
How to Get to Flamenco Beach
Flamenco Beach is on Culebra Island in Puerto Rico. Flamenco Beach is on the north side of Culebra. The island is 17 miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico.
If you are visiting Flamenco Beach from the main island of Puerto Rico, there are two main ways of getting there – by ferry or by plane. The ferry is WAY cheaper and gives you more flexibility in departure and return times. Flights take less time out of your day.
If you are going on any tours (SEE OUR TOUR RECS BELOW) often times they will arrange the transportation for you. If you are nervous or unsure about how to get there, a tour may be a good option for you.
Flights to Culebra
There are two options for flights. The first option is flying out of Ceiba. Ceiba is about an hour west of San Juan. If you have a rental car and want to save some money, this is going to be your cheapest flight option. Round-trip flights through Air Flamenco range in price but start at about $90.
If you don’t want to worry about getting over to Ceiba, a short flight is available from the San Juan International Airport, which is just outside San Juan. Flights vary quite a bit based on the day, but tickets start at about $180.
Ferry to Flamenco Beach
The ferry is run out of the Ceiba ferry terminal, which is about an hour east of San Juan. The ride to Culebra Island is about 45 minutes. If you have a tendency to suffer from motion sickness, be sure to bring some Dramamine or other remedies. The water was rough, and multiple people in our group got pretty sick.
The ferry ticket price is $4.50 for a round-trip ticket and $2.25 for a one-way ticket.
The other thing to be aware of is there is a passenger ferry and a cargo ferry. The cargo ferry is much slower, so you don’t have to worry about motion sickness. We took the cargo ferry back to Ceiba, and no one got sick.
Passenger ferries and cargo ferries operate on different schedules, so keep that in mind.
The ferry times do vary by season, so be sure to check the ferry schedule before planning your trip to Flamenco Beach. The ferries fill up, so you will want to get there AT LEAST 30 minutes before the ferry leaves, but get there an hour early if you can.
We were able to get on the departure time we wanted, but the return time was sold out, so we ended up coming back later than we originally wanted to.
How to Get to Flamenco Beach from Dewey Ferry Terminal
When you get off the ferry, there is a shared van that will take you over to the beach. The cost per person for the van ride is $6 and is typically paid in cash. There are lots of different vans waiting, so just pick one and go.
If you want a little more control over your trip to Culebra Flamenco Beach, you can rent a jeep or golf cart from Carlos Jeep Rental. If you are visiting with kids who need to be in car seats, you will need to rent a jeep. We rented a Jeep and had a great time exploring the beach on our schedule.
Access Fee: $5 parking from 6 am to 6 pm
Flamenco Beach Amenities
Restrooms are available on-site and are open 24/7. There are water tanks along the walkway throughout the beach that have fresh water in them. You can also purchase water at any of the food kiosks.
There are outdoor showers that are open from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. There are also changing rooms you can use.
Flamenco Beach Rentals
Once you get to Flamenco Beach, there are a number of different kiosks that rent beach gear, like chairs, umbrellas, and camping gear. There was also a truck and trailer just outside the entrance also renting gear. Chair and umbrella rentals are about $5 each.
The Rent City/Colmado kiosk rents tents, air mattresses, and other camping gear. The nightly rate for renting a tent is around $20. You can also purchase a hammock here for around $25. They also sell snorkel gear, bodyboards, and hats.
When renting gear, just keep in mind the time the gear needs to be returned because lots of them close by 5 p.m.
Things to do at Flamenco Beach
Dining at Flamenco Beach
Near the parking lot area, there are a few different food kiosks. They sell food, drinks, and snacks. The operating hours for these kiosks do vary, and some say they are inconsistent.
Flamenco Pizza is usually open during lunch and during the busy season. They sell pizza and sandwiches. Rice and beans are sold at a few of the kiosks, along with seafood, traditional Puerto Rican plates, as well as burritos, burgers, and smoothies.
There are picnic tables by the kiosks, or you can take your lunch to the beach.
Flamenco Beach Snorkeling
One of the best places to snorkel is Flamenco Beach, Culebra, Puerto Rico. The best place to snorkel is on the east side of the bay or the beaches and coves facing the west. There are two small rock jetties near the end of the beach. This is where the sand bends, and the rocks begin.
There is a lot of coral to see in this area. There will be some sea life, but depending on the day, there may not be as much. You can expect to see stingrays in the sandy area and turtles in the grasses.
There is another healthy reef just out from the tank on the beach.
Tanks on the Beach
Along the beach and in the brush, there are some old, rusting World War tanks. In 1901, President Roosevelt gave the public lands on Culebra to the Navy. It was used for bombing practice in 1936. Eventually, the residents of the island did not appreciate the Navy’s use of the island, which led to the Navy evacuating the island by 1975.
The Navy left behind a lot of their equipment, including several of the large tanks that you can see today. The tanks were too large to move, so they remained on the beach. They have started to rust and have been painted by visitors to the beach.
The tanks are along the shore on the far west side of the beach. One of the tanks sits right at the water, and there are a few more back in the trees.
Muellecito Access Point
The Muellecito Access Point is a second public beach access point to Flamenco Beach. There is no access fee, but there are no amenities here. This is a good place to visit if you are looking to escape the crowds or snorkel.
You will want a jeep or high-clearance vehicle to drive here, though. The road is rough but is drivable.
Flamenco Beach Tours
There are a number of tour companies to help you explore Flamenco Beach. No matter how you want to explore Culebra and Flamenco Beach, there are lots of tours that can make your trip out to Culebra so much easier!
Culebra Kayak and Snorkel Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | 🕒 TOUR LENGTH: 14 Hours | Check Rates and Availability
One of the best ways to experience the beauty of Culebra Island is on a Kayak & Snorkel with Turtles Adventure.
This tour will take you to two beautiful beaches in Culebra. You will start your journey at Tamarindo Beach and kayak into the beautiful Luis Pena Marine Reserve. There are amazing coral reefs here and lots of seagrass beds where the turtles like to hang out.
Then, you will head over to beautiful Flamenco Beach, where you can get lunch if you don’t bring one with you. Snacks and all equipment are included in the tour, as well as a digital photo album of your day trip.
This tour includes round-trip ferry transportation to Culebra, and equipment is included as well. This is a great opportunity to snorkel and kayak at Tamarindo Beach, which is filled with coral reefs and turtles. And you get to wrap up the adventure, relaxing and swimming at Flamenco Beach.
▶️ BOOK Kayak and Snorkel Adventure Here!
Private Catamaran Trip to Culebra and Flamenco Beach
⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🕒 TOUR LENGTH: 6 Hours | Check Rates and Availability
The Private Catamaran Trip to Culebra and Flamenco Beach includes snorkeling with turtles, hiking to the lighthouse, and visiting Flamenco Beach. Snorkeling equipment, kayaks, and SUPs are included in the booking.
▶️ BOOK Private Catamaran Trip to Culebra and Flamenco Beach
Full-Day Flamenco Beach Snorkeling from San Juan
⭐️ RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars | 🕒 TOUR LENGTH: 8 Hours | Check Rates and Availability
Full-Day Flamenco Beach Snorkeling from San Juan offers the convenience of pickup and drop-off at specific pickup areas of San Juan. Lunch and snorkel equipment is provided. Snorkel instructions are provided for beginners, too!
▶️ BOOK Full-Day Flamenco Beach Snorkeling from San Juan
Camping at Flamenco Beach
The camping area at the beach is on the north shore. There are spots for about 400 tents. When we visited in January, the camping area was not very full. The camping area is just a few steps away from the ocean and is a beautiful area of the beach.
If you have the camping gear with you or you are willing to rent the gear, we highly recommend camping at the beach. It is so pretty, and you will get to experience the beach in the evenings and mornings without the tourist rush during the day.
Open fires are not permitted in the campground, but there are BBQ pits you can use with charcoal. The nightly charge is $20 for up to six people. There are showers on-site as well.
Where to Stay Near Flamenco Beach
The island of Culebra has several hotels and private villas to rent. If you can stay at least a night, you will get a much more local feel for the island instead of being in the tourist rush just going to Flamenco Beach. Visiting Flamenco Beach outside of the busy tourist hours is amazing!
If you want to save money on accommodations or spend more time outdoors, you can bring your RV and stay at many of the great nearby RV parks and campgrounds. If that’s the case, we recommend checking out The Dyrt, the #1 camping app. The Dyrt Pro has so many great resources to make planning your trip so easy:
- Take advantage of PRO Membership discounts to save up to 40% on campground costs
- Plan camping road trips with the Trip Planner
- Find free dispersed camping locations
- Use the Dyrt app anywhere with offline access
We have arranged with The Dyrt to give the CS Ginger viewers a FREE 30-day Trial using the code “csginger.” Normally, the trial is 7 days!
30-Day Free TrialFlamenco Beach Hotels
Club Seabourne Hotel
⭐️ Rating 9/10 | 📍Location: State Road #252, Playa Sardinas II Ward in Culebra | 🏩 View on Expedia.com
Club Seabourne Hotel offers a dock and access to water sports facilities. It’s two miles from Culebra Town Center and four miles to Flamenco Beach. The rooms have private balconies or decks as well as flat-screen TVs. We love the outdoor pool, hammocks, water sports rentals, and massage services!
▶️ Check Rates & Availability at Club Seabourne Hotel
Beachfront Villa
⭐️ Rating 9.6/10 | 📍Location: Culebra | 🏩 View on Expedia.com
This beachfront villa is close to Flamenco Beach and boasts staggering ocean views. This beautiful two-bedroom and two-bath villa is air-conditioned and has a kitchen.
▶️ Check Rates & Availability at Beachfront Villa
El Navegante de Culebra
⭐️ Rating 8.8/10 | 📍Location: 254 Calle Pedro Marquez in Culebra | 🏩 View on Expedia.com
El Navegante de Culebra is a great place to stay, only two miles from the fun of Flamenco Beach! The charming rooms here feature free wifi and air conditioning. There is also an open-air restaurant and free parking area on-site.
▶️ Check Rates & Availability at El Navegante de Culebra
Sea Gate Hotel
⭐️ Rating 9/10 | 📍Location: Route 989 Km .04 in Vieques | 🏩 View on Expedia.com
There aren’t a ton of hotel or resort options near Flamenco Beach, so you may need to look a bit further away for the right accommodations for your needs. Sea Gate Hotel is like a jungle oasis and a fun place to stay while visiting this part of Puerto Rico.
The hotel has a fun pool, and they even offer horseback riding! The rooms are cozy and convenient, including an in-room microwave and refrigerator.
▶️ Check Rates & Availability at Sea Gate Hotel
TIP: If you are able to spend more time on the island of Culebra, we highly recommend it. It is a small, charming island with lots of beautiful beaches and areas to explore.
FAQ: Flamenco Beach
Why is Flamenco Beach So Popular?
Flamenco Beach is consistently ranked as one of the best beaches in the world. What makes Flamenco Beach the most popular beach is the stunning sand and beautiful ocean.
The water is calm and the most perfect turquoise color. The calm, clear waters, and shallow depth make it popular for snorkeling and swimming, especially for families. The sand is a beautiful white color and is very fine. It is gorgeous!
Is Flamenco Beach Worth Visiting?
If you are going to be in Puerto Rico for at least three days, we would recommend making the trip out to Flamenco Beach. It is such a beautiful island and is the best way to experience the beautiful beaches in Puerto Rico.
How Far is Flamenco Beach From the Ferry?
Flamenco Beach is about three miles from the ferry terminal on Culebra Island.
Can You Stay at Flamenco Beach?
The only option for staying right on Flamenco Beach is to camp. However, within a 10-minute drive, there are a lot of hotels and private villa rental options.
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