Aarrrgggg – Beware of the Pirates Maties!

 

Flamenco Beach/ CULEBRA ISLAND

          

 

Here’s something that makes Culebra so unique!    Culebra is an old pirate hideout.   Not to mention that in 1493 Christopher Columbus dropped by during his second voyage, and in 1909 Theodore Roosevelt declared Culebra one of America's first wildlife refuges. 

When World War II erupted, the US Navy turned Culebra and the 23 other islands in the archipelago into the primary site for gunnery and bombing practice. This island remained a target until 1975, which turned out to be a good thing - the reefs and surrounding waters remained unscathed by boaters and divers and the beaches were unspoiled by large-scale tourism development.

Today Culebra is appealing for what it lacks. There are no luxury resorts, elegant restaurants, discos, movie theaters, casinos, museums or boutiques. There's also no crime, hardly any traffic and few crowds.  Because the water  is calm and blue, the sand hot and white, and the horizon framed by bright green hills Flamenco Beach is a regular on critics' short-lists for the most beautiful beach in the world. . A great place to swim, snorkel, and bring the kids, this Puerto Rico beach even has some campground space should you want to take a day and soak one of up Puerto Rico's most celebrated beaches. 

Culebra offers  an unsullied and under-populated beach along with pristine waters filled with beautiful fish. There is also plenty of wildlife. The disconnected tracts of the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge, which total more than one-third of the islands' area, are populated with terns, gulls, pelicans, boobies and several species of endangered turtle. And the natives - or Culebrenses as they are known - provide plenty of the signature laid-back attitude that is so familiar in the Caribbean.

To get to Culebra, you need to take a plane from San Juan or Fajardo Airports or the ferry boat from Fajardo.

Our insiders tip for the week – For the Best Local Seafood try Club Seabourne (Web: www.clubseabourne.com).

 Club Seabourne is a secluded hotel with a casual restaurant serving American-Caribbean style seafood in a 35-seat screened-in porch overlooking Fulladosa Bay. Menu highlights include tuna and kingfish in various Caribbean sauces. The menu offers a variety of items such as the New York strip steak, but nods to the surroundings with Puerto Rican dishes including pastelon, lasagna made with fresh plantain. Arrive early and grab a drink at the popular outdoor bar.

Next week the Beach Bums will be telling you all about Playa de Ponce - Puerto Rico's Best Beach for Swimming!  So put on your suit and grab those fins.....