Culebra Island is one of the municipalities of Puerto Rico, which makes it a U.S. territory. This "Ultima Virgen (Last Virgen)" island measures 7 miles long by 4 miles wide and is about 12 miles east of Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Culebra has a population of about 1500 warm and friendly islanders. More than a third of Culebra (1568 acres) is part of the National Wildlife Refuge that was established in 1909 by President Theodore Roosevelt. Culebra Island was one of the first National Wildlife Refuge established in the United States.

The main attraction of this beautiful island is its ecosystem; so, you will not find malls, glitzy casinos, or fancy 5th avenues. There's also hardly any crime or traffic to talk about and few crowds (except during the Holy Week, which precedes Easter). The refuge area is comprised of lands on the main island of Culebra and 22 smaller islands in the surrounding areas. The refuge contains diverse habitats including subtropical dry forest, mangroves, brush, and grasslands. The largest seabird nesting colony occurs at Peninsula Flamenco, where 60,000 sooty terns nest (closed to the public). Mount Resaca contains the largest remaining forest, an area of rock-strewn canyons and ravines forming a unique habitat known as the boulder forest.

Culebra is for beach and nature lovers. And, Culebra is also for those who wish to release their daily stress and wish to replenish their soul with peace and tranquility. Culebra offers immaculate and under-populated beaches along its pristine waters filled with beautiful marine life. There are also plenty of other wildlife, such as terns, gulls, pelicans, boobies, lizards and several species of endangered turtles (such as the massive Leather Back, Hawksbill, Loggerhead, and Green sea turtles). Leatherback and hawksbill sea turtles use refuge beaches for nesting (April through July). If you would like to see these endangered turtles, you may contact the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on the island at 787-763-9875 to make a reservation. DNR has a turtle management program in where volunteers assist the turtles in nesting on the beach. Please be aware that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of Natural Resources prohibit the molestation, hunting or possession of birds, lizards, snakes, turtles, hermit crabs, and land crabs. You may not collect coral, living or dead, or plant material (all). In addition, you may not litter, create fires, possess firearms, use motorized vehicles, or bring domestic or wild animals onto refuge lands. And, if you bring your own private yacht, you may not anchor above mean high tide line due to the presence of hawksbill turtle nests.

The crown jewel of Culebra is its famous "Playa Flamenco" (Flamenco Beach), which was rated as the "Second Best Beach" in the United States (after Hawaii) and one of the "Ten Best Beaches in the World" by The Travel Channel ( "The Best of.." Program). In addition, you may also visit some of the other spectacular beaches such as Zoni Beach and Playa Brava on the northeast side of the island. The beaches and hiking trails in Culebra, Culebrita and Luis Peña Cay are open to the public daily from sunrise to sunset. You may swim, snorkel, take pictures, picnic or just plain relax in any of these spectacular places. Just keep in mind that there are no tourist facilities in Culebrita and Luis Peña Cay, so please come prepared with adequate drinking water, sun block, and other necessities; what ever you do, make sure that you do not pollute (take your trash with you and dispose of it in a trash can). Water taxis offer transportation to the islands. There is a great hiking trail (20 minute walk each way) between the Flamenco Beach and the Carlos Rosario Beach; the entrance is on the south side of the Flamenco Beach parking area. Make sure that you bring your snorkeling gear because Carlos Rosario is one of the best areas on the island for snorkeling (great marine life). The hiking trails in Culebra range from .3 km to 2.0 km in length. There is an old Coast Guard Lighthouse in Culebrita, but it is not open to the public due to the hazardous condition of the buildings.

The infrastructure of Culebra is at best 40 or 50 years old, but more and more renovations and new construction are occurring on the island on a yearly basis. The island has governmental buildings (state and federal), a clinic, a police station, a firehouse, the ferry dock, a town dock, an airport, a bank, schools, library, food markets, public phones, and a post office. The main roads are paved, but you ll find dirt roads, and hiking paths that will take you to interesting places. And of course, you will find the residential areas, inns, mom & pop  style restaurants, liquor store, gift shops, dive shops, boat/marine shops, and car/boat/bicycle rental operators. You may download our telephone directory, along with our maps, to assist you with your Culebra vacation plans.

So, while in Culebra you have plenty of things to do. Here is a list of activities that you, along with your friends and/or family, may do while staying in Casablanca: