Ferry culebra fajardo: Routes and schedules – Puerto Rico Ferry anchored by Hornblower

GETTING HERE |

And Getting Around…

There are two ways to get to Culebra; by small airplane or by ferry. Both have their pros & cons. Hopefully this section will provide enough information to assist you in making the best choice for you, your family and your budget.  Sometimes guests will take the ferry one way and fly the other; both are beautiful ways to travel to Culebra.  Of course, this information is subject to change at any time, without notice and we cannot assume responsibility.

AIRLINE INFORMATION

There are 3 airports most frequently used for getting to/from Culebra (CPX). The planes are small 6-8 passenger planes due to the short runway in Culebra.

Flights out of San Juan International Airport (SJU) are the most expensive but also most convenient as they do not require additional transportation. Cape Air, Air Flamenco & Vieques Air Link all fly out of SJU.  Isla Grande Airport (SIG) is a smaller, regional airport in San Juan; approximately a 15 minute taxi ride from the San Juan International Airport. Ceiba Airport (FAJ) is about 1 hour south east of San Juan, just 5 miles south of the Fajardo ferry dock. Only Air Flamenco & Vieques Air Link fly out of these two smaller airports.  Round trip from SJU can be upwards of $180-240 depending on schedule. Flights from Isla Grande are usually in the $90-$160 range. Flights from Ceiba are usually around $80-$120 round trip.

It is best to book airline tickets well in advance. Be patient when calling … sometimes it takes many rings or several attempts to reach an agent. Even better, most days you can book online!

AIR FLAMENCO       [email protected]
787-724-1105  Main Reservations
787-724-1818  Main Reservations
787-742-1040  Culebra
787-742-0058  Culebra
787-534-4220  Ceiba
787-724-6464  Isla Grande
1-877-535-2636  Toll Free

VIEQUES AIR LINK   [email protected]
787-741-8331
888-901-9247

CAPE AIR
800-CAPE-AIR (227-3247)
508-771-6944 (OUTSIDE THE US & USVI)
You may be able to book direct/be ticketed directly through to Culebra when you book with one of their parters: American Airlines, JetBlue & United.

CHARTER FLIGHTS
TAXI AEREO                [email protected]
787-602-7605

AIR MARGARITA        [email protected]
787-529-2336
787-550-4294
787-724-4498

AIR AMERICA               [email protected]
787-276-5669

M&N AVIATION           [email protected]
787-791-7090  Main
877-622-5566  Toll Free
787-630-2662  Charter Sales Direct:
787-475-5075  Cargo Charters
787-791-7090 x 238  Office

FERRY SERVICES

The ferry dock is now located in Ceiba inside the old Roosevelt Road Military Base; (it used to be in Fajardo). Ceiba is on the east coast of the main island, about an hour south of San Juan (traffic permitting). You should arrive at least an hour in advance to purchase tickets, (many hours in advance during holiday periods). Ferry tickets can be bought in person once you are at the Ceiba Ferry Terminal. At times, a limited number of “Advance Sales” tickets for Passengers boats only can be purchased online at www.porferry.com.  Daily schedules are also posted on this site. If you are also returning by ferry, purchase round trip tickets at this time. Most issues with the ferries occur during peak travel times — Christmas, Easter week, Presidents’ week, and in July and August.  If you are arriving to Culebra by ferry, we ask that you call us once the ferry is leaving the terminal so we know if it’s on schedule and again as its docking in Culebra.

It is very difficult to obtain advance reservations on the cargo (vehicle) ferry and you should not plan to bring a rental car over from the main island as most car rental companies in Puerto Rico do not allow their vehicles to be taken on the ferry.  It is recommended to park your rental car in Ceiba and rent another in Culebra. Please note that you can ride as a passenger on the Cargo ferries although space is much more limited and the ride will be longer (closer to 2 hours). Currently the cargo ferry docks at the DNRA dock about 2.5 miles outside of town. Taxis/Publicos are not permitted to wait there, so you will want to arrange for a pickup ahead of time, prior to your arrival.

The ferry ride on the passenger boats is about 45-90 minutes depending on the boat and the weather. The air conditioning inside is very cold (bring a jacket and/or blanket!). The passenger fare to/from Culebra is $2.50 per person each way. Passengers may also ride the cargo ferry for the same price; vehicle prices depend on the size of the vehicle.  There are often delays and cancellations, so be prepared!

It is usually impossible to reach the Port Authority by phone, but the main number is (800) 981-2005 or 787-497-7740. The Culebra ticket office is (787) 742-3161.

GROUND TRANSPORTATION

RENTAL CARS
Culebra is a small island but you will still need a rental car to enjoy it to the fullest, especially to get to the more beautiful and remote beaches.  You should reserve your rental car as soon as (or even before!) you book your vacation home rental, as vehicles sell out well in advance for prime dates.  Almost all the vehicles are SUVs, though some golf carts are also available.  Prices range from $55-$85 per day, depending on the company, type and size of the vehicle.  Remember to fill the gas tank in advance during busy times, as gas sells out sometimes too!

JERRYS JEEPS     787-512-9331    Jerry’s Jeeps has been sold to Target Car Rental. Sometimes their phones roll over to the mainland office, so just let them know that you need to book for Culebra. They had been offering a 10% discount to our clients, so be sure to ask if they’re still doing that!

CARLOS JEEP RENTAL     787-742-3514

TAXIS
You can always grab a Publico (Public taxi) and share a ride to/from your destinations. Publicos are available in Fajardo & Culebra. The major airports will have a taxi/publico line available for arrivals.

However, if you want a private trip or need to stick to a strict schedule, call for a Taxi. We highly recommend Luquillo Taxi. They are very professional, timely and fully bi-lingual. Book in advance online or over the phone.
LUQUILLO TAXI     787-513-7685     [email protected]

How to Get to Culebra, Puerto Rico: 4 Key Transportation Options

Taking a trip to Culebra Island in Puerto Rico is quite rewarding, but it does come with some planning. Find out all of the best ways to get to Culebra Island from San Juan and other cities on mainland Puerto Rico in this useful guide. It will have you well on your way to this stunning island in no time!

Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase.

Table of Contents

4 Ways to Travel to Culebra from the Puerto Rico Mainland

If you’re wondering how to get to Culebra from Puerto Rico by ferry, plane, or with a tour you’re in luck. We will dive into all of the best ways to get from Puerto Rico to Culebra Island so that you can make an informed decision that fits your travel budget and itinerary for Puerto Rico.

1. Take the Ceiba to Culebra Ferry

The cheapest way to get to Culebra from mainland Puerto Rico is to take a ferry from Ceiba to Culebra. The ferry ride is just 45 minutes and runs multiple times per day from 4am – 8:30pm. Best of all, tickets are inexpensive starting at $1.00 for children and seniors and only $2.25 one-way for adults.

This makes the trip to Culebra cheap enough for even the budget travelers to enjoy. Tickets do often sell out in advance, so book ahead online to get the ferry you want!

Book Ferry Tickets Online

To help you navigate to and from the ferry terminals on the mainland and island, here are their addresses:

• Ceiba Ferry Terminal address: Marina Dr. Roosevelt Roads Ceiba, PR 00735

• Culebra Ferry Terminal address: Pedro Marquez Street Culebra, PR 00775

It’s also worth noting that sometimes you’ll hear there is a ferry to Culebra from Fajardo. This is the Ceiba ferry. There is not an additional ferry at Fajardo.

2. Fly to Culebra from San Juan or Ceiba

The second option is the fastest way to travel to Culebra from Puerto Rico’s mainland, and this is by plane. There are both commercial flights and charter flight options available starting as low as $70 each way. Although, most flights will range closer to $100 each way.

If you choose to fly from mainland Puerto Rico to Culebra, you’ll need to book ahead as most of the planes only hold a handful of passengers. What’s most amazing about this option, other than cutting down on time in transport, is that you will have stunning views of the Puerto Rico islands as you fly to Culebra!

The most common flights options to Culebra are:

• Fly from Ceiba to Culebra in just 12 minutes

• Fly from San Juan to Culebra in 30 minutes from the International Airport or Isla Grande airport in San Juan

Flying to Culebra Island

To search for flights to Culebra, you can start with your favorite flight aggregator or visit the airlines sites directly as not all airlines will appear in your aggregator results. The airlines that fly to Culebra are:

• Cape Air
• JetBlue
• Silver Airways from Seabourne Airlines
• Flamenco Air
• Vieques Air Link
• Taxi Aereo for charter flights to Culebra

To help you find the best flights to Culebra, here are the relevant airport codes:

• San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International airport code: SJU

• San Juan Isla Grande airport code: SIG

• Ceiba Jose Aponte Hernandez Airport airport code: NRR

• Culebra airport code: CPX

3. Take the Ferry from Vieques to Culebra

If you’re visiting Vieques and Culebra during your trip to Puerto Rico, there are limited ferries traveling between the two islands. This means you may be able to take a ferry directly from Vieques to Culebra or Culebra to Vieques in just 30 minutes rather than going back to Ceiba in-between!

Unfortunately, the frequency of this ferry does vary. It currently is only running the last Sunday of each month, but it should pick back up in frequency shortly. Not only is this ferry route cheap, but it also helps avoid any backtracking allowing you to maximize your time in the islands of Puerto Rico.

Search Vieques to Culebra Ferries

4. Take a Day Trip to Culebra Island

If you’re looking for another alternative to get from Puerto Rico to Culebra, consider taking a day trip with transportation included! This is an ideal option if you are short on time or if you’re unable to find ferries or flights to Culebra.

The best Culebra day trip options are:

• Full day catamaran tour of Culebra from Fajardo
• Flamenco Beach day trip from San Juan which includes flights
• Kayak and snorkel adventure from Ceiba which includes ferry tickets

How to Get to Culebra Island from San Juan

Since most travelers will be trying to get to Culebra from Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, we’ll break out the above transportation options into more detail for those of you coming from San Juan to Culebra.

1. Drive from San Juan to Ceiba + Ferry from Ceiba to Culebra

Generally the cheapest way to get to Culebra from San Juan is to rent a car in San Juan to drive the 48 miles (76 kilometers) or 1 hour and 15 minutes to the ferry terminal in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. From there, you can take the ferry to Culebra as mentioned above.

Do note that only residents of Culebra can take their cars on the cargo ferry to the island. All others will have to leave their rental car on the mainland of Puerto Rico and find a new mode of transportation in Culebra.

View on the ferry to Culebra

2. Take a Private Shuttle or Taxi from San Juan to Ceiba + Ferry from Ceiba to Culebra

If you’re not keen on driving in Puerto Rico, you can take a shuttle from San Juan to the Culebra ferry in Ceiba. There are a number of shuttle and taxi companies that operate throughout Puerto Rico that would happily drive you to the ferry terminal in Ceiba. This will typically run around $85.

If you’re traveling with friends, taking a shuttle will be more expensive, but if you’re traveling alone, you may actually save money by opting for a shuttle or taxi rather than renting a car.

Another awesome time to consider taking a shuttle or taxi is if you’re doing a one way trip. For example, you can take the ferry to Culebra and then fly back to San Juan from Culebra! Make sure to check these options if ferry tickets to Culebra are sold out on the days you want to go!

3. Fly from San Juan to Culebra

The best way to get from San Juan to Culebra is by plane. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive option. However, it is the only direct route from Old San Juan to Culebra Island, which means going this route will require less planning. You can find all needed flight information above.

Alternatively, you can do a day trip from San Juan to Culebra via plane. This simplifies it even further as you don’t need to worry about transportation or hotels on Culebra Island.

Flying into San Juan from Culebra

4. Drive from San Juan to Fajardo + Take a Catamaran Tour from Fajardo to Culebra

Another amazing way to get to the island of Culebra is to take a tour from Fajardo. To do this, you’ll still need to rent a car in San Juan to drive the 38 miles (61 kilometers) from San Juan to Fajardo. Once you’re there, you’ll be able to take a relaxing catamaran tour over to Culebra for the day.

Want to find a rental car in Puerto Rico? Check our Discover Cars!

Tips for Traveling to Culebra, Puerto Rico

Traveling to Culebra from Puerto Rico’s mainland is a must do if you have the time in your itinerary. If you plan ahead, it’s even extremely budget-friendly with the $2.25 ferry tickets to Culebra!

Here are some additional tips to make your trip to Culebra fun, affordable, and stress-free!

Book transportation to Culebra in advance.

No matter which mode of transport you plan to use to get to Culebra, you’ll need to book in advance. Ferry tickets to Culebra sell out. Flights to Culebra sell out. Tours to Culebra sell out. Once you know your travel dates, don’t wait – book your tickets to avoid missing out on this awesome island!

Book transportation on Culebra in advance.

Even if you are taking the cargo ferry to Culebra, you won’t be able to take a rental car from mainland Puerto Rico over to the island with you. This is reserved for locals only. This means you’ll not only have to book your ferry, flight, or tour in advance, but you’ll also need to book a car, golf cart, or scooter in Culebra in advance too! They also sell out quickly, which could leave you dependent on walking, biking, or taxis – if you can find them.

Book hotels in advance.

Similar to transportation, hotels in Culebra do fill up quickly. It’s a small island after all. Make sure to book your accommodations in advance.

Check Booking.com now to see what hotels are available!

Visit on a weekday to avoid crowds.

While there will be tourists on Culebra every day of the week, the best way to beat the crowds are to visit on weekdays. This not only allows you better accessibility to tickets to Culebra, but you’ll also avoid the rush of locals who visit on the weekend!

Pack motion sickness medication.

If you are taking a ferry or boat to Culebra, the seas can be very smooth, or they can be a bit rough. You’ll want to be prepared either way! If you’re not sure where to start, try non-drowsy dramamine or anti-nausea acupressure wristbands.

Take everything you need, including snacks, with you!

Culebra is a small, almost rustic island. It doesn’t offer a ton of restaurants, kiosks, or convenience stores and those that it does have may offer limited hours of operation. Prior to traveling to Culebra, make sure to pick up some snacks and drinks to help make your trip go off without a hitch.

Fun fact: When we were in Culebra on a Sunday, there was only one restaurant open for dinner… and it had a wait list!

Check out my full beach packing list to ensure you’e ready to explore Culebra, Puerto Rico!

A heart around Culebra on Flamenco Beach

FAQs about Traveling to Culebra Island

Traveling to Culebra is not without its challenges. From booking transportation to Culebra to finding accommodation and on-island transportation. You need to do a bit of planning to make it a smooth journey. To help you, here is some additional information that you may find useful.

Is there a direct ferry from San Juan to Culebra?

No, there is not a direct ferry to Culebra from San Juan. You will either have to head to Ceiba to catch the ferry or fly to Culebra from San Juan.

How far is San Juan from the ferry to Culebra?

The driving distance from San Juan to the ferry terminal in Ceiba is 48 miles or about 76 kilometers. It will take about 1 hour and 15 minutes to drive from San Juan to Ceiba.

How long is the ferry from Ceiba to Culebra?

The ferry ride from Ceiba to Culebra is only 45 minutes. When you disembark from the ferry, you’ll be in central Culebra!

Can you travel from San Juan to Culebrita Island?

There is no ferry from San Juan to Culebrita Island, the small island off the coast of Culebra Island. In order to visit Culebrita from San Juan, you’ll have to head to Culebra and then hire a water taxi from Culebra.

The best way to do this is to book ahead online or head to Dewey’s waterfront in Culebra in search of a water taxi captain.

Is a day trip to Culebra worth it?

100% if you can go to Culebra for a day, you should. Take the ferry over if you’re in Ceiba, or do a day trip via plane!

At minimum you can visit Flamenco Beach, the best beach in Puerto Rico, but you can also rent transportation to get around the full island in just a day! If you have more time, you can also do an island kayak and snorkel adventure to see the local turtles.

Which is nicer, Vieques or Culebra?

Honestly, both islands have their charm, and if you have extra days in your Puerto Rico itinerary, I highly recommend you go to both of them!

Vieques is a bit busier offering more restaurant and accommodation options making it a great family destination. It’s also a must-visit for its famous bioluminescent bay. Meanwhile, Culebra is extremely laid back and offers one of the best beaches in the world at Flamenco Beach. It’s a tough decision!

How do I get from San Juan to Flamenco Beach?

As Flamenco Beach is one of the best Culebra beaches, you’ll first have to get from San Juan to Culebra Island. Then, from either the ferry terminal or airport in Culebra, you’ll have to find transportation to get to Flamenco Beach. This could be a taxi in Culebra, or you could rent a car, golf cart, or scooter.

While Flamenco Beach is technically walkable from the airport or Culebra ferry terminal, you don’t want to be spending 30 min to an hour walking each direction when you could be lounging on one of the best beaches in the world! Spend the few dollars to make the most of your time on Culebra, Puerto Rico!

Do I need to rent a car in Culebra?

My recommendation is to definitely rent your own transportation on Culebra. It will give you full flexibility to move about the island. That being said, you don’t have to go for a car. Golf carts, scooters, and bikes can be used to get around the island comfortably. I actually would recommend a golf cart simply because it’s easier to park places due to its small size!

Awesome views on the flight from Ceiba to Culebra Island

Learn More about Traveling to Puerto Rico

Taking a side trip from San Juan to Culebra is one of the best things you can do while you’re in Puerto Rico. Now that you know how to get to Culebra, let’s take a look at some of the other amazing things to do around the island.

Here are some additional posts to get you started planning your trip to Puerto Rico!

• 10 Top Things to Do in San Juan for the Trip of a Lifetime
• 16 Helpful Things to Know Before Traveling to Puerto Rico

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Devil’s Triangle – Chapter 4

                                    
                                               
 The mercilessly scorching sun was already at its zenith when our travelers, having reached the port of Fajardo and said goodbye to Mr.  Gastman, got on the ferry to their destination, that is, to the island of Culebra. The young people stood side by side, resting their hands on the side and peering into the clear, transparent water, and each of them thought at that moment about something of his own, about something so personal that they did not dare to tell each other. Their reflection on the sea surface seemed to give rise to some random fragments of thoughts in their head. nine0004
                           
 Bella recalled a tearful goodbye to her dear father, who almost burst into tears like a child, holding his daughter tightly in his arms. She remembered those sweet features and moments spent with him. 
                           
 Troy, as always, was thinking about many things, but could not cling to one thing. Thoughts about a worried mother, about a failed trip to Ireland, about an imminent trip - all this flooded and spun rapidly in his brain, replacing each other in turn.  nine0004
                           
 In the heart of Mariana, with each approach of the ferry to the island, that which we, people, call love for the motherland, awakened. Who would have known how much she missed the amazing stripes of white sand, the powerful streams of waves of the bright blue sea, the colorful and eventful life of the entire island, and the provocative and courageous inhabitants of this wonderful, such a native place. The girl was eager with her soul to her land, to that shore where she once spent her last happy days, when her mother was still alive. She was so impatient that Mariana was afraid not to resist and jump into the water in order to independently swim to the alluring land. nine0004
                           
 Finally, when the ferry landed near the island, at the port, and all the foreigners who arrived came ashore, they were immediately surrounded by drivers in order to take them to their destination.  
                           
 - Signorita, let me take you, - a nimble little man in glasses, resembling a monkey, grabbed Mariana by the elbow. - Our island has an amazing Flamenco beach! For a young signorita like you, this will be a real paradise! What hot dances we have, and music! On our island, everyone is having fun from dawn to dawn! - with pathos and admiration exclaimed the imposed driver. - Only three dollars! You will not find such a cheap price anywhere else! Only at Santiago! - importunately continued his chatter in Spanish driver. nine0004
                           
 - No, thank you, - Troy entered the conversation with a slightly accent. - Let's go, - grabbing the hands of his girlfriends, the guy rushed to the side, away from the already annoying man. 
                                   

Puerto Rico – iolly_ukraine — LiveJournal

So we returned from Puerto Rico. The trip was planned somewhere in a month or maybe less. Sasha took inexpensive tickets from 3 to 13 December. Then the price of tickets increased by $100 for each ticket. As a result, tickets cost $560 for two. nine0004

Arrival

We landed at the San Juan airport. The city welcomed us with warm weather and heavy rain. From the airport, we boarded a minibus that took us to the car rental. There we rented a car for the entire period – it was cheaper that way. Palm trees grew all around the city, I was glad to be here. After renting a car, we encountered local traffic patterns. Here, drivers could not pass at the intersection, ignore the signs or park where they please, despite the fact that there is no way behind and other cars are waiting until the driver removes the car. The roads were also broken. If even the drivers were aggressive and swore obscenely in Russian, we would feel 100% at home. nine0004

Luquillo camping

After some searching, we found this campsite. To be honest, my plans became dust, because I planned that we would arrive on Friday for some reason, and we arrived on Monday. Probably the old school had an effect – to go somewhere on Friday, without losing a single day. And we planned to start from the Seven Seas campsite, sail to Culebra and then go to the Toro Negro Jungle in the central part of the island, then return and live in Luquillo for four days with trips to San Juan to the fortress and to the rain forest – El Yungue, since this is the closest campsite to these places. All my female logic had to be reprogrammed … I did not begin to paint the days, as then at home. As it will be – so it will be. nine0023 At the entrance to the campsite, they paid for parking, then, fortunately for us, there was only one guy in the campsite who spoke English. We managed to buy 2 nights. It was raining, then became fine, then turned into a real downpour. In a short intermission of rain, we set up a tent. It was uncomfortable, because apart from us, no one was standing with a tent. There were puddles near the camping site, which was not marked with anything. Locals wandered along the beach and pricked coconuts. Then we went to buy groceries. We found an American Walmart and bought everything we needed there. But they forgot the matches. I had to dine on rolls and cold sausages – this was the only meal of the day. On the plane they gave only chips and something to drink. Trying to find a light from someone was unsuccessful. Either people did not smoke, or they did not understand anything in English. It rained all night non-stop. In the morning we decided to take a look around. It turned out that the toilet paid $ 1. It’s just mind-boggling! We went behind the tent at night to our shame. The next day, they found a toilet, which supposedly worked for free until 6 pm. It became clear that if this campsite is five stars on the Internet, then about Toro Negro, where it is written in open text – THERE IS NOTHING, take everything with you, including water for drinking, there should be no question. Washing is not possible at all. Drop this option right away. At least Luquillo had outdoor showers with cold water. In the evening, a surprise awaited – the closed gates and by some miracle the exit gates turned out to be open. This meant that you had to return to the campsite before five in the evening. After visiting San Juan, we swam on the beach. The water, though clean, is interspersed with sand. No coral or fish to be seen. But there were a lot of coconuts lying around. One of them I gouged with a knife with great difficulty and could only eat half. This was my breakfast. nine0004

What is dangerous in Puerto Rico

Here I would like to digress. I tried to ventilate this topic in advance. But not everyone learned them on the Internet. Some dangers became clear later, upon arrival. Some turned out to be contrived and funny. We learned about some of them on a sign on the beach
– you can’t swim after a long heavy rain during the day, because after the rain various pathogenic bacteria actively multiply
– do not touch the coral with your hands – they say it burns
– you can’t drink tap water – they didn’t check on themselves, but the people who drank this water didn’t seem to get sick
– you can’t eat in local restaurants – but we decided that some of them are still possible. Ate where it was not scary to go.
– be attentive to the place of bathing. If places where immediately from the shore can be carried into the ocean by a strong current.
– on Culebra in the camping, the Americans told us that there are scorpions. Items cannot be placed on the ground. It is better to store them on a table or hang them on a tree. Before putting on shoes, check the inside of the shoes, i.e. shake out the scorpion, if there is one. But in fact, we did not see scorpions
– do not put up a tent under a coconut for obvious reasons.
– on the Internet it was recommended to be vaccinated against Typhoid, Tropical fever, Hepatitis B. We were not vaccinated. By the way, about the fever – not as scary as it seemed, I read later. I began to read about the fever after we were bitten by mosquitoes. The Internet writes that the mortality rate is the same as with the flu, maybe a little higher. Maximum 20%.
– well, funny dangers, usually such are issued by housewives-home hens or Americans: We walked along a slippery clay path in the jungle. The children slipped and fell down. Keep your children close to you when walking through the rainforest. Or bitten by some sandy bugs, then everything itched. nine0023 By the way, I found out that there are no poisonous snakes. I was most afraid of snakes!

Old San Juan and the fortress

The next day, we saw a red flag on the beach – a sign that you should not swim. Probably it was a case of Hard Rain and it was necessary to wait a day. We went to see old San Juan and the fortresses. First, I had to eat something normal. We visited the cafe Berlin, with German, presumably, cuisine. It was scary to go to a nearby restaurant with local food. Locals were sitting there and drinking beer, there was no food to be seen. Dirty floor, dirty tables, dirty counter, everything is full of flies. There was still not enough inscription – shawarma from a dog. And it’s a stone’s throw from the world-famous fortress, where crowds of tourists from all over the world go. I was still in shock from camping. But after the potato soup my stomach got better, I gradually revived. The mood rose. We went to only one fortress, because Sasha decided that it was the same as the first one. I’m still sharpening my teeth for this. It is known from the history of this fortress that the all-powerful English fleet could not take it. The walls are very thick, the fortress was very well fortified for that time. Fortress of San Cristobal – such a photo can be seen on guidebooks. nine0023 View of another fortress – El Morro

Then we walked around Old San Juan.

We saw green parrots and an iguana. The iguana was photographed. Funny lizard, can run on two hind legs. It is 0.5 to 1 meter in size.

Seven Seas

After another night we moved to another campsite, which was not far from the ferry. It was more civil here. The toilet is free, but without toilet soap and paper. The shower is still cold and outside. There were also Gazebos. It was something like a canopy with a concrete floor, the roof was attached to 4 pillars. Some were without concrete floors. They wanted to put a tent under such a canopy – but there was a sign that it was impossible to put a tent there. So it remained a mystery to me why these Gazebos are needed. I looked in the explanatory dictionary of English – it was written there what was needed for rest and the installation of appropriate equipment. For a hammock – but there you could hang 1 hammock obliquely. So I didn’t understand why, and Sasha suggested that a cot was placed there. Can be a folding table and chairs for a picnic. Another strange feature of this campsite is that you can’t cook there. But we prepared anyway. We swam despite the red flag, went along the coast along the rocks. I was smart enough not to swim there. On the way back, we read about the Rip Current – this is just the current that takes you into the ocean. By the way, the red flag hung on the beach all the time. We decided that the lifeguard did not want to be responsible for the people on the beach. There were no strong waves, no heavy rain either. Despite the red flag, he cycled around his property and swam. By the way, in the photo at the request of Seven Seas, there is also a red flag on the beach. The rest of the day was spent in any way, sitting under a palm tree on the beach. We didn’t pay for the tent for those two nights. We were told that they would come to you and take money for camping, but no one approached us like that. Sasha did not want to leave the tent unattended. The next day we went to El Yungue – the rain forest. The tent was rolled up. When we returned, the tent was not laid out, we decided to take a walk along the shore. There were some signs in Spanish, maybe something that you can’t go there, a reserve. But we had an excuse – we don’t know Spanish. It was interesting to walk along the coast. There we saw many empty shells, pieces of coral, starfish. nine0023
I pulled a huge shell out of the water and decided to take it with me. True, all large shells were partially broken. This sink was no exception. Finally, we got to the place. where the waves break on the reef. We returned dark. I also tried to swim at night, but the plankton didn’t glow around me. Sasha could not be persuaded to take a night boat trip, to see how the water phosphorescent. I think this is another omission, although it is expensive – $ 50 per person.

El Yunque

In the morning we went to the rain forest. I wanted to go to the highest point. On the road we looked at the La Coca waterfall. Unlike Shenando, the waterfall was beautiful and powerful. Not like two streams. We managed to climb the tower, but didn’t go further, it seems like the time to return to the camp was running out. And so I thought that in vain they were breaking to the very top, because below the vegetation and flowers are much richer, and at the top there are only undersized palm trees exhausted by survival and monotonous epiphytes on them. The path is entirely cemented, lined with stones interspersed with cement. In the foreground is, I believe, a flowering tulip tree. On the back right is the peak on which I wanted to be. nine0023

Fajardo

The next morning we found the ferry in Fajardo. The car was left in the parking lot next to the departure point. I was waiting. that we will be sailing on this ferry for a long, tedious and slow time. It turned out nothing of the sort. When the ferry started, it turned into a speedboat. The ferry somehow does not dare to call the language. He walked at a speed of 60 km/h. The wind on the deck was oncoming, it formed with the speed of the ferry. On the upper deck – just knocked down. It was also fun when he bounced on the ocean wave. Without holding on to the handrails, one could fall from this pitching. The tourists squealed with pleasure. An hour later we were already on Culebra. nine0004

Culebra

If you want to see coral and turtles without chartering a yacht, you should sail to Culebra. The option to fly is also good, as it costs the same as the ferry + taxi to Fajardo. Fast and no hassle. The popularity of the local camping immediately became noticeable by the number of tents. There were a lot of us (people with tents) here. We just arrived on Friday and local vacationers were added to the tourists. Camping compared to the previous ones cost 2 times more – $ 20. But he was worth it. American neighbors from California met us. Very pleasant and sociable people. They told where the coral is, where the turtles are, warned about scorpions and mosquitoes. Unlike American camping, people walked along our tents, near our table. But nothing was stolen, unlike Russian campsites. In Russia, they would steal even when a person would be in a tent in a sleeping state. The shower was still outside and cold. But there were several toilets and you didn’t have to go far. They still didn’t have toilet paper. And there were no sinks to wash your hands. We have become accustomed to all these inconveniences. On Culebra, we finally saw corals and various colorful fish. It was amazing! We saw a sea turtle once. Sasha scared her and she flew away like an underwater torpedo and disappeared from sight. I did not expect such agility from a turtle. Before that, I swam after her and managed to catch up and examine her. nine0023
A day later we met two Russian guys – Ukrainian Yura and half-Georgian Roma. The hunt for coconuts began after I tried to open a coconut with a broken knife. The Americans approached with machetes and began to help crack open the coconut. It turned out to be very strong, as it was ripe. Then another American approached, as it turned out, an expert in climbing a palm tree for a coconut. He presented the extracted coconut to me. Compared to the first coconut, it was green. There was a lot of juice in it, and as it turned out, the pulp can be eaten with a spoon. It had the consistency of a soft-boiled egg. Yura decided it was his duty to practice climbing a palm tree. The first time it did not work out, but then, he went to the beach and picked a whole pile of coconuts on low-growing palm trees. In the evening we burned a fire with the Americans and three Austrians, drinking the juice from the coconuts we had harvested the day before. But this seemed not enough. Yura wanted rum and it was decided to sail to the yacht at night for rum. The three of us – he, an American and one Austrian girl sailed to buy rum on a yacht. But there were Mormons. They didn’t even let them on board. They returned with nothing. But the act was desperate. nine0023 Despite the heavenly beach, beautiful corals and cozy camping in my own way, I wanted to change places. So we tried to walk on different beaches. We collected a collection of shells and pieces of coral, saw cacti. But anyway, I can’t sunbathe and snorkel on the beach for a long time, even if it’s quite beautiful and interesting.

I want to go somewhere and see something.
That’s such a blue sea

It was decided that the four of us would go to the big island, to Ponce or Guanica. Unfortunately, we made a mistake with the ferry schedule. I had to wait until lunch for the ferry. nine0004

Ponce

We were in Ponce in the evening. A very provincial town in my opinion. We looked at all the sights while looking for a hotel – the Church on the main square, colored lions and an old fire station, perhaps the oldest in the world. We rented a hotel with no windows for 4. But inexpensive by local standards. Slept the next morning. I woke up from the fact that I did not want to sleep – it was dark, therefore, the time was no later than 6. I tried to force myself to sleep, but I couldn’t. Then I saw that Roma was not sleeping. I asked the time – it turned out to be half past nine. Like a submarine, not a hotel. Gathered, ate a meager breakfast at the hotel – bread and butter, muffins and yogurt. Let’s go to Toro Negro to haik. The road to Toro Negro was blocked – it was being repaired. We saw the Don Juan waterfall. We climbed to the top point – Mount Ciero Punta. Despite the visibility of the proximity of the mountains, we traveled for half a day. They ate bananas from the bush – very tasty. We also saw some fruits from the car, stopped. The fruit hung high and was guarded by a dog from the house opposite. The owner came out to see what was going on. According to Russian habit, I felt embarrassed – I think it will start now – all sorts of people come here, what do you need? I smiled and said hello in English and Spanish. The man did not speak English. I asked in English, pointing to the fruit – is it possible to eat it? He answered something in Spanish. I went to look for fruits on the ground. All of them were damaged, cracked, all sorts of sekaras were sitting inside. It could be seen from the smell that it was some kind of citrus. Normal fruits hung high. There was no way to get them. The “owner of fruits” took out a net on a long stick, plucked 4 of them and gave it to me. Then we doubted that they can be eaten .. maybe he plucked it for a souvenir – who knows. We drove up to the other inhabitants of this mountain village. They laid out and washed some roots. It’s good that Roma knew a little Spanish. It turned out to be some kind of “Tohargo” fruit. I don’t remember exactly – the Spanish name. It tastes and looks very similar to Pomelo. nine0004

In the evening we tried to find the Indian Ceremonial Center. Lost, not found. Then we looked at the photo on the Internet – it seems a little lost. Three straw huts. a hearth for a fire, lined with stones under the open sky and some kind of ancient foundation. There was also a museum with Indian utensils, but I usually do not digest museums. The Spaniards exterminated the Indians to a single man, and now they have made a museum.
One of my regrets is that we didn’t stop at Guanica, a fishing village. There is a dry forest nearby. Cacti, yucca and other semi-desert plants. I just love cacti! And there was a nice beach near the hotel. And in Ponce, we didn’t even get to the embankment. nine0023 Early in the morning we left for San Juan. We made a detour to take Yura to the ferry to Fajardo. He must stay on Culebra for another week. I hope not in vain. Maybe he is courting a pretty Austrian, or maybe he will find a friend with a yacht. I hope he succeeds either way.
Sasha and I spent the last day at the Airport. On the plane, I passed out completely and woke up when they began to descend over Washington.

Food

Oh yes, this is the favorite topic of Americans in English conversion. The first lesson teachers ask this topic. What can I say about food in Puerto Rico? We did not eat anything other than natural food – coconuts, citrus and bananas. We were intimidated by a woman whose acquaintance is still being treated for the second month from an intestinal infection after Puerto Rico. Even after the neighbors of the Americans, who lived for 2 weeks on Culebra, assured me that the food was good and tasty, I could not persuade Sasha to buy me empanados (something like our natives). I wanted to try the local juice. I thought that mango juice is the most local. But they poured me juice from a bottle, after pouring a bunch of ice into it. And it’s for $5! I said in English that no ice is needed, but they didn’t understand me, they just took it and poured it into another glass. We ate at Subway, Burger King and Chillis when there was no time to cook. And in the campsite – buckwheat, rice, noodles, sausages, stew and canned fish. Plus nishtyaki for tea. The most decent eatery is Chillis. Thanks to the avid traveler Roma for opening this cafe for us. nine0023 The cat cried fruit on the island. Oddly enough, we did not find fruit on sale, or rather, we found it, but they were in such a form that we did not want to buy them. They treated me to apples – they were wooden and tasteless. Tortured green bananas and mangoes – the only thing that was sold here grown on the island, did not want to buy. The coconuts on the beach grew so there was no need to buy them. Of the drinks, I liked the juice in cans with pieces of coconut. And already at the airport I tried cooked pantan.