Playa Flamenco, Culebra
Overview
Playa Flamenco is a horseshoe-shaped bay of white sand on the north side of Culebra, a small island about 17 miles east of mainland Puerto Rico. The water is usually calm, clear and shallow, and the beach is one of the best known in the Caribbean.
The beach is managed as a public bathing area, with an entry fee per person and a separate parking fee. Facilities include lifeguards, restrooms, showers, a few changing rooms and food kiosks, and chairs and umbrellas can be rented. The gates close in the late afternoon.
Our current condition score for this beach is .
Photo summary of last month
Each photograph is published unedited and in date order, and is replaced as newer submissions arrive, so what appears here is the most recent view of the beach rather than a promotional photograph.
Flamenco lies on a small island away from the mainland, so its photographs are a useful comparison with Luquillo and the beaches of the north-east coast on the same day.
Position relative to the Atlantic sargassum belt
Sargassum from the tropical Atlantic reaches Puerto Rico in most recent years, carried by the trade winds and currents, and the amount that lands on a given beach depends largely on its exposure and on the wind on the day. Flamenco faces north into a sheltered bay, so it is less exposed than many beaches on the open coast, but it is not immune in heavy years. The dated photographs above show the beach as it actually was.
The sargassum season
In Puerto Rico the heaviest arrivals usually fall between spring and late summer, and the winter months are generally quieter. Volumes and timing vary considerably from one year to the next, so recent photographs are a better guide than the calendar.
The tanks
At the western end of the beach stand two old M4 Sherman tanks, relics of the period when the United States Navy used Culebra for military exercises. The Navy left the island in 1975, and the tanks, repainted with graffiti over the decades, are among the most photographed objects in Puerto Rico.
Camping
A campground behind the beach is the only one on Culebra. Sites must be reserved in advance with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, and availability has varied in recent years.
Swimming conditions and safety
The bay is usually calm and suitable for swimming and snorkelling, and lifeguards are on duty during opening hours. Conditions change with swells in winter, and the flags should be checked before entering the water.
Access and getting there
Culebra is reached by passenger ferry from the terminal at Ceiba, on the east coast of Puerto Rico, a crossing of about 45 minutes to an hour, or by small plane from San Juan or Ceiba. Ferry tickets often sell out, and residents have priority on the smaller boats, so booking ahead is advisable. From the ferry terminal and the airport, shared taxis reach the beach in about ten to fifteen minutes.
Check live conditions before you go
On the live map we track Playa Flamenco with dated photographs and a current condition score, which makes it easy to compare with the other beaches of Puerto Rico on the same morning.
See live conditions, photos & cams →