How to Get to Culebra, Puerto Rico: 4 Key Transportation Options
Learn all about the many ways to get from San Juan to Culebra, along with tips from other cities in Puerto Rico to Culebra.
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!
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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.
First, check out this short video to see why Culebra deserves a visit!
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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. To help get you started, here are recommended Culebra hotels:
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’re ready to explore Culebra, Puerto Rico!
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!
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!
- Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico: Everything to Know Before You Go
- 10 Best Things to Do in Culebra, 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
- Where to Stay in San Juan, Puerto Rico: Best Hotels & Areas
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