February 12: Culebra….little island with lots to love

February 12:  Culebra…the little island that has all I need

Culebra is only 7 miles long & 3 miles wide,  but we found there just about everything we needed. Interesting flora & fauna, friendly local residents,  a cruising community, and readily accessible services.

Culebra fauna

Culebra Flora

The Dinghy Dock Cafe: where you can sit all afternoon, have good wifi access, chat in between with cruisers, divers, and land tourists. And if you’re thirsty, 3 of the local beers (Medalla Light) will cost you less than $5.

Get exercise and a dose of culture, too:  a solid hour hike to the peak at the eastern end of the  island brings you to the Culebra Museum, just past the cemetery.  And if you’re lucky enough to be there  at closing time, the young lady who operates the museum may just offer you a ride back downtown, as she did Leon & I.

Cemetery

Or just a mega dose of culture: a free outdoor performance on the plaza by the wind ensemble of the Berlin Orchestra (taking R&R on Culebra after their performance in San Juan).

Flamenco beach:   warm clear Caribbean waters with a gentle surf and a wide expanse of white sand backed by palm trees, and a concession stand where $5 buys 2 cold beers and a generous portion of fresh tostones.  Just a 45 min. walk (or $3 taxi ride) from downtown.

Flamenco Beach

Bahia Marina:  a brisk ½ hour walk from town along the coast, then up to the peak of a hill, just when you’re hot & tired there’s….Bahia Marina Resort with a swimming pool that’s open to the public with a swim-up bistro

Bahia Marina Swim-up Bistro

Services: 2 supermarkets, the post office, an ATM, & a library, all within the 5 blocks comprising downtown

And best of all, a well protected flat anchorage, and 3 different free docks to tie up your dinghy.

What more could a cruiser ask for?

Nada mas, diga Eileen