Is there a Culebra ticket or entry fee?
No. There is no gate and no island entry fee, so your ticket is the tour fare, or the ferry fare if you go on your own. The ferry day's fare also covers entry to Flamenco Beach, which the other boats reach from the water.
How much does a Culebra tour cost?
Shared tours run from about $145 to $265 per person, and the private boats from $1,500 to $2,500 for a group of up to six. Most shared fares include lunch, drinks and snorkel gear; the cheapest, the ferry day, leaves lunch to you. Tips are extra on every tour.
Do you need a tour to visit the island?
No. The public ferry from Ceiba takes 1 hour 30 minutes and costs $2.25 each way for an adult, and Cape Air lists a flight of about 20 minutes from San Juan. A tour adds the boat, the snorkel gear, a guide and usually lunch, and it reaches reefs and beaches you would struggle to see on foot in one day.
Where do the tours leave from?
Most leave from marinas in Fajardo: Puerto del Rey, Villa Marina, Sunbay Marina, Isleta Marina and Las Croabas. Two leave from Roosevelt Roads in Ceiba, one of them on the public ferry, and one collects you in San Juan. Each card names its own meeting point.
Can you get pickup from San Juan?
Yes, on some. One power-boat day collects from the Isla Verde area of San Juan, and the Puerto del Rey catamaran snorkel day sells hotel pickup as a booking option. Every other tour meets you at its own dock in Fajardo or Ceiba, about an hour's drive east of San Juan.
How long is the boat ride?
Most boats take 50 to 75 minutes each way from Fajardo, and the public ferry from Ceiba takes 1 hour 30 minutes. The crossing is open water and can be bumpy, so take a seasickness remedy before you board if you are prone to it.
What happens if the sea is too rough to cross?
The captain decides on the day, and every boat names a calmer alternative, most often Icacos, Palomino or a Vieques beach. You still get a snorkel and a beach, and some fares adjust the price or offer a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead lets you watch the forecast before you commit.
Can non-swimmers join?
Some days suit you and some do not. The ferry day provides a flotation belt with the gear and guides you in the water, while several boats say every guest must be able to swim, and the Puerto del Rey catamaran snorkel day reaches the beach with a 50 to 70-foot swim. Read the listing's requirements before you book.
How old do children need to be?
Most boats take children from age 6. The Isleta Marina snorkel day takes them from 3 with an adult, the Puerto del Rey catamaran snorkel day from 4, and the ferry day from 6. Pregnant travellers cannot join any of the boats, so check each listing before you book.
Will you see sea turtles on a Culebra snorkeling tour?
Often, but never on a promise. Hawksbill, green and leatherback turtles all use the waters of the Culebra refuge, and Tamarindo is where the boats most often find them; the ferry day snorkels there for two hours. Keep your distance and let the turtle choose how close it comes.
Does every tour stop at Flamenco Beach?
No. The ferry day and the Ceiba snorkel boat plan the day around Flamenco Beach, and most boats aim for it, but the captain chooses the beach by the sea, and Culebrita, Tamarindo or a beach on another island are common alternatives. If Flamenco matters most to you, pick one of the two days built around it.
How many people does a Culebra private tour take?
The private tours are priced per group of up to six. The Sunbay Marina charters give you about four hours at Culebra, and the 47-foot private catamaran goes to Icacos by default and to Culebra at extra cost. Only your party is aboard, and you set the pace with the crew.
When is the best time of year to go?
January to March are the driest months on Culebra Hill, and September to November the wettest. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November. The sea changes day to day in every month, so book with free cancellation whenever you travel.
Can you cancel if your plans change?
Yes. Every tour here refunds in full if you cancel up to 24 hours before the start. If the operator cancels for weather or too few bookings, you are offered another date or a full refund.
Is there a Culebra jet ski tour or a bioluminescent bay tour?
Not here. No tour here is a jet ski tour, and every one is a daytime trip, so no tour is a bioluminescent bay tour either. Puerto Rico's three bio bays are Mosquito Bay on Vieques, Laguna Grande in Fajardo and La Parguera in Lajas, and you visit them at night on a separate trip.
