Culebra Island Power Boat Snorkeling & Open Bar W/Transportation
Pickup in Isla Verde, a power boat for 26, a reef snorkel and Flamenco Beach.
From $265 per person
Check AvailabilityGetting to Culebra
There are three ways across to Culebra: the public ferry from Ceiba, a small plane from San Juan, or a tour boat from Fajardo. Here is how each works, where every tour meets you, and how to reach the dock, so the Culebra boat tour from Fajardo starts on time.
The three ways across
The ferry is the islanders' route. It is cheap and slow, and you arrive in town with no car and no gear. The plane is quick and costs more. A tour boat is the only one that takes you straight to a reef and a beach, then brings you back to the same dock.
Most visitors on a day trip take a tour. If you plan to stay a night or two, the ferry or the plane makes more sense, because you set your own hours.
The ferry from Ceiba
The public ferry leaves from the terminal at Roosevelt Roads in Ceiba, the former naval station just south of Fajardo. The crossing takes 1 hour 30 minutes. An adult ticket costs $2.25 each way; children aged 4 to 12 and seniors aged 60 to 74 pay $1.00, and travellers 75 and over and infants ride free.
Buying ferry tickets, and who boards first
You buy tickets online, in the operator's app or at the terminal windows, and only for schedules already published. One small carry-on rides free; coolers and bicycles cost $2 and surfboards $6. Visitors cannot bring a car, because vehicles are for island residents only.
When a ferry fills up, priority goes first to pregnant women, seniors, disabled travellers and veterans, then to island residents. So on a busy day, buy your ticket early and arrive early. The ferry day tour buys the tickets for you.
Flying in
Culebra's airport is Benjamín Rivera Noriega Airport, code CPX. Cape Air flies there from San Juan's main airport, SJU, in about 20 minutes, with four flights a day on its published schedule. Fares change often, so check them when you book.
A flight suits a longer stay more than a day trip, because the boats already leave from Fajardo and Ceiba. If you fly in, you need your own snorkel gear and a ride on the island.
Where each tour leaves from
Every tour meets at its own dock, and the arrival rules differ. This is each one, from the listing's own meeting point.
| Tour | Meeting point | Arrival |
|---|---|---|
| Culebra Island Power Boat Snorkel & Open Bar | White tent, 200 Ave Marina View, Las Croabas, Fajardo | Arrive 45 minutes early; check-in closes 30 minutes before; bring photo ID; free street parking |
| Culebra Island Power Boat Snorkeling & Open Bar W/Transportation | Pickup in the Isla Verde area of San Juan | Be at your pickup point 10 minutes early; the bus does not wait |
| Culebra Full Day Beach and Fun Experience by Catamaran | Safe Harbor Puerto del Rey, State Rd 3 Km 51.4, Fajardo | Meet at the operator's office in the marina |
| From Fajardo: Culebra Snorkeling and Beach Tour with lunch | East Island Excursions office, Puerto del Rey, Fajardo | Arrive 45 minutes early; free parking inside the marina; pickup can be added |
| Full Day Charter from Fajardo to Culebra | Sunbay Marina, Fajardo | Arrive 20 minutes early; give the guard your name; park after Pier A; meet at the first gazebo |
| From Fajardo: Snorkeling and Beach Day in Culebra | Sunbay Marina, Fajardo | Park after Pier A and meet at the first gazebo by the marina office |
| Fajardo: Private 47-F Catamaran Cruise with Drinks and Snack | Dive shop, Villa Marina Shopping Center, Fajardo | Check in 30 minutes early; the crew walks you to the boat at Puerto Chico |
| From Fajardo: All-Inclusive Boat and Snorkeling in Culebra Island | Villa Marina Shopping Center, Fajardo | Check in at 8:00am for a 9:00am departure |
| Culebra Snorkeling and Beach Day Tour All Inclusive | Isleta Marina ferry dock, Fajardo | Meet at 8:00am at the gray gazebo with an orange roof across from the parking |
| Culebra Snorkel with Turtles & Flamenco Beach Adventure by Ferry | Ceiba Ferry Terminal, Roosevelt Roads | Follow the terminal signs to the lot and take the shuttle; meet in front of the boarding area |
| Full-Day Snorkeling Tour to Culebra Island with Lunch | Dive center, Roosevelt Roads, Ceiba | Arrive 45 minutes early for check-in and waivers; wait in your car if the building is closed |
Driving from San Juan to Fajardo or Ceiba
Most visitors stay in San Juan, and the Fajardo marinas and the Ceiba terminal lie about an hour's drive east, longer in morning traffic. Most boats check in between 7:30am and 8:15am, so you leave San Juan early.
Give your driver the marina name, not just “Fajardo”. Puerto del Rey, Villa Marina, Sunbay Marina, Isleta Marina and Las Croabas are all different places. At the Ceiba terminal, you park in the lot and take the shuttle to the entrance.
Pickup or drive yourself
One power-boat tour collects you in the Isla Verde area of San Juan. The Puerto del Rey catamaran snorkel day sells hotel pickup as a booking option. Everyone else drives, takes a taxi or books a transfer.
If you have no car, a pickup fare removes the hardest part of the morning. If you have one, driving gives you the widest choice of boats. The San Juan guide compares the routes.
Arrival rules at the dock
Arrive early. Most boats want you 30 to 45 minutes before departure, and a late arrival is usually a no-show with no refund. Bring photo ID that matches the booking.
Do not book a boat for the day you land. A late flight can mean a missed boat and no refund. Book your Culebra day for your second day or later, and plan the rest of the trip here.
The island's official contacts
Municipio de Culebra
P.O. Box 7, Culebra, Puerto Rico 00775 · (787) 742-3521
Culebra National Wildlife Refuge
305-394-2028 · Wildlife refuge public areas: Every day 6am–6pm (refuge public areas and trails, not tour times)
Where to check these facts
Ferry fares, rules and ticketing are the ferry operator's own; the flight is Cape Air's published route.
- Puerto Rico Ferry: rates
- Puerto Rico Ferry: FAQ
- Puerto Rico Ferry: buy tickets
- Cape Air: flights to Culebra
Tours that make the journey simplest
Culebra Snorkel with Turtles & Flamenco Beach Adventure by Ferry
The public ferry with a guide: turtles at Tamarindo, then three hours at Flamenco Beach.
From $145 per person
Check Availability
Culebra Snorkeling and Beach Day Tour All Inclusive
Two or three reef stops from Isleta Marina, a light lunch, children from age 3.
From $168 per person
Check AvailabilityWhat to expect once you land is on planning your trip, and every tour is compared on Culebra Tours.