Culebra

Culebra is Puerto Rico's diamond in the rough, located 17 miles east of mainland Puerto Rico and nine miles north of Vieques. Besides the tiny town of Dewey and a small airport, Culebra is mostly a smattering of private homes, green hills and beaches. The island is home to a few thousand year-round residents, a seasonal destination for nesting turtles and a low-key Eden for tourists who seek something different. It also boasts Flamenco Beach, arguably one of the best in the world.

Flamenco Beach is a beautiful beach made of picture-perfect white sand framed by green rolling hills. It is one of the most beautiful places in all of Puerto Rico. The large beach comfortably accommodates the sun seekers who come for its tranquil, multi-hued water and wide beachfront. The Discovery Channel named it the second most beautiful beach in the world and TripAdvisor named it one of the five best beaches on Earth.

Another not-to-miss place when visiting Culebra is Cayo Luis Peña Natural Reserve, a small island off the west coast of Culebra. The island is rarely visited despite being home to a breathtaking nature reserve perfectly suited for swimming, snorkeling, SCUBA diving, hiking and photography. The Reserve includes beaches, reefs and keys with the most impressive spots for snorkeling and scuba diving. The most popular beaches to explore are Carlos Rosario and Tamarindo, which both have healthy coral reefs teeming with fish and diversity marine life.

Visitors to Culebra should also not miss out on a trip to Culebrita Island, a tiny uninhabited islet close to Culebra. It has lovely beaches, a natural salt water pool and hiking trails that lead to the old lighthouse, the only manmade structure in Culebrita. The islet is easily accessible by water taxi or kayak from Culebra.