Detailed instructions on how to get to Flamenco Beach in Puerto Rico on a budget.
If you are considering a trip to Culebra, the small island off the coast of Puerto Rico, then you are probably wondering how to get to Flamenco Beach.
Playa Flamenco (as it’s know to locals) is the most popular beach on Culebra and often makes it onto lists of the top beaches in the world.
However it is a bit complicated to get to Flamenco Beach. Here’s how to get to Culebra and then get to the beach plus a cost breakdown.
How To Get To Culebra
The first step in getting to Flamenco Beach is getting to the island of Culebra, which is 17 miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico.
You can get to Culebra on a small plane or ferry. We opted for the ferry since it was WAY cheaper and more flexible.
The ferry ride is 45 minutes each way and only costs $2.25 for adults and $1 for kids.
If you are interested in flying to Culebra, here are some details:
- Flights depart daily from San Juan and Ceiba (on the east coast, an hour from San Juan).
- Flights from Ceiba are $45 each way on Air Flamenco.
- Flights from San Juan are $89 each way on Cape Air.
If it is in your budget to fly, it is the fastest way to get to Culebra.
Ferry To Culebra
The ferry is run by Puerto Rico Ferry out of the Ceiba ferry terminal, which is a little over an hour from San Juan.
The ferry was very nice and comfortable inside and exceeded my expectations.
However be warned that the 45 minute ride to Culebra is quite rough.
Some people definitely got sick and I even started feeling queasy the last few minutes of the ride. Luckily my daughter was fine!
On the plus side, we did see some whales at the surface as we approached Culebra which was a treat.
Also, the return ride to Ceiba is MUCH smoother and shouldn’t cause any issues.
Tickets are super affordable at $2.25 for adults, $1.00 for kids and $1.00 for seniors each way.
After you buy your tickets online you’ll get an email with QR codes that will be scanned as you enter the ferry. This is super convenient!
The schedule changes seasonally so I suggest checking the PORFERRY site for your dates.
For example, in June the passenger ferries leave Ceiba for Culebra at:
- 6:00 am
- 9:00 am
- 1:00 pm
- 4:00 pm
You’ll want to arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time to allow time to get from the parking lot to the ferry building and get your tickets scanned, etc.
In June the ferry returns from Culebra to Ceiba at these times:
- 7:00 am
- 11:00 am
- 2:30 pm
- 5:30 pm
When we went there was also a late ferry that left at 9:30 pm, which is what we ended up taking back.
You can buy your tickets up to three weeks in advance from the PORFERRY site. There is a $3 service fee per ticket plus tax.
Our roundtrip for one adult and one child was $20.
I suggest not waiting until the last minute because the ferries do sell out. We wanted to take the 9:00 am ferry but it was sold out, so we had to take an 11 am ferry instead.
Ceiba Ferry Terminal Parking
You do have to pay to park your car at the Ceiba ferry terminal.
When we went the cost was $8 per day. You can pay by cash or credit card.
Unfortunately the parking is not directly next to the terminal.
You can walk (about 10 minutes) or take a free shuttle bus.
Keep in mind that when the ferry returns there are a lot of people trying to get back to the parking lot at once and you will likely have to wait for a shuttle.
How To Get To Flamenco Beach: Ceiba Ferry Terminal
There is a cute little cafe inside the ferry building if you need to grab a snack. There are restrooms as well.
To get into the waiting area for the ferry you will have your tickets scanned on your phone (or you can print them out of course).
The waiting area was great – covered to protect you from the sun and kept cool by giant fans.
There was a man selling shaved ice in the waiting area so we got some while we waited.
They started to board the ferry about 20 minutes before departure.
How To Get To Flamenco Beach from Dewey Ferry Terminal
The ferry from Ceiba arrives in Culebra in the only town on the island, Dewey.
Flamenco Beach is about 3 miles from town, so getting there is the next leg of your journey.
You can either take a public shared van (publico) or rent a vehicle for the day.
The cost per person for the publico is $6 round trip cash. This is a set cost so you won’t be gouged on the price!
There are dozens of shuttle buses waiting outside the ferry terminal so just grab the first one with room and you are good to go.
Or you can rent a Jeep or golf cart for the day through the popular Carlos Jeep Rental. Just be sure to make your reservation well in advance!
If you do rent a vehicle it is $5 to park at Flamenco Beach.
How To Get To Flamenco Beach: Cost
As you can see, it is complicated to get to Flamenco Beach – but that is part of the adventure of going here!
And once you set foot on the slice of paradise, it will all be worth it.
Here is a breakdown of the costs involved in getting to Flamenco Beach for one adult and one child:
- Ferry terminal parking: $8
- Round trip ferry tickets: $20
- Publico transport to the beach: $12
- Entrance fee/donation to the beach: $4
The total cost to visit Flamenco Beach for the day was about $20 per person.
Wow, does that seem like a deal when I look back on the experience!
I hope this post answers all of your questions about how to get to Flamenco Beach in Culebra, Puerto Rico.
Check out my other Puerto Rico posts here:
Anything else you want to know? Just leave a comment below or send me a message on The Frugal South’s Facebook page.
Shankar
Tuesday 21st of December 2021
I visited culebra/flamingo beach last week with kids, this infornatiin was very useful. Couple of things to highlight for any new travellers. If you are going with kids or with motion sickness then PLEASE AVOID TAKING CARGO ferry ride as it take 90 minutes to reach instead of regular 45 minutes and the travel is very scary. You sit in low lying deck with no windows and you could hear all waves hitting the ship and you feel like its going to topple. All of us vomited and few other adults threw as well. The ride back from culebra in the passenger ferry was smooth and quick. Also online ticket was showing sold out for all days but you can get the tickets easily if you reach the ticketing place 1 hour before. In fact you can buy tickets for next day or later. Don't expect many options for food in the beach, you will have only 2 small shops with very few options. You can eat in town when you get down from ferry and then take taxi to flamingo beach. There are chairs to rent in the beach but if you can take you chair or tent then its good, incase if it rains as there is no place to hide take shelter when it rains. Also take you towels, they sells it for $10 if you need one badly. Otherwise this tiny beach is beautiful to visit with clear water. Keep your expectations little low.
Daniel
Tuesday 21st of December 2021
Great walkthrough, but the price of the ferry that you described is way higher than what I found. I don’t have my receipts in front of me, but they were about $2.50 per direction per person (seniors and children were less, residents also less). That’s about $5 round trip with no extra fee. There may have been some third party buying tickets and reselling with an upcharge for the convenience? Luggage/Coolers/Bags are extra for the ferry, too, but only like $1 or so.
Gabriela Coll
Monday 22nd of November 2021
Very helpful article! Catamaran tours are expensive and do not stop necessarily in Playa Flamenco and flights of course are expensive too. But now that I read your article; I was trying to book the ferry in advance to December 16, and the website do not show me any dates in December as available...but I understand from you that they start selling it more close to the date, right?
Other wise; I can buy it the same day if I get there early.
Couple more questions: Can I get with my rental car inside the ferry or it is more simple take the publico?
Your link for the ferry is not working , I'm using www.puertoricoferry.com , is that the same company?
(I went many years ago, I believe different ferry and it was painfully and the waiting time very frustrating, but the beach was worthy)
Thanks so much :)
Samantha DeVries
Thursday 4th of November 2021
Thanks for the information! We going to PR February and have heard awful things about the ferry to Culebra. Hopefully service has improved since then. What time of the year was this visit and what day of the week did go to Culebra?
Samantha DeVries
Tuesday 16th of November 2021
@Leah, Thanks so much!
Leah
Tuesday 16th of November 2021
We went in February and the service was reliable. We went mid-week. I think that information is outdated from when the ferry was run by another company years ago.
Rachel
Thursday 23rd of September 2021
I ordered my ferry tickets but ordered them from Puertoricoferry.com not porferry.com (website is not working) but is the publico the same as a taxi? I'm trying to figure out how I can get to Flamenco beach from the ferry w/out renting a vehicle. Thanks!
Leah
Sunday 26th of September 2021
Hi Rachel! Yes, the publico is a shared bus that is similar to a taxi. They will be waiting around the ferry dock when you arrive so you will have no trouble getting one.