How To Get To Flamenco Beach Puerto Rico
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may receive compensation when you click on links and actions are tracked by means of a code in the links.
Learn step by step how to take the ferry to Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico. How to first get to Culebra, a smaller island in Puerto Rico, and then how to take public transportation to Flamenco Beach, one of the most gorgeous beaches in the world!
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 known to locals) is the most popular beach on Culebra and often makes it onto lists of the top beaches in the world.
However, it’s a bit complicated to get to Flamenco Beach, but that’s part of what makes it so amazing!
Here’s how to get to Culebra and then get to the beach plus a cost breakdown.
Options for Getting To Culebra
The first step in getting to Playa Flamenco 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 have always opted for the ferry to Flamenco Beach since it is WAY cheaper and more flexible.
The Culebra ferry to is 45-55 minutes each way (on the fast ferry) and only costs $2.25 for adults and $1 for kids ages 4-12.
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 start at $45 each way on Air Flamenco.
- Flights from San Juan start at $89 each way on Cape Air.
If it is in your budget to fly, it is the fastest way to get to Culebra.
How To Take The Ferry To Culebra
The ferry to Culebra is run by Puerto Rico Ferry out of the Ceiba ferry terminal, which is a little over an hour from San Juan.
Note that years ago the ferry used to leave from Fajardo, so don’t follow any outdated advice and go there instead!
I suggest you save the location in your maps app for easy navigation. Here is the exact location of the Ceiba Ferry Terminal in Google Maps:
Thankfully, you can buy tickets online ahead of time for the ferry to Culebra.
But before you visit the Puerto Rico Ferry site, please note that there are two different types of ferries to Culebra – a passenger-only ferry and a passenger AND cargo ferry (abbreviated PAX + CARGO).
The main difference between these boats is their speed – while the passenger-only ferry takes 45-55 minutes to get to Culebra, the Cargo ferry takes over an hour and a half!
Ticket availability typically opens up 4-6 weeks in advance, and if you want a spot on the passenger-only ferry you will want to book as far in advance as possible.
Click here to buy tickets for the ferry to Culebra on the Puerto Rico Ferry site.
Tickets are super affordable at $2.25 for adults, $1.00 for kids, and $1.00 for seniors each way.
The schedule changes seasonally so you’ll have to check the Puerto Rico Ferry site for times on the day you want to visit.
How To Buy Culebra Ferry Tickets
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!
Note that there are two times on your ticket – a boarding time and a departure time.
In my experience the ferries seldom board more than 30 minutes in advance.
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.
You likely will be able to buy tickets the day of if you arrive early enough unless it is a peak travel day. But I don’t like to leave anything to chance, so I suggest buying your tickets in advance from the PORFERRY site.
The ferry was very nice and comfortable inside and exceeded my expectations.
However, be warned that the 45-minute ride to Culebra was quite rough.
Some people 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.
Ceiba Ferry Terminal Parking
You do have to pay to park your car at the Ceiba ferry terminal.
When we went the cost for parking was $15 per day. You get a ticket and pay by credit card when you exit the lot.
Unfortunately, the parking is not directly next to the terminal.
You can walk (about 10 minutes) or take a free shuttle bus pictured above.
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.
Two shuttles were running the last time we went so it wasn’t a long wait.
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.
A man was 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 Culebra 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 $5 cash each way. 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 in Puerto Rico: Cost Breakdown
As you can see, it is complicated to get to Flamenco Beach in Puerto Rico – but that is part of the adventure of going here!
There is a cost of $2 cash per person to enter the beach area, which supports the maintenance of the facilities there.
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 Playa Flamenco Puerto Rico for one adult and one child:
- Ferry terminal parking: $15
- Round trip ferry tickets: $10
- Publico transport to the beach: $20
- Entrance fee/donation to the beach: $4
The total cost to visit Flamenco Beach for the day was about $25 per person.
Wow, does that seem like a deal when I reflect on the experience.
I hope this post answers all of your questions about how to take the ferry to Flamenco Beach in Puerto Rico.
Culebra is part of my recommended four-day Puerto Rico itinerary which you can check out here!
I also suggest a visit to Flamenco Beach in my ultimate guide to a Puerto Rico Family vacation.
Check out these related posts:
- San Cristobal Galapagos: Everything you need to know
- Things To Do In Puerto Rico With Kids
- Toronto Train To Niagara Falls Guide
Anything else you want to know? Just leave a comment below!
Hi Leah, thanks for the article!
Do you know if there’s a place to rent snorkeling gear in Culebra for the day?
That’s a good question! I actually don’t know for sure. We brought our own with us. There are several kiosks and I would be shocked if one of them DIDN’T rent snorkeling gear, as it’s very common on other PR beaches.
Great info! Thanks! Scheduled to have 1-day trip to Culebra in mid March while in Puerto Rico.
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.
@Shankar, I have been to Culebra and Flaminco Beach many times. It is small and beautiful . But it is also a protected area, the waves are generally small and not as much undertow and drag. Unless there are storms. There is a great place/park a few hundred yards through the vegetation with food and necessary items, sunscreen clothing, etc and even alcohol. I love this place. It is definitely a grat pace to go.
Beth
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.
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 http://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 🙂
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?
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.
@Leah, Thanks so much!
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!
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.
Thanks for the post. I am thinking to go to flamenco beach on sept 1st. Do you know if the beach is cleand and doesn’t have a seaweed in this time of the year?
Hi Carmen! I don’t know but would think not? If you found out please let me know!
It helped me a lot as I thought about paying $100 for the boats.
I am SO glad it helped you Luciana! That is exactly why I wrote the post. 🙂
the best of the Best