As of 3/15/2024, the camping area at Flamenco Beach has reopened!.

Culebra is a beautiful island, probably one of our favorite local beach mini-vacation getaway places. But lodging can be pricey. If you are looking for really low cost "lodging", and don’t mind roughing it a bit, camping might fit the bill.

The only campground on Culebra is the right on Playa Flamenco. It is an amazingly beautiful location, offering breezes and most of the amenities any camper could want. We don’t camp, but have visited the campsite and asked around to get the info for this mini-guide. We hope it helps.

Getting There

If you’re on the big island of Puerto Rico, getting to Flamenco Beach can be a bit of a hassle since Culebra is a different island. Your options of getting to Culebra are either to take a ferry from Ceiba or to fly from Ceiba, SJU, or Isla Grande. The ferry is the most economical way to get to Culebra , plus additional charges for tents, coolers, etc.

Camping Gear

Figuring out what gear you are going to need, and how you are going to get it to Flamenco Beach, requires some advance planning. Personally, I would bring all my own gear to Culebra, which would mean to bring it from home or to buy it on the big island. Some stores here, like Walmart and Costco, carry a limited assortment of camping gear.

Another option is to find a place that will supply and rent most of your gear once on Culebra. There is a kiosk right at the beach that will rent what you need (Kiosk #5)

Transportation on Culebra

I would recommend getting some type of transportation on Culebra. The campground is a good 30-minute HOT walk from town. You can easily get a $3 taxivan ride during the day. After 5pm, you will need to call one of the many taxi drivers posted at the campground for a ride back and forth to town. It will cost a few bucks more after dark. Renting a car would be a good idea if it is in your budget. Parking at Flamenco is $5/day.

Food and Supplies

I would recommend getting your supplies as soon as you get to Culebra. Colmado Milka is only a few blocks away from the ferry dock — just over the orange bridge. The Costa del Sol supermarket is close to the airport. Note that most markets close early on Sunday, usually by 1pm, so plan accordingly. Glass bottles are not permitted at Flamenco Beach, so stick to cans!

Reservations and Check-in

You MUST have reservations as there are limited camping spaces. And the campground is extremely popular, especially during Holy Week, the whole month of July, holiday weekends, and most summer weekends.

You need to check-in/registrar at the office right at the entrance to the balneario. It costs $35 per tent per night, maximum 6 people per tent (half price for people with disabilities). They accept cash, credit cards and ATH. There is also the $5 parking fee for the beach.

At the Campground

The campground is packed dirt and sand, shaded by palms and pine trees. The camping areas are located just a few feet away from the beach, so you get ocean breezes, views and sounds. It is maintained pretty well, and it appears relatively clean.

2024 renovation and partial opening…I have not seen what the new camping area is like. In the past, the campground was divided into 5 areas, labeled A to E. Camping Area A is closest to the food and supply kiosks, but also closest to the parking lot and bus-loads of beach-goers. Camping Area E is farthest from the parking lot. There are some picnic tables in each area, but not enough for each campsite. So get there early and claim a table!

Camping Areas A to D are for families, groups, and (usually) weekend party-goers. Camping Area E is designated as the "quiet" zone. We were amazed at the elaborate tent cities that the large local groups set up while we were there, with giant tarps strung in the trees above their tents and picnic tables. These are some serious party set-ups!

For cooking, you can’t have an open-flame fire. You either have to use a propane camping stove or get a site close to one of the BBQ pits. You need to supply your own charcoal for the BBQ pits. Note that tanks of propane cooking gas are prohibited on the ferry and planes. You will have to buy cooking fuel on Culebra, so plan ahead.

There are a number of food kiosks at the balneario parking lot, but these close soon after the beach-goers leave for the day (about 6pm), so eat early, plan on cooking your own meals, or go into town for dinner.

The facilities at the campground are pretty basic. The bathrooms and shower have been renovated…hopefully they stay in good repair! Note that the water in the showers is non-potable.

The bathrooms are flush toilets (that are usually decently clean except for really busy weekends). I suggest you bring your own toilet paper.

There are large water tanks of potable water at each camping area for cooking, cleaning, and brushing your teeth.

Last-minute checklist

Remember to take camping gear, something to eat/drink, sunblock, insect repellent, toilet paper, trash bags, flashlight, personal care items, first aid kit, and matches to light a BBQ. We also recommend hard-soled shoes, since Culebra has lots of Acacia thorn bushes and coral rocks.

Personal Safety

While there is virtually no crime against tourists on Culebra, and there are guards that patrol the campground, I would be leery of leaving cameras, passports and other important or valuable items unattended in tents or on beaches. We always double dry bag our important stuff and bring it with us when we go in the water. Some people opt to dig a hole under the tent and hide stuff there.

Details

For info and reservations, you must call the Flamenco Campground Office at 787-742-1404 or (787) 742-1400. or EMail them campingflamenco.acdec.@gmail.com .

Besides the $35 camping fee, There is a $2 per person “donation” required for admission to the beach. Parking is $5 per car for parking, and $4 per golf cart.

The maximum number of nights you can register for is 7 nights. If you want to stay longer (we were talking to a guy that have been camping there for 3 months) you need to go to the office and re-register every 7 nights.

When you register, you will be given a set of campground rules that everyone must abide by — typical things like no littering, quiet time after 11pm, and don’t bother the wildlife.

When you register, they may assign you to a specific campsite, but they just usually let you decide where you want to set up camp.

Sorry, no animals allowed at campsites unless they are certified guide dogs.

Click on a placename below to view the location on Google Maps ...

• Balneario Flamenco, Culebra
• Balneario Flamenco, Culebra, parking
• Benjamin Rivera Noriega Airport (CPX)
• Colmado Milka
• Costa del Sol Supermarket
• Dinghy Dock
• DRNA Office at Flamenco Beach
• Ferry Terminal, Culebra
• Flamenco Beach, Camping Area A
• Flamenco Beach, Camping Area B
• Flamenco Beach, Camping Area C
• Flamenco Beach, Camping Area D
• Flamenco Beach, Camping Area E

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