Which has better snorkeling...Culebra or Vieques?
Apr 30th, 2007, 05:07 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Which has better snorkeling...Culebra or Vieques?
We are going to one of these 2 islands June 14th...we would like to stay on the island that has the best beaches and shore snorkeling.Which would you recommend?We are going to ferry over to the one that we do not stay on oneday to explore...thanks for any input!
Christie
Christie
Apr 30th, 2007, 06:45 PM
#2
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
hi christie
all i can offer to you about culebra is that flamenco beach is beautiful. we did not snorkel there, but have heard snorkeling there is really good and probably better than vieques. that said, the beaches here on vieques are beautiful and probably more accessable. there is adequate snorkeling here. there are more accomodations here, we have the bio bay. culebra is just so much different, people with a more explorative side would be very happy. my dh is not so into that! i have recently read that much of the coral is bleached on culebra(as well as many of the nearby islands).
there may be more activity for you on vieques.
do you remember reading the culebra trip report a month or so back?? extremely informative.
all i can offer to you about culebra is that flamenco beach is beautiful. we did not snorkel there, but have heard snorkeling there is really good and probably better than vieques. that said, the beaches here on vieques are beautiful and probably more accessable. there is adequate snorkeling here. there are more accomodations here, we have the bio bay. culebra is just so much different, people with a more explorative side would be very happy. my dh is not so into that! i have recently read that much of the coral is bleached on culebra(as well as many of the nearby islands).
there may be more activity for you on vieques.
do you remember reading the culebra trip report a month or so back?? extremely informative.
May 1st, 2007, 02:44 AM
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
soggydollar,
I do not think that I read the Culebra trip report.
My husband looked at pictures of Culebra and Vieques and THINKS that HE would rather stay on Culebra.
I think that I would like both.I will try to find the trip report that you mentioned.
Thanks for all of your help!
Christie
I do not think that I read the Culebra trip report.
My husband looked at pictures of Culebra and Vieques and THINKS that HE would rather stay on Culebra.
I think that I would like both.I will try to find the trip report that you mentioned.
Thanks for all of your help!
Christie
May 1st, 2007, 06:03 AM
#4
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi, as a PR local I can say that I think the snorkeling is better at Vieques for several reasons. One, it is much easier to get around on Vieques. The beaches on Culebra are beautiful and pristine, but transportation is difficult and expensive.
Vieques has one beach in particular--Blue Beach--that has two reefs. One is just a few yards off shore and offers good snorkeling. Blue Beach is home to a much smaller speck of island called Isla de Chiva which is about a 15-minute swim and has incredible snorkeling all around its perimeter. I was just there this weekend and it's become my go-to spot. The beach is always empty (I'm always the only one) and you really cannot beat the snorkeling.
On Culebra a good beach is a Playa Tamarindo, and I've had good snorkeling experiences there, but for me Vieques wins everytime.
Also, just in terms of overall preferance, I like Vieques. There's a bit of action, restaurants and things to do, whereas Culebra is really empty and dead. Don't get me wrong--its fantastic--but gets a little lonely at night. Enjoy your trip!
Vieques has one beach in particular--Blue Beach--that has two reefs. One is just a few yards off shore and offers good snorkeling. Blue Beach is home to a much smaller speck of island called Isla de Chiva which is about a 15-minute swim and has incredible snorkeling all around its perimeter. I was just there this weekend and it's become my go-to spot. The beach is always empty (I'm always the only one) and you really cannot beat the snorkeling.
On Culebra a good beach is a Playa Tamarindo, and I've had good snorkeling experiences there, but for me Vieques wins everytime.
Also, just in terms of overall preferance, I like Vieques. There's a bit of action, restaurants and things to do, whereas Culebra is really empty and dead. Don't get me wrong--its fantastic--but gets a little lonely at night. Enjoy your trip!
May 1st, 2007, 06:36 AM
#5
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
annemarie-
if i was standing at blue beach, on the side with the cabanas, looking out, isla de chiva is to my right...and to my left(east) is the rocky area...where is the other reef you are talking about? I was snorkeling there last week and headed to the left to check out the rocky area, but it got so shallow i turned and went towards the middle. We have not gone around the little island yet, cannot get my dh out to the beach much! thanks for your help!
if i was standing at blue beach, on the side with the cabanas, looking out, isla de chiva is to my right...and to my left(east) is the rocky area...where is the other reef you are talking about? I was snorkeling there last week and headed to the left to check out the rocky area, but it got so shallow i turned and went towards the middle. We have not gone around the little island yet, cannot get my dh out to the beach much! thanks for your help!
May 1st, 2007, 07:01 AM
#6
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi soggydollar--the reef, if you're by the cabanas... walk a bit further down to the right so that you're as close to isla de chiva as you can get on shore. Then the reef is very close... to the right about two minutes. It's amazingly close to shore. I can't really describe it much better, but get as close to chiva as you can then just venture out to the right a bit. You should find it without any problem. It's right where the parking area for Blue beach is.
May 1st, 2007, 12:05 PM
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
anniemarie,
Thanks!Vieques it will be!! My favorite thing to do on vacation is snorkel.I thought that Culebra would be a little too quiet...not too quiet for me but for my husband.
Christie
Thanks!Vieques it will be!!
My favorite thing to do on vacation is snorkel.I thought that Culebra would be a little too quiet...not too quiet for me but for my husband.Christie
May 3rd, 2007, 02:37 PM
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
soggydollar,
It looks like we will probably stay at Banana's guesthouse...thanks for the suggestion! It seems to be the perfect...a restaurant and bar onsite!
Also the moon calendar shows that,when we are there...it should be the perfect time for the biobay tour!
Christie
It looks like we will probably stay at Banana's guesthouse...thanks for the suggestion!
It seems to be the perfect...a restaurant and bar onsite!Also the moon calendar shows that,when we are there...it should be the perfect time for the biobay tour!
Christie
May 4th, 2007, 03:04 AM
#11
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
hi christie
i am glad you chose vieques, there is a little more to do the beaches are easier to get to because transportation is more readily available. did not want to put my 2 cents worth in because out time in culebra is limited to one overnight stay and visits to flamenco and melones beaches. it does close up early at night.
instead of ferrying over, for about $50 per person you can fly right out of vieques (round trip). it saves 3+ hours each way on the ferry. you have to ferry to fajardo then from fajardo to culebra.
have fun, the big bad clouds have passed and the flamboyan trees are starting to bloom!
i am glad you chose vieques, there is a little more to do the beaches are easier to get to because transportation is more readily available. did not want to put my 2 cents worth in because out time in culebra is limited to one overnight stay and visits to flamenco and melones beaches. it does close up early at night.
instead of ferrying over, for about $50 per person you can fly right out of vieques (round trip). it saves 3+ hours each way on the ferry. you have to ferry to fajardo then from fajardo to culebra.
have fun, the big bad clouds have passed and the flamboyan trees are starting to bloom!
May 4th, 2007, 04:34 AM
#12
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,870
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
christie, I think you'll enjoy Vieques. It's *extremely* laid back but it offers a nice array of activities for those seeking low-key things. And the biobay is magnificent--really not to be missed. Have a great time--when is your trip?
May 4th, 2007, 02:05 PM
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
soggydollar,
It sounds beautiful!I love taking pictures of the variety flowers while on vacation.
The more I look at Casa Lalanchita and Amapola,the more I might choose to stay at one of them instead of Banana's.I have not reserved anything yet.
Christie
It sounds beautiful!I love taking pictures of the variety flowers while on vacation.
The more I look at Casa Lalanchita and Amapola,the more I might choose to stay at one of them instead of Banana's.I have not reserved anything yet.
Christie
May 4th, 2007, 06:28 PM
#15
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
amaploa is right beside b ananas, probably will be the smae experience. if you choose la lanchita, it is on the other side of the island, you will not want to swim or snorkel there, but appears to be a great place, the owners are awesome.
less noisy, and that part of the island is more island-y in the terms of locals and gringos who have made their home on the island. they are all very friendly. amaplola and bananas are on the more touristy side, fun, but not the grit of the isabele area. nowhere is more than 10 to 15n min away, so wherever you stay, experienc e both sides!
less noisy, and that part of the island is more island-y in the terms of locals and gringos who have made their home on the island. they are all very friendly. amaplola and bananas are on the more touristy side, fun, but not the grit of the isabele area. nowhere is more than 10 to 15n min away, so wherever you stay, experienc e both sides!
May 5th, 2007, 02:16 AM
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
La lanchita sounds and looks perfect...I called there late yesterday and the guy was very pleasant.My husband likes it the best of our choices.I will probably reserve it today!
Christie
Christie
May 5th, 2007, 08:18 PM
#17
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 646
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am sitting on the veranda outside our room at Casa La Lanchita this very minute, listening to the surf right below me. We arrived late this afternoon. This place is beautiful! Our room is pretty basic, but we went for the least expensive room here. Our son's' room is larger and a little nicer, we let them have the larger room so they'd have two beds. We got a peek into one of the nicer rooms with a private balcony, it looked very nice indeed. We're very happy with our choice. We watched the sun set over the ocean while sitting in the pool - delightful! The owner, Doug, is very friendly and helpful. He pointed out a reef right off of the beach in front of the guest house that he said was very good for snorkling. I guess we'll find out tomorrow if he's right!
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Bob_Cancemi
Caribbean Islands
12
Dec 25th, 2010 06:36 PM
