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The current weather in Culebra

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Camping Questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Gavin (---.nc.res.rr.com)
Date:   04-15-08 23:27

Hello everyone!

Just want to say that I love this forum and that the regulars do an absolutely FANTASTIC job informing everyone about Culebra!!! I'm sending you an electronic beer in appreciation!

So my friends and I are planning on camping on Flamenco Beach at the end of May (19-26) and we've got a couple more questions following some of the recent posts

1) I just read in one of the following posts about someones watch that got stolen at the campsite - is this a problem at the campsite? We were planning on bringing locks to put on our tents for when we're not there, but obviously that wouldn't stop someone who was really determined to steal our stuff. Are there lockers or something similar at the camp center where we can keep stuff "locked down"? Just general opinion and insight on this whole issue would be helpful.

2) the mosquitos - no one is allergic, but obviously no one likes mosquitos. are they a pest on the actual beach? or is they just a problem further in the island? obviously we'll be bringing our OFF! and citronel candles so that we can enjoy the scenary as much as possible, but just wanted to get some general opinion and insight on this as well. also, there was talk about a certain part of the campsite being "less" prone to mosquitos - is this true? if so, what is it called because we'll call and reserve one of those spots.

3) nude/topless beaches - what is the deal here? i've been reading a lot about how a lot of the beaches around the island and on Luis Pena and Culebrita are deserted, is it kinda a first come first serve idea? are there penalities if my friends want to tan topless/nude?

4) getting to Culebrita and Luis Pena - we're very active and would love to get in a kayak/canoe-type while on the island. on that note, is it possible for us to kayak from Culebra to these smaller islands instead of taking one of these private boat taxis? it looks like its pretty easy to get around the island on foot - true?

thats all for now - thanks for all the help! this forum is so much help in planning ahead.

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Re: camping questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Ioulia Sochnikova (204.8.150.---)
Date:   04-16-08 14:44

We camped twice--nothing was stolen, but we did not bring any valuables with us. what you can do is rent a car and keep your valuables there.
There are A LOT of insects, and they are not mosqitoes, they are some kind of sand flies, as soon as the sun gets down, they come out, especially now, since it is raining. you will be covered in bites, my bites did not heal for 6 months, i had scars, but i am allergic. they are on the beach too, when there is no sun. they live in the sand.

You should definately go to Culebrita--i find it better then Culebra, Tortuga beach is unbelievable, and completly empty, we only go to Culebrita since we discovered it, it is breathtaking. and i did not see any insects ther.
You can be nude on Culebrita
As for Culebra--it may be too crowded for nute--there are people with children on the beaches.
You can kayak to one little islad, it is pretty close--but for everything else you will need a boat

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Re: camping questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jeannie G3 (---.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   04-16-08 15:55

I couldn't say it any better:
From MJ: "All the beaches on Culebra have tops on them, though some of them seem to have no bottoms.
But humans are legally required to wear clothing covering their *private* parts (it's conservative here; that includes all of PR and the Virgin Islands as well and also means that in town, by law, men are required to wear shirts and women need to have some sort of cover up over bathing suits as well - and the police have been known to give tickets - and certain business owners will not let you in stores or restaurants *uncovered*).
That being said, there are a lot of beaches you can go to and be close to 100% assured you will be alone and you can do what you like, especially in the quiet months."

From Me: If you don't wear anything, I guess you won't have any room for valuables, will get bit by the mosquitos, nats and other bugs (so yes take bug spray).
If you decide to venture out on kayak or other dinghy, I'd check out the story about Mr. Alex Aparnev a Culebra resident who in January 2007, decided to take his inflatable boat to Luis Pena and long story short, ended up near Ceiba and was found 2 days later. Luckily, he survived to tell his story. Look it up:
www.culebracalendaronline.com February 2007: My Culebra Water Adventure
Happy travels! J

supergarcia3

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Re: camping questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   04-17-08 09:10

I agree with Ioulia and Jeannie about bugs, kayaking and nudity.

Valuables are rarely stolen, especially if left in your tent under some bedding/clothes. That's probably a lot safer than leaving it on beach towel while you swim, and everyone does that.

A lock on the tent won't do much other than draw attention to there being something valuable in your tent. I mean, "breaking into" a tent takes approximately one second.

There are no lockers.

Culebrita is not always deserted. I've been there when there were no less than THIRTY boats tethered at or near the beach. Don't go on a holiday. Midweek is usually empty. Snorkeling at Culebrita isn't nearly as good as the Carlos Rosario area, by the way.

As for topless or nude sunbathing, the only place to absolutely avoid it is Flamenco. Even so, I've seen it there, though not in the main area. It's really easy to walk to beaches from Flamenco that have virtually no one around. If you want to be entirely alone, just walk past the tank and over all the rocks until you eventually reach a deserted beach or two.

When you choose a campsite, I highly recommend Section E, which is at the end of the campground. It's prettier, less crowded, and (usually) less noisy. It's a ten minute walk to the main area, but well worth it.

Bring earplugs just in case there are loud partyers. What's amazing to me is that on weekends, sometimes large groups will come in, set up all their stuff, party loudly until late at night, and then leave the next morning. Why would anyone go to all the effort of coming to a beautiful and serene place just to make lots of noise? Makes no sense to me. Well, there's the alcohol influence. There should be signs saying "Don't Drink and Camp --- The Life You Save May Be Your Own."

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Re: camping questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Gavin (---.nc.res.rr.com)
Date:   04-17-08 11:41

scars for 6 months???

that doesn't sound too pleasant. thanks for all the advice, though now we're a bit worried about the insect issue - anyone else want to comment on this?

as for the partying, we're party friendly :) as long as theres rum!

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Re: camping questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jeannie G3 (---.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   04-17-08 12:54

We were there in July, 07 and we did get bit by nats, mosquitos and even brought back a stowaway from our trek to Carlos Rosario beach, a tick! You should be OK with whatever bug spray you use, just use it continuously. Spray it right after getting out of the water, after sunscreen and I think a combination of both is being sold. You should be fine, no worries about this. Don't you have bugs at every campsite? Rum helps, be sure to buy local, Bacardi, or another Puertorrican brand. Consume lo de Puerto Rico! Happy travels! J

supergarcia3

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Re: camping questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   04-17-08 14:21

My extended family of seven camped for 10 days/nights a few months ago.

None of us were scarred. In fact, most of us never put on bug spray except at dusk, which is when the sand bugs get active and some mosquitos come out.

Bring long pants that bugs can't bite through.

It is not a horror movie. There aren't that many bugs. FAR less than summer in North Carolina, for example. I live in Clearwater Florida, and there are more bugs/mosquitos here than in Culebra.

Most people who camp at Flamenco really enjoy it, otherwise no one would camp there. Or ever go back.

Still, it's camping, and that means nature. But few places are more pleasant to go to than Culebra.

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Re: camping questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Gavin (---.nc.res.rr.com)
Date:   04-17-08 16:56

Thanks everyone!!! VERY helpful!!

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Re: camping questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Herb (---.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net)
Date:   04-29-08 22:03

We were there in late January....no bugs of the insect type or human type. We did not travel with any really important valuables and did not make our camera readily "accessable" to any visitors. Our tent was never disturbed when we left it. That having been said, we were in Area E and there were only 5 or 6 other tents and 2 of them were "permanent". I would also venture to say that January is a slow time for the insect type of bugs.

Herb

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Re: camping questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.hsd1.va.comcast.net)
Date:   04-30-08 08:48

Hmmm.... Herb we were there in January in Section E, too, and there were definitely bugs. Several of us got bitten in the evenings. One night, two of us had bites all over their legs. Once we started to wear long pants and long sleeved shirts once it got near sunset time, we were pretty much fine.

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Re: camping questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Herb (---.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net)
Date:   05-01-08 19:23

We were at the very end of the campground. It was pretty sheltered and we had very little rain, only in the early am. We were there when owlihoot was there and we did not break out the bugspray.....but we used every drop of sunscreen...and one time too late. Also, most nights we were in town eating dinner and so we were gone from 6-8pm, but when we returned, we sat out and just watched the stars "move" across the sky. But I will bet May will be totally different.

Herb

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Re: Camping Questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: meganmcneilly (---.235-57-74.mc.videotron.ca)
Date:   05-27-08 10:43

We were there in April, camping in section E. The bugs weren't too bad... not compared to Montreal in the summer anyway. Mosquitos usually love me, and I only had 2 ankle bites. I used off at dusk untill bed, and we had a citronella candle and mosquito coils from the dollarstore on our picnic table. If you are used to camping you should be used to bugs.
As for the safety issue we had a waterproof bag bought at an outfitters that we used for our camera, money and passports when snorkeling, and just left the rest of our gear in our tent and under our mattress. We camped all over Puerto rico, Culebra and Vieques this way and never once had a problem.

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Re: Camping Questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   05-27-08 10:50

Megan, did you snorkel with your waterproof bag? If so, it's an interesting idea. Can you describe how you comfortably did that? Did you use some kind of backpack?

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Re: Camping Questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Megan Miller (66.241.71.---)
Date:   01-19-09 21:25

I'd love to hear more about that waterproof bag idea, too! Anyone done it or seen it? Other good ideas for things like passports and cameras? The rest of my stuff doesn't fall into the 'valuables' category by any stretch of the imagination...

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Waterproofing for Snorkeling
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Esteban (162.123.17.---)
Date:   01-20-09 12:34

I can give you some advice for keeping your valuables with you (and dry) while swimming or snorkeling.

You can buy a waterproof box (for example, www.otterbox.com) to keep your cash, cameras, cell phones, etc. The boxes have a waterPROOF seal and will stay completely dry. Then, pick up one of those packable, flexible light nylon backpacks - the ones that will pack down to baseball size, not a school-type backpack. Put the box in the backpack, seal it up and you're good to go - just put it on your back and you're set for swimming and snorkeling. We used this method and it worked great. It takes away any worry about losing your valuables.

The bag doesn't interfere with the water activities, but be aware that you will have a little bit of extra buoyancy from the waterproof box, so it is hard to dive down in the water.

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Re: Camping Questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-20-09 14:18

Nice idea, Esteban.

It's the only method that guarantees 100% security. Unless of course, you're eaten by a Culebra shark, in which case your valuables are pretty much irretrievable by your next of kin.

(Before any readers get worried about sharks, I was just kidding.)

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Re: Camping Questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Megan Duplantis (---.240-57-74.mc.videotron.ca)
Date:   01-27-09 22:27

Hey! Sorry so late on the reply. We use a very small backpack that was modified from a "camel Bag" by coleman. Inside we place our I.D, cameras, wallets etc that have been sealed inside waterproof bags bought in the camping gear section of our local outfitters. I'll try and post a photo in the picture section to show you Mort.

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Re: Camping Questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-28-09 08:22

Megan, that sounds very effective. And also a source of entertainment as it makes for some interesting sunburn patterns! LOL.

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Re: Camping Questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: gina and sal (---.cmdnnj.fios.verizon.net)
Date:   01-30-09 08:46

Dick's Sporting Goods and West Marine also sell clear waterproof bags for walkie talkies and gps devices. I use those for allowing my digital camera to become an underwater still and video camera as well as carrying our rental keys, money and phones and that way we can check the time too without having to get out of the water.

Time seems to stand still when you are floating in the water in Culebra.


:)

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Re: Camping Questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: R. Emmett (---.nys.biz.rr.com)
Date:   01-31-09 09:56

Hey Herb -

If I remember correctly, the wind factor last Jan. helped a lot in the bug dept. in terms of where my tent was located. Of course the wind challenges (tarp noise, sifty sand in the tent, on the table, etc., blowing out the stove)because of where I placed my tent were greater than previous 2 years, also in Jan.

Camp and learn...

I miss the beach/warm salty water, Felix and camper friends, that's for sure right at this moment. Say hi for me to Felix if you're going this season.

Ruth from Maine

Owlihoot2

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Re: Camping Questions
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Megan Duplantis (---.240-57-74.mc.videotron.ca)
Date:   02-09-09 15:48

LOL. No actually the sunburn patterns aren't bad. No worse than a one piece speedo style bathing suit. It's a plus that my husband is the one willing to wear the pack when we are both in the water. It really is small. It's what bikers and hikers use for their water "camel style" sip bags. I think it holds a liter sized bag of liquid usually, but we removed the internal bag and use it's "backpack" shell to hold our waterproof bags.


I wish I was there right now instead of here with this deceptively spring like weather we're having in Montreal...... sigh

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