Author: SR (---.prtc.net)
Date: 03-18-11 20:08
Hi Jen,
I saw your comment about thinking of relocating ‘expat’ living in Culebra.
I am a Puerto Rican and my family traveled every year to Culebra when I was young. We helped open up the road that heads towards Punta Soldado with some locals that still live up on the hill near the airport. It was a trail, now although is still looks ruff and unpaved you can drive down to the beach area, still pristine and undiscovered tough.
Your idea is fascinating, don’t give up.
Here are a few things of my latest visits to Culebra that you may find interesting, the good, the bad and the ugly.
- Population of expats has increased, now ~18%
- Flamenco beach is still gorgeous!! And one of the best beaches I’ve seen, and I been at Phi Phi Island, check Phi Phi online.
- Issues with the Ferry. The economy has hit hard PR and the transportation system of the island has suffered cuts. Recently there were protests on foot and dingy boats to prevent the arrival or departure of Ferries at both Culebra and Vieques. This affected the businesses and many people lost jobs. If you think of owning a Guesthouse, when Ferry stops, there is no business. Anything related to tourism will suffer acutely whenever this happens. Now the Ferry is working again, but the issue of funding is still of a month ago.
- Vieques has a W hotel, this is good for Vieques and Culebra.
- There has been an increase in vandalism of boats. Mostly people who have property but do not live there full time. Violence in the main Island of PR has increased and quite scary.
- The population of PR has decreased, and is one of the few places with a negative decline.
- The city of Culebra has been renovating since the last 15 years or more. The school is an eco-model design. The Ferry dock at Dewey has a nice Tourism Info mini building.
- There are more Jeep, Motorcylces and bike rentals. Also more flights at the small airport.
- Flamenco remodeled a small area and provided kiosks for food vendors.
Your idea of massages is feasible, if you can get a permit at Flamenco beach it may work. This idea is working for a masseuse at Isla Verde beach. She just has a nice massage bed, a table with lotions, towels and a nice Tarp. Also a very clear sign with prices for ½ hour ~ $45, 1hr~$60, works well for people in a rush. You can get it close to foot traffic but still private and with all the people that arrive to Flamenco you get the bulk of the tourists.
The hoop dance may also work similarly at Flamenco, when big holiday weekends.
Just need to know if you can get a permit. I dont really know about the permits.
A Holistic Center may also work giving you more local business, mix acupuncture/massage (sell it for people with back problems) with some martial arts, and if you are artistic come up with your own lotions and holistic souvenirs in a good locale may also work. It all depends in your marketing skills.
Guesthouses are saturated, some are too expensive to generate income of sale.
Anyways I stop now…
Cheers Good luck.
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