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The current weather in Culebra
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"roughing it?"
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Karin Watkins (---.spfdma.east.verizon.net)
Date:   10-03-12 19:52

We are thinking of a 4-night visit mid-late March. We're thinking of camping on Flamenco and renting bikes to get around. The road out there is paved, not sand, right?
I'm worried to read that Flamenco is very crowded -- is this a busy time?
Also, will we do OK without a cook stove if we just grab snacks in town and eat at the kiosks & restaurants? Most importantly, will we be able to find coffee in the morning?
We're very easy-going, not looking for luxury, just want to make this mini-vacation as simple and relaxing as possible.

I visited a friend who was living in Culebra in the 80s, before there was any tourist business at all. I pitched a tent out on flamenco (don't remember there being any campground -- or taxi service -- or kiosks -- don't actually remember ever seeing another soul the whole time we were there -- except cows who wandered on the beach. I know Culebra has changed A LOT since then, but it still sounds much less tourist-y than St John or St Thomas.
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Re: "roughing it?"
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: JeffandMary (192.42.83.---)
Date:   10-04-12 10:55

You will find luxurious accommodations compared to what it was like back in the '80's. Also a lot more people but no cows on the beach. I think that time would be considered spring break. The road is paved so bikes won't be too bad between beach and town but it'll be exercise. There is wonderful coffee at one of the kiosks but the guy will not give away his secret recipe. Yes, it is still much less touristy than USVI.
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Re: "roughing it?"
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Karin Watkins (---.spfdma.east.verizon.net)
Date:   10-04-12 11:33

Spring Break sounds scary, but I don't know where we're going to find that's warm & sunny at that time that's NOT crowded, right? I'm hoping that the worst of the college students will be headed for the "party scene" of cancun or USVI, rather than culebra?

We're used to riding bikes, and live in a pretty hilly area, and I assume the island is mostly pretty flat? We would think nothing of riding 10-15 miles/day -- how far would it be into town, for groceries?

THANKS for the input -- this is so helpful!
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Re: "roughing it?"
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: JeffandMary (192.42.83.---)
Date:   10-04-12 12:34

Let me just say that I think you will love it and have a great time. Any time is a good time to go to Culebra. True, it certainly won't be anything like Cancun. But Easter Sunday is March 31 and I believe it is a busy time with lots of families. Culebra is quite hilly but it sounds like you'll be able to handle it. Watch out for horses and cars and there is a dog down the road when you get past the cement factory that likes to chase things but I don't think he actually bites. Town is only a couple miles from the beach but there is a closer grocery store down the road across from the airport a bit past the dog. Going from the beach into town take the road on the right across from the airport up the hill and it's on the right. You will see it. Your not going to want to leave.
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Re: "roughing it?"
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Karin Watkins (---.spfdma.east.verizon.net)
Date:   10-04-12 14:07

We'd probably be there long before Easter (maybe there Mar 17-20, something like that). Thanks again, I can't wait!
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Re: "roughing it?"
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: JeffandMary (192.42.83.---)
Date:   10-04-12 16:48

Read the post called First Time Trip Report on this forum. It's on the next page. It has a lot of very useful info. We were there in June for a week and could have easily stayed for two. I'm not sure if you need to make reservations at the camp ground. You might want to check it out.
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Re: "roughing it?"
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Linda H (---.dhcp.mrqt.mi.charter.com)
Date:   10-05-12 12:33

We have used bikes both times on Culebra, and the hills between Flamenco and town aren't bad. Of the beaches you can ride directly to, Zoni was the only beach where the hills were a problem for us. We rented from Jerry both times, and his bikes have a rack on the back to tie stuff on. We had no problem carrying lunches, cameras, snorkeling gear, etc, using day packs and the racks on the bikes. Resaca is wonderful if you want seclusion, but it involves hiking in and out, and the road to the trail is very steep. I was glad we had a Jeep the day we visited Resaca.

Both of our visits have been in late March, once during Holy Week, and the crowds were not bad. Flamenco will be the most crowded, but nothing compared to St. John, for example. In our experience it's easy to escape the crowds by going to another beach -- hike over the hill to Carlos Rosario (20 minutes) if you want to snorkel, or head to Zoni for a nice sandy beach.
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