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The current weather in Culebra
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final thoughts...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Becky (---.sbtnvt.adelphia.net)
Date:   03-17-05 00:27

Ok so I have two more questions before my departure:

1. Are there any ATM machines on Culebra or do I need to bring cash?

2. When do the publico vans from San Juan start running to playa Fajardo in the morning on week days? We arrive in San Juan around 2 am and will chill in the airport untill every one wakes up.... we want to be on the first ferry to Culebra on the 21st. that is at 9 right?

any tips for cheap travel will be appreciated,
peace,
-Becky
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Re: final thoughts...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: JoseGuzman (---.87.103.61.netdial.caribe.net)
Date:   03-17-05 05:10

Remember if you choose publico, forget about getting on the time you want.
Publicos may stop anytime, any place.
If time is of high priority, take a taxi.
There is only one ATM in Culebra, very close to the ferry, at Banco Popular.

Nice stay, enjoy.

Capt. J.Guzman
USCG 100GT
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Re: final thoughts...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (209.208.195.---)
Date:   03-17-05 05:51

Hi Becky, there's one ATM in Culebra.

With the 2 AM arrival you might be able to catch the 3.30 ferry, albeit only with a taxi.

The publicos do NOT run from the airport. You will have to take a bus to Rio Piedras - the publico terminal!

See you in Culebra!

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael
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Re: final thoughts...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Tim (---.ips-sendero.com)
Date:   03-17-05 08:10

Based on the previous post, I need to get some more info and opinions please.

I am flying down on the 30th arriving at 5pm at SJU airport. I had planned on taking a Publico from the San Juan airport to Fajardo, spend the night in Fajardo, get up early (around 6am) and be in line for the ferry as soon as possible (by 7am?) in hopes of catching the 9am ferry over to Culebra. If the Ferry isn't running then I have all day to work out other transportation over to Culebra. I will be traveling alone if that matters.

I now see that Publicos do not run from the SJU airport to Fajardo. So this changes things quite a bit.

Since my flight gets in so late on the 30th, I knew that I had little chance to get to Culebra that same day so I made hotel reservations on Culebra for the 31st. So I have around 24 hours to get from SJU airport to Culebra. I have read that I can take a taxi ($70), or rent a car at the airport and drive it one way to Fajardo ($60), or take a Publico to Fajardo. I will only be carrying a packpack and since I have so much time to kill, I figured Public transportation would be the most fun. The previous post is the first time I have seen anything about Publicos NOT going from the SJU airport to Fajardo. I also see that there is another place called Playa Fajardo. Are these the same? I don't mind taking a Taxi if it is the best way, but since time is not really a constraint I would rather just go the most adventurous and cheapest route.
Could someone let me know how they would plan this?
Also, should I go ahead and reserve a hotel room in Fajardo? Should I look into flight info to go straight to Culebra as soon as I get into San Juan? Should I call and see if I can get my room a day sooner on Culebra?
I have been researching this trip for only about 4 days now, but everyday seems to reveal more questions and answers.

Thanks in advance.
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Re: final thoughts...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: JoseGuzman (---.87.103.77.netdial.caribe.net)
Date:   03-17-05 08:24

There is a very good beach in Fajardo, SEVEN SEAS, with places to eat local food.
If you wish to have fun that way, with publicos, I suggest, you take a look at Michael post. Going to Rio Piedras, get to the Publicos place at the public plaza, and work your way into Fajardo.
I have to mention that these publicos are always very full, some of them do not have A/C, and is a little uncomfortable, not to mention all the stops for leaving and loading passengers.
Still it is the most economic way to get there.
If you have the time, it will be very pleasant to take the route of Pinones, if you are able to do that.
Good small hotels in Fajardo, include Fajardo Inn, and La Familia.

Nice stay...

Capt. J.Guzman
USCG 100GT
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Re: final thoughts...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Becky (---.sbtnvt.adelphia.net)
Date:   03-17-05 10:02

Michael,

would it really take from 2AM untill 3:30PM to get to the ticket booth in Fajardo?? I thought that at most it would take 4 hours for the publico to get from Rio Piedras to Fajardo?! Does that mean that they do not begin to depart from Rio Piedras untill noon?

If any one knows the exact time( or estimate) of when the publico vans begin to leave Rio Piedras I would appreciate it.

thanks you all have been so helpful,
Becky
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Re: final thoughts...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Peter Bowden (---.alb.choiceone.net)
Date:   03-17-05 10:03

It seems like, with all the taxis and renting a room for the night, it might make more sense and not be much more expensive to just get a flight right to Culebra from SJU.

"Adventuring" on public transportation doesn't sound that fun to me when there's plenty of adventuring waiting on Culebra....but then, to each his/her own.

You could make the argument that flying on one of those little puddle jumpers is an adventure in itself. I really enjoyed the flight and seeing Puerto Rico from the air as well as all the resorts on the east end of P.R. It made me appreciated the lack of development on Culebra even more. I hope it can stay just as it is...except for the road in front of the new school that is ;>)
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Re: final thoughts...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: JoseGuzman (---.87.103.112.netdial.caribe.net)
Date:   03-17-05 10:49

Fully agree with Mr. Bowden.

Enjoy...

J.Guzman
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Re: final thoughts...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Tim (---.ips-sendero.com)
Date:   03-17-05 15:11

Maybe I am just slow, but I am starting to come around to seeing things your way and have began checking into just Flying to Culebra. It took me 30 mins to find out what VAL (Vieques Air Link) stood for, and then another 30 mins to figure out EXACTLY what "On Demand" means.

What if the airline never gets enough people that want to fly? Do you just sit there all day waiting for nothing?

I have requested info/reservations from at least two seperate companies that offer "On Demand" flights.
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Re: final thoughts...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: JoseGuzman (---.87.109.51.netdial.caribe.net)
Date:   03-17-05 15:16

Yes my friend that is the way it works...

But do not worry a lot... this is high season, flights may get enough people in short time.
That is if you are in Fajardo... otherwise it may take longer.

Capt. J.Guzman
USCG 100GT
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Re: final thoughts...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Peter Bowden (---.alb.choiceone.net)
Date:   03-17-05 15:23

Make sure you look into flights by Cape Air and Isla Nena too.
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Re: final thoughts...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Pietra (---.ne.client2.attbi.com)
Date:   03-17-05 23:59

This is to Becky-- I think Michael was referring to a 3:30 AM ferry, not PM. Yes, the ferry runs that early in the morning. So if you can get a taxi to take you to Fajardo at that time of night (which they may or may not be willing to do-- and talk to the dispatcher, because the driver will most likely charge you for both the trip to Fajardo and his return trip to San Juan, which can double the price), there won't be a lot of traffic and you will probably make it to Fajardo in 40 minutes or less. The ferry takes about an hour and a half, and if the weather is good the ferry in the dark can actually be a really cool trip (or you can lay down on the bench and sleep). The ferry that goes at that time is the cargo ferry I think, so it will be filled with trucks and truck drivers. Culebra actually wakes up very early in the morning, so you won't have too much downtime on island before you can have breakfast and find a place to freshen up. You could also call your hotel and see what kind of deal they can give you to check into your room in the morning rather than in the afternoon.

If you wait until the next morning to leave San Juan, you can take the bus or a taxi to Rio Piedras to the publico terminal and get a publico to Fajardo from there, but as others have said, then you are working on the publico schedule, not your own. You could also try to get on the first flight out of San Juan to Culebra the next morning.

Have a great trip!
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Re: final thoughts...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Becky (---.uvm.edu)
Date:   03-18-05 09:58

thank you Pietra, that was very helpful!

i think that we will wait untill about 6ish and get a cab to Playa Fajardo, then we can get in line for the Ferry and hop on at nine.

best wishes,
Becky
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Re: final thoughts...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Tim (---.ips-sendero.com)
Date:   03-21-05 14:40

I just wanted to say thanx to all that helped me.

I went ahead and reserved a flight from Isla Grande Airport (SIG) to Culebra for MUCH less than it was going to cost me for a cab ride to Fajardo and then taking the Ferry to Culebra.
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