Getting to Culebra
Culebra Divers - Culebra, Puerto Rico
There are two ways to get to Culebra – by air or by sea. Check out our breakdown of options below to see which is right for you.
(Updated May 2025)
Fly or Ferry?
It is the age-old question of time versus money. How much is each hour of vacation time worth to you? Hopefully the Options below will help you decide.
Our shop is located in town directly across the street from the ferry terminal and less than 1 mile from the airport. Please note that Culebra Divers does not provide ferry tickets, airport transfers, taxi services, or transportation to/from the mainland or Vieques.
We do NOT recommend traveling the same day as your tour unless you can secure advanced tickets as transportation to Culebra can be challenging and we are unable to offer a refund if you cannot get here in time.
You may be able to book one of the limited online advance ferry tickets via the new online ticketing system (puertoricoferry.com). Especially during high season (November – April, July), getting ferry tickets can be difficult. It is important to note that when the system there are no tickets remaining online, that doesn’t mean the ferry is full, just that there are no online advance tickets left. It will list the number of remaining tickets available at the box office in Ceiba. It may also be possible to purchase Ceiba – Culebra tickets in person at one of the other Puerto Rico Ferry ticket offices in Cataño, San Juan, or Vieques.
However attempting to buy a ticket same day and “walk on” the ferry you risk missing your tour with us and possibly a day of your vacation. Acquiring last minute tickets can be challenging and frequently travelers are disappointed with the results. **Non-residents may not bring vehicles on the cargo ferry, but as a visitor you may book either the “Passenger Only” or the “Pax and Cargo” ferry. The “Passenger Only” takes 1 hour, but the “Pax and Cargo” ferry does NOT arrive in one hour as listed on the ferry website. It is a minimum of 1.5 hrs so please consider that when booking.
The flights to Culebra are on small planes and they fill up fast, so make your flight reservations early. A popular option is to fly to Culebra to kick off your vacation quickly, and then take the ferry back to Puerto Rico to save a few dollars and extend your surface interval if you’ve been diving.
**Our afternoon boat returns by 4:30 pm – we ask that you not schedule a departure near this time as you will be cutting the tour short for others and/or you could miss your transportation if our boat is late.
Options
Some of the small regional air carriers partner with the major airlines, so when searching for flights try Culebra (CPX) as your final destination instead of San Juan (SJU) and see if you get lucky!
If not, the first step to getting here is to book a commercial flight to San Juan International Airport (SJU). Many of the major airline hubs have non-stop service. From there, you have several options on what to do next. Please note all times and fares are estimated, based on a single passenger, and subject to change without notice. Culebra’s airport is roughly a mile away from our shop. We are unable to pick up guests, but there is a list of taxi numbers in the terminal as well as three car/golf cart rental companies across the street from the airport (see links below).
Option 1: FLY from San Juan International (SJU)
Time = 30 minutes (direct flight)
Money = from $89 (sometimes as low as $59, watch Cape Air for discount rates)
- Cape Air: Small regional carrier
- Air Margarita: This is a white glove charter service that departs pretty much on your schedule.
Option 2: FLY from Isla Grande (SIG)
Time = 50 minutes (20 minute taxi ride + 30 minute flight)
Money = from $111 ($25 taxi fare + $96 flight)
- Vieques Air Link: Small regional carrier
- Air Flamenco: Small regional carrier
- Taxi Aereo: This is a charter flight that leaves on your schedule
Option 3: FLY from Ceiba (RVR / NRR)
Time = 1 hour 30 minutes (1.25 hour taxi ride + 15 minute flight)
Money = from $149 ($100 taxi fare + $49 flight)
- Vieques Air Link: Small regional carrier
- Air Flamenco: Small regional carrier
- Taxi Aereo: This is a charter flight that leaves on your schedule
Option 4: FERRY from Ceiba
Time = 2.5 to 3.5 hours (1.5 hour taxi ride + 1 to 2 hour ocean voyage depending on if you take the ‘Passenger Only’ ferry or the ‘Pax and Cargo’ ferry, and sea conditions)
Money = $104.25 ** ($100 taxi fare + $4.25 ferry ticket)
Click here for the Official Online Ferry Ticketing System. Beware of other sites claiming to sell advanced ferry tickets. There is only one official site/app.
If you plan to buy tickets at the terminal versus online, be prepared to arrive very early, get in line, and have a lot of patience. If anyone in your group gets sea sick; it may not be your best option. Consider arriving by ferry the day before your tour if you’re unable to secure online advance tickets to avoid any penalties for travel issues.
Due to our cancellation policy, we caution against same day ferry transportation plans if you’ve booked a morning tour with us unless you have secured ferry tickets in advance. Flying, or arriving at least a day in advance, is recommended over trying to “walk on” the ferry last minute. The flights to Culebra (CPX) originate out of San Juan International (SJU), Isle Grande (SIG), and Ceiba (RVR/NRR) airports. The fares start as low as $49 each way, depending on which airport you choose, and get you here in literally minutes compared to potentially an hour or more by ferry.
VIEQUES – Vieques Air Link has resumed its direct flight on Saturdays and Sundays currently priced at $70. Taxi Aereo provides charter service. There used to be a direct ferry from Vieques to Culebra once a month, but that service has yet to resume.
- Ferry Tickets: Limited availability/schedule
- Vieques Air Link: Limited availability/schedule
- Taxi Aereo: This is a charter flight that leaves on your schedule
Lodging
There are literally hundreds of places to stay in Culebra. Culebra Divers does not offer lodging, but we’ve compiled a list below from customer recommendations to get your started (with distance from our shop). TripAdvisor is another great resource. We encourage booking directly with the provider when possible to save booking fees!
**The Flamenco Beach campground is currently open, but we are not aware of any online reservation capability**
- Campo Alto (1.7 miles) ** NEW Dive and Stay Package from Campo Alto **
- Casa Resaca (1.6 miles)
- Casa Sunny (20 min walk, 1 mile)
- Club Seabourne (just under 2 miles)
- Hilltop Guest House (1.6 miles)
- Island Charm Guest House (1.3 miles)
- SeaGrapes Culebra (1.3 miles)
- Villa Boheme (7 min walk)
- Villa Fulladoza Guest House (9 min walk)
If you fall in love with Culebra and never want to leave, check out these companies for current real estate listings:
Car and Golf Cart Rentals
Renting a vehicle is the best option for getting around the island. Although small, Culebra has many steep hills and our our roads/sidewalks are not always pedestrian friendly. For multiple people, or multiple days, renting is more cost effective than using the Publicos (taxis) for island adventures and sightseeing. Here are links to some local rental agencies:
We highly recommend that you reserve your transportation as soon as you book your flights/lodging as availability is limited and changes rapidly.
Flying After Diving
Granted, the planes that fly from Culebra are not pressurized, but they can reach altitudes in excess of 4000 feet. That’s why the experts at DAN still recommend 12 hours after a single dive and at least 18 hours after multiple dives (or multiple days of diving) before flying. An option our divers frequently choose is to fly over to Culebra to kick off your vacation as soon as possible, and then take the ferry back to Puerto Rico to save a few dollars and extend your surface interval before flying home.