Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ent planet culturally speaking, the island's peculiar brand of offbeat charm can sometimes
take a bit of getting used to. Don't expect open-armed cordiality here. Culebran friendliness
is of the more backwards-coming-forwards variety. It's home to rat-race dropouts, earnest
idealists, solitude seekers, myriad eccentrics, and anyone else who's forsaken the hassles
and manic intricacies of modern life. Among the traveling fraternity, it has long inspired a
religiouslike devotion in some, and head-scratching bafflement in others. There's but one
binding thread - the place is jaw- droppingly beautiful.
History
First hunting grounds for Taíno and Carib tribes, then a pirate stronghold during the days
of the Spanish Empire, much of Culebra's 7000 acres has remained essentially the same
ever since two-legged creatures took to walking its shores. The US Navy grabbed control
of most of the island early in the 20th century and didn't cede its lands back to the locals
until 1975. Some modern structures went up on the newly accessible land rather rapidly,
but resident expats and native-born
culebrenses
(people from Culebra) were very quickly
able to find a common language and they have continued to work together quite fiercely to
hold overdevelopment and commercialization at bay.
Sights
Heading left away from the dock will bring you to Calle Pedro Márquez, usually referred
to as the 'main road,' which leads into Dewey, the island's principal settlement.
The main road eventually leads out to the single-landing-strip airport on Rte 251; if you
continue past the airport you get to Playa Flamenco. If you take Rte 250 east you'll come to
turnoffs for Playas Resaca and Brava, eventually winding up at Playa Zoni. Another road,
Calle Fulladoza, heads south to Punta Soldado.
Isla Culebrita and Cayo Norte are two of the more popular cays off Culebra and are eas-
ily visited; there are about 18 others surrounding the island.
