Tamarindo Beach

Reach Culebra by ferry from Fajardo — the crossing runs daily and takes around 90 minutes. Once on the island, drive from Dewey (the only town on Culebra) and the beach is about 10 minutes by car. A small informal parking area sits at the end of the road and is free of charge. The access track is unpaved and the sand is soft, so the beach is not wheelchair accessible.

Snorkelling over the seagrass beds is the main draw, with green turtles grazing in the shallows on calm days. Playa Flamenco, Culebra's iconic horseshoe beach with its painted military tanks, is just 3 km away and worth the short drive. For something more remote, water taxis run to Culebrita Island — an uninhabited cay 6 km out with tidal pools and a ruined lighthouse. Back in Dewey, 2 km away, you'll find dive shops and the ferry terminal if you want to extend your exploration.

There are no restaurants at the beach itself, so pack your own food and water. In Dewey and nearby, La Pista (1.5 km) and Coconuts Pizza Bar & Grill (1.8 km) are the closest options after you leave the sand. Zaco's Tacos and Jaki Sea's are both about 2.4 km away if you want a fuller meal on the way back.

Sea Breeze Hotel is the only listed accommodation option, sitting about 4.9 km from the beach — a straightforward drive across the small island. Culebra is compact, so you're never far from the water wherever you stay.

The best shots come in the early morning when the emerald water is glassy and the tamarind trees cast long shadows across the white sand — arrive before 8 a.m. for the cleanest light. If a turtle surfaces near the seagrass line, shoot from the required 10-foot distance using a zoom; the contrast of the dark seagrass against the pale sand makes for a striking frame.

Federal law requires you to stay at least 10 feet from green sea turtles at all times — do not approach, touch, or feed them, no exceptions. If you arrive by boat, anchor well away from the seagrass beds, which are a protected habitat and can also conceal rocks beneath the surface — wade carefully. Dogs are not permitted here, as this is an active sea turtle habitat. This is a true digital-detox spot — bring offline books, cell signal fades and there's nowhere to plug in a laptop.