Culebra, Puerto Rico: Air and Ferry Tranportation

Culebra Air and Ferry Transportation

TRANSPORTATION TO CULEBRA ISLAND:

FLYING FROM THE UNITED STATES TO SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO: The easiest way to reach Culebra is via San Juan, Puerto Rico. The flight from New York to San Juan takes 3 1/2 hours; from Miami to San Juan it's 1 1/2 hours. San Juan International Airport (SJU) is served from the U.S. Mainland by American Airlines, Delta, US Airways, Continental, Northwest, Spirit Air, and United. From the rest of the world, San Juan (SJU) Airport is served by Air Canada Vacations, Canadian Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa's partner Condor, Copa Airlines, and LACSA-Group Taca.

FLYING FROM SAN JUAN TO CULEBRA: There are basically two ways of travelling from the 'Big Island' of Puerto Rico to Culebra. You can either take an airplane or take a ferry boat. Flying in is usually the most hassle free option, and in 30 minutes you can move from San Juan to Culebra. However, taking the boat from Fajardo is less expensive. Culebra has daily flights arriving from the San Juan International Airport (SJU) on Isla Nena Air Service (787-741-1577) and Air Flamenco (787-724-1818), and from San Juan Isla Grande Airport (SIG) on Vieques Air Link (787-722-3736) and Air Flamenco (787-724-6464). A 1 1/2 hour ferry ride is also available from Fajardo, a sea port on the east shore of Puerto Rico. For the taxi drive between San Juan and Fajardo you should allow between two and three hours, depending on traffic.

Major Air Carriers Serving San Juan International Airport (SJU) from the U.S. and Abroad

American Airlines, phone 800-433-7300, flies from NYC, Newark, Boston, Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, and St. Louis

Delta, phone 800-241-4141, offers service from Atlanta

United, phone 800-538-2929, flies from Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Spirit Air, phone 800-756-7117, flies from Fort Lauderdale with connections from New York, Atlantic City, and Detroit

Lufthansa's partner, Condor, flies out of Germany

LACSA-Group Taca flies from San José, Costa Rica

Copa Airlines serves San Juan from Panama and major Central and South Amerca's cities

Continental, phone 800-231-0856 has daily service from Newark, Houston, and Cleveland

Northwest, phone 800-447-4747, flies from Detroit, Memphis, and Minneapolis

US Airways, phone 800-428-4322, flies from Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Charlotte

Air Canada Vacations, phone 800-774-8993,offers service from Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary

Canadian Airlines, phone 800-426-7000 serves San Juan from Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary

British Airways, phone 0845-7222-111 in the U.K. flies from London

Culebra airport terminal building

Brittain Norman Islander aircraft

Culebra airport runway

MAIN LOCAL AIRLINES

1. Air Flamenco Culebra: 787-742-1040 San Juan SIG: 787-724-6464 Fajardo: 787- 801-8256 Reservations SJU: 787-724-1818 http://www.airflamenco.net This airline has flights to Culebra departing both from San Juan International Airport (SJU) and San Juan Isla Grande Airport (SIG). The air fare from SIG is less than from SJU. SIG airport is a 15-20 minute taxi drive from SJU airport. Air Flamenco also has flights between Fajardo and Culebra.	2. Vieques Air Link 6:30 AM Fajardo - Culebra 7:15 AM Culebra - Fajardo 12:00 AM Fajardo - Culebra 1:20 PM Culebra - Fajardo 3:00 PM Fajardo - Culebra 5:30 PM Culebra - Fajardo http://www.viequesairlink.com Vieques Air Link has flights between San Juan Isla Grande Airport (SIG) and Culebra. It also serves the Culebra-Fajardo route.
3. Isla Nena Air Service San Juan: 787-741-1577, 787-741-6362 Culebra: 787-742-0972 Reservations: 787-863-3030, 787-863-4449 Reservations - Toll-free: 877-812-5144 866-208-1130 This airline has flights between San Juan International Airport (SJU) and Culebra. It also serves the Fajardo-Culebra route. Isla Nena Air Service may fly only on demand	Vieques Air Link: 7:15 AM Culebra - San Juan SIG* 8:30 AM San Juan SIG* - Culebra 3:45 PM Culebra - San Juan SIG* 4:30 PM San Juan SIG* - Culebra San Juan: 787-722-3736 Culebra: 787-742-0254 Fajardo: 787-863-3020 Reservations: 1-888-901-9247 http://www.viequesairlink.com * SIG denotes departure from and arrivals to Isla Grande Airport, not the Luis Muñoz Marín (International) Airport. Schedules are subject to change and should be verified ahead of time.
Air Flamenco, Vieques Air Link, and Isla Nena Air Service are FAA certified Air Carriers which usually offer several flights a day to Culebra. As you fly to Puerto Rico from the States you would typically land into San Juan International Airport (SJU).	SIG airport is a 15-20 minute taxi drive from SJU airport. Each passenger is allowed 30 pounds. Additional luggage is ok, but air carrier could charge extra for it. They may fly the extra luggage on a later flight, depending on how full the flight is.
TYPICAL AIR FARES	SAN JUAN - CULEBRA $50-70 One Way FAJARDO - CULEBRA $25 One Way

Passenger Ferry		Cargo Ferry
Every day		Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
6:30 AM 9:00 AM 1:00 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM**	Culebra - Fajardo Fajardo - Culebra Culebra - Fajardo Fajardo - Culebra Culebra - Fajardo Fajardo - Culebra For guests checking in at Tamarindo Estates, the 7:00 PM passenger boat and the 4:30 PM cargo ferry boat from Fajardo are not viable for checking in at Tamarindo Estates before the 6:30PM deadline. The cargo ferry is usually late on the schedule.	4:00 AM 7:00 AM 4:30 PM 6:00 PM**	Fajardo - Culebra Culebra - Fajardo Fajardo - Culebra Culebra - Fajardo**
		Wednesday & Friday
		4:00 AM 7:00 AM 9:30 AM 1:00 PM 4:30 PM** 6:00 PM	Fajardo - Culebra Culebra - Fajardo Fajardo - Culebra Culebra - Fajardo Fajardo - Culebra** Culebra - Fajardo

Puerto Rico Maritime Authority Phone Numbers --- Culebra (787) 742-3161 Fajardo (787) 863-0705, (787) 863-0852 Voyage between Fajardo and Culebra is about 1 1/2 hours. Schedules are subject to change and should be verified ahead of time. Passenger fare: $2.25 per person. For vehicle and cargo fares, call the Puerto Rico Maritime Authority. These schedules are subject to change and should be verified ahead of time with the proper authorities. If you happen to miss the ferry at Fajardo, an alternative is to fly from the Fajardo airport. Vieques Air Link and Air Flamenco fly between Fajardo and Culebra. It is a good idea to carry with you the local airlines' phone numbers. Ticket reservation may be purchased in advance from the Maritime Authority. Call 800-981-2005, 787-863-0705 or 787-863-0852, or the Culebra office at 787-742-3161. They limit the time they answer the phone for reservations. Call after a ferry leaves and when they are not so busy. TRANSPORTATION FROM SAN JUAN TO FAJARDO For passengers arriving at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, taking a taxi is the best way to Fajardo. Taxis are easily available as you exit the airport. Allow 2 hours in normal traffic (3 hours in rush hours) for the taxi drive from San Juan. The typical taxi charge is about $65.

Approaching the Culebra ferry docks Click on the image to enlarge.	One of the cargo ferries Click on the image to enlarge.	Passenger dock in Culebra. Click on the image to enlarge.
Passenger boat departing Culebra Click on the image to enlarge.	Another passenger ferry Click on the image to enlarge.	Inside the Culebra II ferry. Click on the image to enlarge.