Why Not Go: Culebra, Puerto Rico — The Island That Made Me Slow Down

Some places dazzle. Others soften.
Culebra, Puerto Rico, did both—but mostly, it slowed me down.

I didn’t know I needed that.

---

First, the Arrival

Getting to Culebra isn’t the smoothest ride. A bumpy ferry, or a tiny propeller plane that feels like it shouldn’t fly but somehow does. And yet, that slightly chaotic arrival is part of the charm. You step off—hair windswept, expectations unraveling—and suddenly, everything feels quieter.

Not silent. Just slower. Like the island itself is saying:
Relax. You’re on Culebra time now.

---

What We Did (And Didn’t Do)

🏝 Flamenco Beach
Yes, it’s as perfect as the photos. Powdery white sand, water that shifts from turquoise to jade, and wild chickens walking by like locals. We swam, we floated, we stared at the horizon.

That’s it. And that was enough.

🐢 Snorkeling at Tamarindo
One slow morning, we slipped into the water and swam alongside sea turtles. No guide, no rush. Just us, drifting above coral and feeling incredibly small—in the best way.

🍽 Dinner by Candlelight
There aren’t many restaurants, and the ones that are open keep their own hours. But that unpredictability somehow makes each meal feel earned. Fresh fish. Plantains. A cold Medalla. The kind of dinner where no one’s on their phone.

---

What Culebra Taught Me

I like itineraries. I like knowing what comes next.
But Culebra said, Nope. Not here.

No big resorts. No traffic lights. Wi-Fi? Maybe. Maybe not.
Instead, I learned to slow my walk. Wait for the breeze. Swim longer. Stare at nothing.

It was like being gently, lovingly unplugged from everything I thought I needed—and reminded of what I actually do.

---

Our Take

Culebra won’t impress you with glitter. It doesn’t want to.
It’s unhurried. Wild. Unfiltered.

And if you let it, it’ll meet you where you are—and pull you, gently, somewhere better.