My first time snorkeling was a success and I have nothing but great things to say about C.I.A. We…read morehad the pleasure of snorkeling with this family owned company and I wish I could have snorkeled with them an extra day! Laura, her husband, and their son Damian were passionate about what they do and I absolutely enjoyed my time with them. It was my first time snorkeling, so you can imagine it was a bit scary for me. However, Laura and her family made me feel safe. They helped me adjust my mask until it was perfect and always checked on me to ensure I was safe and having a good time. In addition, they take photos for you and point out the turtles, sting rays, puffer fish, and other rarities so that you don't miss them. They also take photos for you so you don't have to carry your own camera. Booking a round trip ferry ride with C.I.A. is convenient and saves you the hassle of waiting for tickets at Fajardo Ferry (separate review). Booking with them guarantees you a RT ticket; you'll receive a text with details on getting your tickets. When you get to Culebra, Laura meets you and drives you to Tamarindo Beach where the fun begins! For the SeaVenture package, you start off with a short kayak to your snorkeling destination. You snorkel for a while and then kayak back to shore. Here, you'll have a lunch provided to you by Laura and her family. There's fruit, juice, soda, water, and these amazing sandwiches that are seriously to die for! Laura says it's made of blended cheese, ham, and peppers (I should have asked for the complete recipe!). After lunch, you snorkel in a separate area where the beautiful turtles hang out! This was my favorite part! You will be informed as to how to behave around them to avoid scaring them away. After this excursion, Laura drives you to the famous Flamenco Beach and picks you up in an hour (depending on when you finish the SeaVenture). She takes you straight to the ferry and you're off to Ceiba! All in all, I would definitely snorkel with C.I.A. in the future!!

We found this tour quite by accident, they are a relatively new tour company and aren't as well…read moreadvertised. We checked the details of their excursions on their excellent website. I called them up to get some more details and make reservations. Damien Sr was very helpful in getting our ferry tickets even though we gave them a short notice. We needed transportation but ended up renting our own car, because they needed a min of 8 people to arrange transportation. Taxi is 20$pp, so paying 160$ for just the two us didn't make any sense. We were greeted by Laura at the Culebra terminal promptly on time. She drove us to Tamarind beach for snorkelling trip. The trip took a little while to start, we had to wait for some other guests to join us which a little bothersome as we were raring to go. Damien Jr explained the basics of kayaking and the tour details. The tour is split into two parts 1) Kayaking for 20 min to reach a good section of the reef and then snorkeling. 2) Snorkeling in another section to see the turtles and some coral reefs. They provided food/refreshments after we got back from the first section of the trip. They also took lots of pictures which was great. We saw a lot of fishes, sting rays, turtles, different kinds of corals. I would have liked to know more about the different kinds of fish and the coral that we saw. We spent a good amount of time in the water and after that Laura dropped us off at Flamenco beach. Flamenco beach was awesome, it has turquoise blue water and white sand, we spent around an hour at the beach. We left around 4 to catch the ferry back to Fajardo terminal. We had a great experience! Double thumbs up!

This beach is AHHHMAZING 10/10…read more So thankful and grateful I was able to spend an entire day here at this beach on the island of Culebra Sand is soft, water is clear and not too cold Entrance is $2, you can rent a chair and umbrella, there is a lifeguard on duty There are vendors selling drinks, food and souvenirs This was a day well spent!

What an incredible beach, the views, the blue water it was a little windy, but that helped keep us…read morekind of cool cause it was a very warm day! The food in the drinks were great and it was just a beautiful location one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen! Can't wait to go back!

Ann and Taz were nice enough to accommodate us even though it was a fairly slow day (and Ann was…read morefeeling under the weather). We were given a lot of personal attention and the ride was amazing to say the least. The view above water and under water were breathtaking in their own ways. We saw a lot of coral on the reefs (that haven't yet died because of bleaching... but sadly it is more prevalent that we would've liked) and colorful fish and even reef sharks. The spots we were taken to were exclusive too. We were pretty much the only people there to enjoy the glassy water and a deep blue ocean with a coral ecosystem so beautiful that our camera cannot do it justice. Taz was a great captain and had lots of interesting stories to share. All in all, this was an amazing experience. I would recommend - just remember to allot a bit more time because, you know, island time.

Worst. Diving. Experience. Ever…read more I found Taz to be impatient, insulting, and more interested in hunting down lionfish than making sure his clients enjoyed themselves or, more importantly, were safe. I went out for two dives with Taz. I'm still a very new diver, and I explained to him that one of my ears needed extra time to clear during the descent. Because of this, and a problematic mask, it took me several attempts before I was down on the sea floor the first time. He was clearly out of patience by the time this happened. Then, thanks to him underweighting me (even though I told him I had worn more weight during all my other dives), I found myself on a runaway ascent to the surface halfway through the dive. Scariest experience of my life!!! And it was very dangerous too--I could have caused serious damage to my lungs. Taz tried to blame it on me, but later grudgingly acknowledged I probably should have been weighed down more. He never apologized though. On a side note, lunch was nothing to write home about. Ham and cheese sandwiches and chips. The bread was stale. If you value your health and safety: Stay away. Far away.

Louis was a fantastic tour guide! We were a group of 3 and wanted to go snorkeling in Culebra…read more Luckily I stumbled upon Louis Cayo Norte and immediately called him asking for availability. He was very responsive and answered all our questions clearly and honestly. The tour itself was fantastic; we learned more about Louis, Puerto Rican ppl, and the Puerto Rican culture! We felt like we were on a private island at Culebritas (literally were since we were almost the only ppl there) and loved that it was a very intimate experience. Louis gave us time to explore the other beaches on the island (almost felt like a mini hike) - including one of the most beautiful beaches in the world (more beautiful than Flamenco!). He gave us plenty of time to snorkel among the coral reefs nearby. Highly recommend thank you again for the experience! - Sirene, Jon, & Athena

What an amazing tour !!! We spent the day on a hike around Culebrita. We saw the baths and tortuga…read morebeach. We watched the sun set on the way back. Louis provides lots of water and snorkel gear. The ride was nice and smooth. The beaches are great/ untouched and even more beautiful than Flamenco. You have ur own private island for the day. We only use Cato Norte Water Taxi when we come to Culebra !!!!

Culebra divers was amazing. On time and extremely well run. The knowledge that both Heather and…read moreTrevor possesses is truly a gift. I did my advanced open water training and i must say-I learned more in my two days with them then all the diver instructors i have dove with combined! Visit Culebra and if diving is your thing, go with them!

In the dive industry, you tend to come across two types of Dive Shop / Boat operators: those who…read moremake you feel like they're doing you a favor taking you on a dive, and those who truly make you feel welcome and provide a world-class experience. Trevor and Heather at Culebra Divers are very much the latter. I came to Culebra for a long-overdue dive trip. I've spent a week here diving with Culebra Divers as well as doing several continuing education classes (Rescue Diver, DAN's DEMP courses). From my first interaction with Heather when booking the trip several months ago, to the endless string of emails I sent them preparing for the trip, to every dive and every class while here... Trevor and Heather have been consummate professionals and have truly made this trip one that I'll remember for a lifetime. Every dive has left me excited and every course has left me more confident as a diver. Beyond the professionalism at the shop, I've been truly impressed with the level of safety and attention to detail that Trevor and Heather put into everything they do. Their focus on guest and diver safety is at the forefront of everything they do. They're also taking great care to make your dive experience safe in the age of COVID, with extra precautions from the time you enter the shop to the time you splash in the water... and they do so without affecting the quality of the experience. I can't say enough about how great it has been to dive and train with Culebra Divers! (The photos in this review were taken by Trevor @ Culebra Divers on our dives this week)

Another gorgeous beach in Culebra is Tamarindo Beach. Locals recommended it since it's on the other…read moreside of the island and doesn't have the seasonal algae that can show up at Flamenco Beach. It's not as family-friendly, though--there isn't much space to spread out, and it's better known as a snorkeling spot. The area is known for sea urchins and stingrays (though I didn't see any), and while the shoreline is a bit rocky, I still enjoyed swimming there. The scenery here is stunning--honestly even prettier than Flamenco, with mountains creating a beautiful backdrop. Just keep in mind it doesn't have the same amenities as Flamenco, so plan accordingly.

Compared to other beaches, this one is more private, but for sure you need to prepare more to come…read morehere. We didn't rent a car or a golf cart, we waited a long time to get a taxi. People who came here are mostly families who are prepared. Cooler, chairs, umbrellas. We did see some turtles and it is safe to snorkel. I think it is a good place to do a second dip.

BEST THING TO DO IN PUERTO RICO!!!!…read more This is not my first time to Culebra or Culebrita but this is the BEST things to do in Puerto Rico. PERIOD! Let's say I am an avid traveler and planner but this experience was 8 STARS our of 5 stars for me. So off the chart AMAZING! My boyfriend and I wanted to do a date in Culebra but we did not expect this level or service and hospitality. Can not be found anywhere else in Puerto Rico (trust me, I looked & tried). Captain Camillo and first mate Danny was such incredible host that we thought we were on our honeymoon (seriously, tooo romantic). HOW IT WORK: 1. Pre-trip communication was surprisingly detailed and prompt. Will help you with how to get to Culebra. I.E. Ferry tickets. Very accommodating on start time. Camillo gave us great recommendation where I wanted to visit. 2. TRANSPORTATION IS NOT INCLUDED but Camillo went out of his way and picked us up from the airport since we didn't rent a golf-cart so we were very grateful for his kindness. Please don't expect transportation because of this review. 3. Meet up point was in a central area. Easy to find. Right next to the restaurant El Navegante. Have dinner there after your trip. 4. The crew greeted us with a plate of fresh fruits, cheese, and deli meat. So luxurious~ 5. Took a short ride to Playa Tortuga in Culebrita where the water was so clear like swimming in a pool. Brought out the Bose speaker to set the mood. 6. We started to float in the water while the crew set up the beach chairs and umbrella for us. They brought the cheese plate, Bose speakers, drinks, and our phones via Kayak to the beach for us! That was so wonderful because last time we had to do it ourselves via Water Taxi. We felt so spoiled. 7. FRESH & HOT lunch! They grilled delicious shrimp and chicken on the boat for us. Paired with an amazing gourmet salad and asparagus. Don't forget to take pictures because it was so romantic. (last time I went on a Catamaran to Culebra, they gave us cold sandwiches) Probably the best meal I had in Culebra. 8. Camillo took us on a adventure via kayak that's included on our trip to the water pool near by. (I had to pay for a snorkeling tour separated last time so this was a definitely worth the money to book with Sea Culebra). Camillo took us on a snorkeling tour and we got to swim with turtles and saw a stingray. We both can't swim but with a life vest, Camillo gave us the confidence to explore these beautiful water. 9. Also included water a SUP board, floaties, kayaks, snorkeling gears and anything you'll need to lounge or exploring. And we LOUNGED! We will NEVER come back to Culebrita without booking with Sea Culebra again because it cost more and took a lot of time to logistically plan all the activities you should be doing in Culebra. Despite the unforgettable memories we made in Culebrita, we made friends with the crew that made the experience more memorable. BEST MOMENTS: 1. Made friends with crew 2. Greeted us with fruit platter 3. Fresh, hot lunch 4. Set up camp for us with everything we need (Bose speaker, beach chairs, snacks, drinks, phones, sunscreens, towels, floaties). We literally didn't lift a finger. 5. Included snorkeling and kayak adventure tours lead by Camillo. 6. The passion and love of nature from the crew made us fell in love with Culebrita 7. Allowed us to have quality time with each other I found them on TripAdvisor but directly booking with them will help small businesses! #smallbusiness

Our experience with Captain Felix can only be described as pure joy. My wife and I were looking for…read morea moderately priced day sail and couldn't have found anyone more courteous, professional and knowledgable about the island. Besides being a hilarious raconteur and keeping us entertained the whole time, Captain Felix knows some of the best snorkeling spots around the outer cays. A consummate professional, I would highly recommend an excursion with him if you happen to be visiting Culebra. We would have gone out again, but had to leave the following day. Next time!

Terrible customer service…read more On October 31st I booked the Coral Reef and Sea Turtle Snorkeling Tour for myself on November 20th. I received a standard reply/confirmation. On November 3, I sent an email asking for confirmation as I was a solo participant. No response. On November 6 I experienced a family situation that forced me to cancel my whole trip. I wrote an email at 11 am that day explaining, wanting to cancel as soon as possible. No response. I sent another email that afternoon at 3 pm. No response. I finally paid the money to call and cancel it over the phone late in the afternoon. I received a confirmation of my cancellation, and was told I would only be refunded $101 dollars of my $145 payment. Given that it was a reservation held for 7 days and canceled two weeks in advance, I don't believe that the company lost any business, revenue etc from my reservation. I wrote to the company on November 7 explaining this and asking for an exception and the return of my full payment. Crickets, nothing. I wrote again on the 8th, 9th and 10th. NOT ONE RESPONSE. Instead, they chose to ignore me, and keep $33 dollars for my reservation. If I though they had somehow been inconvenienced, perhaps that is one thing. Even more so though, is the fact that they refused to respond to any of my emails. I would not recommend this company. Even if the snorkeling is great, the business ethics are not.

I made arrangements with Lemuel for 3 days to take my kayak trip. We confirmed meeting time and…read moreplace as late as 10:30 the night before The next morning I couldn't get ahold of him even though he asked me to reconfirm again (and again, he likes many reconfirms kind of weird). At 10:57am he cancelled my 11am kayak. So disappointed. I planned my day around it, was obviously dressed and there This platform doesn't allow screenshots so if you want to see my text messages with Lemuel just let me know, will forward

Excellent day both in and out of the water. Booking a private tour was absolutely the right choice…read more-- we avoided the crowds and got to experience exactly what we wanted. Our captains, Ariana and John, were fantastic hosts -- knowledgeable, attentive, and made the whole trip memorable. We originally missed our larger group tour due to traffic and rain, but this ended up being a much better experience. Highly recommend!

This was the highlight of our trip to Puerto Rico! The snorkeling was incredible, followed by a…read morerelaxing time at a gorgeous beach (with drinks, sandwiches, fruit, etc.) and a short stop at a third spot where we spotted sea turtles and just saw sights. We had 5 people on our private tour, 3 experienced snorkelers and 2 newbies, one of whom was 10 years old and VERY anxious. They took their time and stayed with us, one in the water and one watching from the boat with survival gear at all times. We all felt safe and had fun. Everything was just perfect. We did what we wanted on our own timetable without being rushed. The kids connected their music by Bluetooth and they had a great time. If you have a group of about our size, this is your BEST choice! Absolutely fantastic! BTW, we got great photos and video of the snorkeling on the gopro, but I don't have them on my phone to post. Still, bring a gopro when you snorkel. The videos will be great!

WOW! This was one of my favorite lifetime experiences. It's worth the effort to get to Culebra to…read moreexperience the SEAVenture Tour with Culebra Island Adventures. Starting from the beginning: You need to take a ferry from Fajardo to Culebra to access the tour. CIA makes sure that your ferry tickets are reserved in advance. (When you arrive at the ferry terminal in Fajardo, you will quickly realize that this is CLUTCH. The ferry terminal is an absolutely disorganized hot mess.) I would recommend arriving at least an hour early. Even though you get to skip the very long line of people waiting to buy tickets, it's still a bit confusing to find the correct (shorter) line and get your tickets. Damian, one of our tour guides, was in touch with us consistently by text message to make sure we got our tickets and boarded the ferry. The ferry ride is about an hour long, and please prepare in advance if you get seasick, and bring your sunscreen and hat! It's a rough ride over to Culebra. The way back is far smoother. I would recommend getting a seat on the top and toward the middle, under the awning. That way you get a cool breeze and still enjoy the views without getting splashed by ocean water. That being said....all of this is more than worth it to experience the untouched beauty of Culebra. The waters are a clear, turquoise blue. Laura greeted us at the ferry terminal in Culebra and immediately took us on a brief walk to the van. We took a short ride to Tamarindo Beach, where the tour began. My husband and I appreciated the efficiency and the fact that NO time was wasted on the tour. It was extremely well-organized. We had a relatively small group of folks. Damian gave us a thorough explanation of the tour agenda (kayak, snorkel over one reef, return to shore for snack, more snorkeling, trip to Flamenco Beach.) This was the first time I have had a tour guide explain how to kayak in detail. Damian's tips were very helpful in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable kayak ride. We snorkeled over a beautiful coral reef for about 45 minutes and saw a puffer fish, eels, and vibrantly colored coral and fish. If you follow the guide (Laura) closely, you won't miss any of the wonderful marine life! We then returned to the shore by kayak for a delicious snack (homemade ham and cheese sandwiches, chips, apples, soda/water.) Then came the highlight of the tour--swimming with the sea turtles! We walked into the water directly from the beach this time. It wasn't long before we spotted several turtles, and they are a sight to behold. These gentle giants will allow you to swim directly over top of them and alongside them, making for excellent photo opportunities. This was one of the coolest experiences of my life. Speaking of photos, Laura chronicled our journey in detail using her underwater camera. Within days, she posted almost 400 pictures of our snorkeling tour on Facebook. We were able to download photos directly from Facebook for free. The pictures are AMAZING. This is one of the best perks of the tour! I love that they weren't trying to make us pay an extra $10 per picture, which they easily could have done. The last stop on our tour was the stunning and serene Flamenco Beach. Ahhhhhhh. The sand is white, the water is crystal blue, and it's not crowded. My husband loved body-surfing in the huge waves. We were able to purchase some beers at the refreshment area, and we sat on our towel and enjoyed the scenery. I would do this tour again and again if I could. It was so well-organized, the guides were knowledgeable, and the price is very reasonable. Make the effort to do this if you are in Puerto Rico! Thank you, Damian and Laura!