About Culebra

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The Island of Culebra lies approximately seventeen miles east of Puerto Rico, twelve miles west of St. Thomas,and nine miles north of Vieques. The island consists of many large hills and due to its long and intricate shoreline, Culebra represents a series of bays, peninsulas, and bars, some of which end in abrupt cliffs, sandy shores, or mangrove forests. The principal harbor is Ensenada Honda, which is considered one of the most secure hurricane harbors in the Caribbean. There is a local population of about 1800 people. Most of the residents live in and around the town of Dewey. The rest of the island is mostly unpopulated except for a few enclaves.
The land and wildlife
Even though Culebra has an average rainfall of over 40 inches a year it is considered an arid climate. The arid climates make for extremely clear waters around the island. There are many coral reefs that can be reached from shore that offer excellent snorkeling and off shore Scuba diving opportunities.
The general flora and fauna are arid to dry species. The valleys and upper slopes support an interesting semi-moist forest of trees as much as fifty feet tall and three feet in diameter. The average trees, however, are much smaller. There are three hundred seventy three species of indigenous plants and many introduced species. Thirty-three species are rare or unique, found only in Culebra, or a few of the other small islands in the area. Of these rare species, three are found only in Culebra. Several features of the flora make it different from the vegetation of Puerto Rico. The large boulders of Monte Resaca produce an unusual park like open forest of Cupey and Jaquey, displaying their many roots. The boulders themselves are hosts to beautiful orchids, bromeliads, and the endemic Peperromia (P. Wheeleri). This association has been seen only at Culebra and Virgin Gorda. The tallest trees are represented by the fan leafed palm, especially at Monte Resaca and also the slopes north west of Playa Flamenco, north of Punta Tamarindo Grande, north of Laguna de Cornelioi, and at Cabeza de Perro area.
Birds
Birds are another striking life form on Culebra. Several species of oceanic birds build up great nesting colonies on the offshore Cays on the northwest tip of the Flamenco peninsula. Sooty terns are abundant on four Cays. Their largest colony located on Culebra itself, covers more than eight hundred acres of the Flamenco Peninsula. Brown "Boobies", Laughing Gulls, Sooty Terns, Bridled Terns, and Noddy Terns are known to breed on Cayo Lobito, Cayo Yerba, Cayo Raton, Los Gemelos, Cayo El Guayo, Cayo Sombreto, Cayo Genique and Peninsula Flamenco. The Brown Pelican, an endangered species protected by federal law, has been sighted in mangrove areas and adjacent waters. In the marsh ponds and mangrove swamp, the Bahamas Pintail, the Masked Duck, and the Ruddy Duck nest and thrive. The lagoons form the most important wintering ground for the migratory water foul on the island.

Turtles
Two endangered species of turtles, the Hawksbill and the Leather Back, are found at Culebra. So are two other species that have been proposed for threatened status: the Loggerhead and Green sea turtles. All four of these species use the Culebra area, and most of the beaches for nesting sites.