The beach at Carlos Rosario is rocky, and at a ~35 minute hike, it can be tough to get to. But your reward is the best snorkeling on the island. To get to Carlos Rosario, you need to go through a hole in the fence in the back of the Flamenco Beach Parking lot. There will be a dirt path that you’ll follow to Carlos Rosario Beach. When you exit the path, turn right and look for the sea grape tree that offers shade and some flat rocks to sit on. That's also near the horseshoe sandy spot for snorkelers to enter the water.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, walk to the left down the beach to the rocky peninsula, where you can plunge into some prime snorkel spots!

PS: Don’t venture off the path and ruin this spot for the rest of us! There’s a reason the area is fenced off- Culebra was once an Army radio base, with certain areas yet to be swept for mines. Stay on that path!

The first thing you will notice is that the beach is mostly pebbles and coral. So, wear flip-flops or water shoes for this beach. Soldado is one of our favorites for sunset, but not many people make the drive out to this beach (golf cart rental shops don’t allow it) because it’s rocky and steep- better if you’ve rented a Jeep or Bronco. This beach also has very little waves and is a good spot for snorkeling once you go out a bit from the shore, but beware the jellies depending on the time of year.

Take the road on the east side of the airport all the way to the top (if you think you're at the top, you're not, keep going). Park and trek down through the woods- a hike full of challenges, large boulders, interesting flora. At the bottom, go through the maze-like mangrove forest following a path marked by rope. Total hike down ~30 minutes. Emerge from the forest and AMAZING!!! All you see is a beautiful, long beach. No-one will be there. The beach goes for ~1 mile. The waves are strong and the ocean noise beautiful.

Playa Larga is a bit off the beaten path, but a very relaxing and secluded spot! If you go to the left, you’ll be able to walk along the shoreline for a bit. This beach also offers good snorkeling, especially good for those new at snorkeling since much of the water is shallow. You’ll be tempted to walk the rustic pier, but please stay off it!

Brava is an isolated beach on the wild north shore of the Island. It is about an hour hike but well worth it as the scenery is a perfect representation of what you imagine when thinking of a deserted tropical beach where the white foam of the crystal clear waves mixes with the sand under a blue sky with puffy white clouds and green hills behind you.

Melones shares a parking area with Playa Sardinas, and the two beaches are separated only by a narrow peninsula.

The Melones side is an excellent beach for snorkeling. The beach is a little rocky and there are a few sea urchins here and there, so beach shoes are a plus. On the north side of Melones, you will see a lot of corals and seafans, and Melones is also home to many turtles because of the amount of sea grass that grows here.

Pro Tip: try a night swim to see some bioluminscence!

Ranked amongst the best beaches in the Caribbean, Flamenco is the only beach with amenities like lifeguards, showers, changing rooms and bathrooms. When you get to the shore, stroll to the left and you’ll eventually bump into one of its most iconic attractions: the tank. Yes, one of Flamenco’s most known attractions is not natural, but man-made. There are two tanks, actually; one in the camping grounds and another on the beach. On the right (east) side of the beach, is the remains of an old shark pen. Best spots for snorkeling are out on the reef (left-center of the beach) and the shark pen (far right of the beach).

Look for indications of riptides at Flamenco, and exercise caution if the caution flags are up.

The food stands at the Flamenco Parking lot are also very tasty (try the Chicken Skewers!)

You will need Cash for Parking- $5 per vehicle + $2 per head, but well worth the money!

Snorkel through the calm waters of Tamarindo to spot Culebra’s Sea Turtles- you’ll find them near the buoys in the seagrass! Facing west with Cayo Luis Peña across the horizon, Tamarindo is perfect for sunset. It has shaded areas and picnic tables for a day at the beach with family and friends.

Zoni Beach, a little rougher but the beach is pristine!

With trees providing shade all day, Dátiles is perfect for a picnic with the kids. 100 feet out into the water, and you’ll still have water only to your ankles. As is with any beach, make sure you take your trash with you!