Flamenco Beach
Flamenco Beach is a public beach on an open bay connected to the North Atlantic Ocean in northwestern Culebra, an island-municipality of Puerto Rico, part of the Spanish Virgin Islands in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies of the Caribbean. Situated in front of Flamenco Lagoon and stretching for about around the reef-sheltered, horseshoe-shaped Flamenco Bay, the beach is known for its shallow, calm turquoise waters and white sand, as well as its species-rich swimming areas and diving sites. Accessible by plane or boat from Puerto Rico, it is a popular destination for domestic and foreign visitors, ranking 3rd best beach in the world with a TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award in 2013, and regaining its Blue Flag Beach international distinction in 2016.
Geography
Flamenco Beach is located on the northwestern shore of Culebra in the archipelago of Puerto Rico. The beach lies on a mile-wide, horseshoe strip of coast, which comprises a bay called Bahía Flamenco. Behind the beach lies a lagoon called Laguna del Flamenco. The beach is named for the numerous Caribbean flamingos that were once prevalent in the lagoon.The beach is bordered by the Culebra [National Wildlife Refuge], which is of itself one of the oldest wildlife preserves in the United States. Off the coast of Flamenco, approximately a quarter mile, is a reef where the surf breaks. Characteristic of Flamenco is the beach's white sand and shallow clear waters.
Flora and fauna
The waters off Flamenco beach are home to species of parrot fish, blue tang, multiple species of wrasse, and other Caribbean Sea fish species. Crustacean species such as Ghost Crab are also observed. Some 50,000 seabirds visit Culebra's Flamenco Peninsula each summer to nest—mostly sooty terns and other migratory species. Summer visitors to Flamenco Beach are familiar with them as they often feed in the area in large numbers. By September, the birds have gathered up their broods and flown out to sea only to return home the following summer. Occasionally, leatherback and hawksbill sea turtles may be seen as the beaches of the Culebra archipelago are also a major breeding ground for them and the adjacent sea grass beds provide shelter and food for green sea turtles.Rusting tanks
One of the most distinctive views of the beach include two rusting carcasses of old M4 Sherman tanks that were left behind by the United States Navy after their departure from Flamenco Beach in 1975, which was used as a weapons-testing ground by them for more than 30 years. While the salty winds from the sea worked on the metal, causing it to rapidly rust and crumble apart, the locals and visitors often decorate them, covering the badly corroded hulks in layers of colorful graffiti. Today, the tanks still remain and have become a unique feature of the otherwise pristine and beautiful beach.Tourism
Flamenco Beach is the top ranked beach in Puerto Rico and one of the top beaches in the world. The beach has available lifeguard towers, kiosks selling food, beach accessories, and easy access from the town of Dewey.World ranking through the years
- 3rd in 2014 by TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards
- 8th in 2015 by Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Awards
- 6th in 2016 by TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards
- 13th in 2017 by TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards
Facilities
Recreation
- Swimming: Areas designated with buoys. Shallow waters allow a safe environment for swimmers and non-swimmers.
- Sunbathing: Excellent conditions year-round but beware of the tropical sun as exposure without proper sunblock may create uncomfortable situations such as sunburns and moderate to extreme itching when healing.
- Scuba and snorkeling: There are reefs, urchins, a variety of fish species and other marine wildlife.
- Sand: white sand receives the shallow turquoise waters.
- Walking and hiking: The horseshoe bay provides a walk path and surrounding trails are another way to look for bird-watching opportunities or photograph surrounding nature.