Flamenco Beach

Flamenco is located on the northern shore of Culebra. Its name in Spanish (flamingo beach) comes from the numerous Caribbean flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) that were once common in Flamenco Lagoon.{{Cite web|title=Visit "Pinky", The Flamingo of Camuy|url=https://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/pinky-the-flamingo/|access-date=2022-02-08|website=www.puertoricodaytrips.com|language=en}} The beach lies on a half-mile-wide, horseshoe strip of coast. 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.{{cite web |title=Flamenco Beach Culebra, Puerto Rico |url=http://www.islaculebra.com/puerto-rico/culebra-flamenco-beach.html |website=Islaculebra.com |access-date=May 28, 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://mamacitasguesthouse.com/culebra-beaches |title=Culebra, Beach, Flamenco Beach, Zoni Beach, Beaches in Culebra |access-date=2011-05-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626053211/http://mamacitasguesthouse.com/culebra-beaches |archive-date=2011-06-26 }}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/visitors_info/the-many-islands-of-culebra-813.html |title=The Many Islands of Culebra - Caribbean Business |access-date=2015-10-25 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120041853/http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/visitors_info/the-many-islands-of-culebra-813.html |archive-date=2015-11-20 }}

One of the most distinctive views of the beach include two rusting carcasses of old M4 Sherman tanks that were left behind{{cite web|url=http://epicbeaches.com/flamenco-beach-culebra-puerto-rico/|title=Flamenco Beach, Culebra, Puerto Rico|date=9 May 2014|website=Epicbeaches.com|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720164701/http://epicbeaches.com/flamenco-beach-culebra-puerto-rico/|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-tanks-of-flamenco-beach|title=The Tanks of Flamenco Beach|website=Atlas Obscura|access-date=21 July 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/videos/what-are-these-eerie-abandoned-tanks-doing-in-puerto-rico/48950|title=What Are These Eerie Abandoned Tanks Doing in Puerto Rico?|via=www.smithsonianchannel.com}}

Diving Culebra.jpg|Dive sites at the beach

Culebra - Playa de Flamenco.jpg|Isolated part of Flamenco Beach

Beach at Culebra Island, Puerto Rico.jpg|General view

Tank on Flamenco Beach 2.jpg|"WTF?" spray painted on the rear of a Sherman tank left over from U.S. military shelling practice

Sunaddict-de-culebra-puerto-rico-2015 – 06.jpg|Bird's eye view of Flamenco Beach

Flamenco Beach Puerto Rico Camping.jpg|Camping Site at Flamenco Beach

Campsite at Flamenco Beach, Culebra, Puerto Rico.jpg|Campsite at Flamenco Beach

Seascape of Flamenco Beach, Culebra (Puerto Rico).jpg|Beachgoers walk on Flamenco Beach

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 (where the ferry boat arrives).{{cite web|url=https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/regions/culebra-vieques/culebra#!grid~~~random~1|title=Culebra|work=Discover Puerto Rico}}

• 3rd in 2014 by TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards
• 8th in 2015 by Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Awards{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/18/travel/tripadvisor-travelers-choice-best-beaches/|title=TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice: 2015's best beaches - CNN Travel|date=18 February 2015|website=Edition.cnn.com|access-date=21 July 2018}}
• 6th in 2016 by TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards{{cite web|url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Beaches|title=Best Beaches in the World - Travelers' Choice Awards - TripAdvisor|website=Tripadvisor.com|access-date=21 July 2018}}
• 13 in 2017 by TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards{{cite web|url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Beaches-a_Mode.expanded|title=Best Beaches in the World - Travelers' Choice Awards - TripAdvisor|website=Tripadvisor.com|access-date=21 July 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/nota/reconocenaflamencocomounadelasmejores25playasdelmundo-2294207/|title=Reconocen a Flamenco como una de las mejores 25 playas del mundo|date=22 February 2017|website=Elnuevodia.ocm|access-date=21 July 2018}}

The beach has bathroom facilities and showers. There are about a half-dozen kiosks selling local food. This include piña colada, mango smoothies, rice-and-beans burritos and all manner of seafood, from conch salad to fish skewers.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/09/travel/culebra-a-quiet-corner-of-the-caribbean.html?_r=0|title=Culebra, a Quiet Corner of the Caribbean|first=Scott|last=Shane|website=The New York Times|date=6 November 2014 |access-date=21 July 2018}} Flamenco Beach has a designated camping area for a fee which provides potable water, bathrooms and shower facilities.

• 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/jobos-puerto-rico_6680/travel/|title=Jobos Travel Guide and Directory|website=Surfline.com|access-date=21 July 2018}}
• 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.

{{Portal|Puerto Rico}}

• Crash Boat Beach
• La Pocita de Isabela
• List of beaches in Puerto Rico
• Puerto Rico Tourism Company

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.flamencobeach.org Flamenco Beach]
• [http://www.topuertorico.org/city/culebra.shtml Culebra Island Information]
• [http://www.playasdepuertorico.com/#!flamenco-beach---balneario-de-flamenco/c11oq Flamenco Beach Information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219183605/http://www.playasdepuertorico.com/#!flamenco-beach---balneario-de-flamenco/c11oq |date=2015-02-19 }} at Playas de Puerto Rico
• [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/sju/?n=marine01 Culebra Island Wave Forecast] at NOAA National Weather Service

{{Beaches in Puerto Rico}}

Category:Culebra, Puerto Rico

Category:Beaches of Puerto Rico