If your idea of vacation fun includes snorkeling, then you need to get out of San Juan!

I think the closest and best snorkeling you’ll find around the north-east of Puerto Rico is on the out-islands of Culebra and Vieques. But getting to those islands can be a bit of a hassle and worrisome — waiting in line for ferry tickets, not knowing exactly where to go, where to get snorkel gear and how to get to the best snorkel spots.

Now, Kayaking Puerto Rico has removed all of the roadblocks to a great snorkeling experience. They offer an all-day Aquafari excursion to the Luis Peña Nature Reserve on Culebra. They’ve organized a trip that takes you from Fajardo to Culebra and back again. They even have an option for people who are staying on Culebra and don’t need the additional transportation from Fajardo. They do all the planning, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy yourself!

We had the opportunity to join the guys from Kayaking Puerto Rico on their inaugural Culebra Aquafari trip. Since this was their first time doing this trip with a group of touristos, I would expect there to be some tweaking to the details of this outing. What follows is our description of our experience.

Cayo Luis Peña

Snorkeling on Cuelbra and its cays is some of the best you will find in Puerto Rico. Cayo Luis Peña is a small island off the west coast of Cuelbra, just across the channel from Tamarindo Beach. The cay, and the waters around it, are protected as part of the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge. The Luis Peña Channel Nature Reserve was designated as the first aquatic no-take nature reserve in Puerto Rico. Because of the fishing ban, the underwater flora and fauna have flourished. Since the cay can only be reached by kayak or boat, very few people actually get over there — which makes it one of the most pristine places you will find. Now you can be part of the few that get to enjoy this beautiful place.

Starting Your Day in Fajardo

The staff of Kayaking Puerto Rico takes care of you from start to finish. The only thing you need to do is arrange for transportation to/from the ferry terminal in Fajardo. I think the best (and most economical) way to do that is by renting a car.

Your day begins when you arrive at the ferry terminal in Fajardo at 8:30am. A rep from Kayaking Puerto Rico will be waiting for you and they’ll hand your your round-trip ferry ticket. They will have already purchased your ferry tickets, so you don’t have worry about waiting in the ticket line, or if tickets sell out, etc.

The ferry to Culebra is scheduled to depart at 9:00am, and they start boarding around 8:45am. The boarding announcements are only in Spanish, so just follow the crowd as you’re herded onto the ferry. You can sit whereever you want on the ferry. Just note that the AC will be on full-blast inside, so you may want to choose one of the outside seats on the upper deck. Also, if you’re prone to sea-sickness, a seat outside is better than one inside. The ride to Culebra is typically bumpier than the ride back to Fajardo. In any case, just sit back and enjoy the 90-minute ride.

Once you get off the ferry in Culebra, there will be another Kayaking Puerto Rico rep waiting for you. Just scan the dock for the guy holding the Kayaking Puerto Rico sign.

You’ll be taken to a local deli (panaderia) where you can buy some lunch. Note that lunch is not included in this trip, so bring $7 – $10 per person for a sandwich and a soda. You’ll have an active day ahead of you, so you’ll want to make sure you’re not hungry. After lunch, you’ll get onto a waiting tour bus for the short ride to Tamarindo Beach.

The kayaking trip is scheduled to begin at 12noon, so you’ll probably have a little time to walk around Tamarindo Beach, take a short swim, or just lie on the beach. The beach area there is small, but pretty.

Instructions & Equipment

The active part of our day began at about 12noon. Our tour guides, Julio and Joel, gave us a briefing on where we were and will be going. They also talked about the conservation efforts and what we needed to do to keep from damaging the coral during our trip. You also are given your life vest and snorkel gear. You should try on your mask and fins to make sure they fit correctly — it’s easier to adjust those things while standing on the beach versus floating in the water. For people who have never kayaked or snorkeled before, they also will give you a brief lesson and make sure you’re comfortable with all of the equipment. They provide dry bags, so you can keep your wallet/clothes/towels dry. Our group was a family of 4, me & Ray, and another couple. They use 2-person, sit-upon kayaks, so you’ll be paired up with someone if there are an odd number of people in your party. Everyone in our group was experienced kayakers and snorkelers, so one-by-one we launched our kayaks into the sea and our adventure began.

Crossing the Channel

The paddle across the Luis Peña Channel wasn’t too bad. The channel is about ¾ mile wide. We stopped along the way to rest, get our pictures taken and for Julio to tell us some more about the snorkeling and the island. After a little more paddling, Julio set his kayak in a sandy area next to the reef and Joel hooked all of the kayaks together so they’d stay put while we snorkeled. As always with Kayaking Puerto Rico, they were very careful not to touch or hurt the reef in any way, and they continually stressed how important it was for us to stay clear of the reef while we were in the water.

Once all the kayaks were hooked up, there was nothing left to do except put on our snorkel equipment and jump in the water. If you are not a strong swimmer, you can keep your life jacket on while snorkeling. But they also have floats with them, in case you get tired while in the water. You can swim around on your own or follow Julio (who points out some of the neat things). Joel stayed behind the group, keeping an eye out for everyone’s safety.

The Snorkeling

I was very impressed by the number corals and sponges. There were all types of healthy corals — even elk horn, which is getting harder to find. The yellow and purple fan corals made a beautiful backdrop for the fish. There were lots of different types of fishes. We saw everything from barracuda to colorful wrasses, angel fish and rainbow colored parrotfish. A school of blue tangs and even a spotted eagle ray. And, a first for me here in Puerto Rico, a spotted drum fish.

The reef is very colorful, very alive. Visibility was only about 30 feet, but it was still great for snorkeling. And the water was calm. This was one of the best snorkeling locations I have been to in Puerto Rico.

The Beach at Luis Peña

After snorkeling, we got back into our kayaks an paddled around to the north side of the cay to a small beach. We saw the feral goats on the cay as we paddled by. Once on the beach, they provided us with snacks and water. And we warmed up in the sun. It was a beautiful white sand cove, we had it all to ourselves. During our beach stop, Julio explained about the eco-systems all around us. You can tell he is REALLY into it. It is great to met someone who loves their job!

There is another snorkeling area to the left of this beach, but we all just enjoyed hanging out and talking. Well … at least us old folks … the kids were playing in the water!

Heading Home

Then it was time to kayak back to Culebra. There was a bit of chop, so the person in the front of the kayak (me!), got splashed in the face a lot. But it was fun! Along the way, I saw a turtle. Once back at Tamarindo Beach, we had time to dry off, have some more water & snacks, and talk about everything that we had seen and done.

Around 4:30pm, the tour bus showed up and took us on the short ride back to the ferry. By 5:00pm, we were back on the ferry and underway for the trip back to Fajardo. No stress, no worries!

Can I Do this if I’m Staying on Culebra?

Yes. Kayaking Puerto Rico offers the kayaking to Luis Peña twice a day. The first trip is at 8:30am for people staying on Culebra only. The second trip is at 12noon, which is for anyone. People coming from Fajardo will always be on the 12noon trip. If you’re staying on Culebra, you’ll need to get yourself to Tamarindo Beach by 7:30am or 12noon, depending on which trip you’re taking. There is a reduced price for people staying on Culebra (since you won’t need the additional ferry and tour bus transportation).

Hints, Tips & Other Info

This trip is described as having 2 snorkeling stops — one on the reef and the other off the beach on Luis Peña. The plan is for about 30 minutes of snorkeling in each spot. We spent over 60 minutes snorkeling on the reef, so we didn’t really have time to go back into the water after our beach stop.

It is a great idea to have a guide when doing a tour like this since you’ll be kayaking in the sea in open water, as you cross the channel between Tamarindo Beach and Cayo Luis Peña. If your arms get tired of paddling, one of the guides will tie onto your kayak and help you out.

It is also good to have other people around during snorkeling in such a deserted place. They are there to help and have flotation devices in case you get too tired while snorkeling. And the best part of all — Kayaking Puerto Rico waits on the line for the ferry ticket, so you get to sleep later and not have to deal with that issue at all!

Since you’ll be in full sun for about 3 hours you should wear a t-shirt or rash guard. Also, make sure you put sunscreen (lots!) on your back, legs and arms. Don’t forget the backs of your knees. You will get sunburned while snorkeling!

Make sure you bring a change of clothes and something warm to wear on the ferry. The ferry has the coldest AC in the world! Better yet, try to score a seat outside on the upper deck. You’ll be glad you did.

Normally, when we review an activity that is not free to the public, we pay the admission price out of our own pockets. However, we just want you to know that the guys at Kayaking Puerto Rico were kind enough to offer us this trip for free. While we don’t feel that this free ride influenced our review one way or the other, we felt that we should tell you, just as a matter of fact.

The Details

The cost is $69/person for people coming from Fajardo. This includes the round-trip ferry and transfers to the launch site at Tamarindo Beach. They will take you to a deli where you can buy your own lunch after they pick you up from the ferry. The cost is $65/person for people staying in Culebra. This does not include any transportation. All trips include snacks and water.

If you're happy, let them know it — Don't forget to tip your your bartender, tour guide or trip operator if you enjoyed yourself. Gratuities are appreciated and typically aren't included in the price they charge you.

Tours are offered at 8:30am and 12noon, Tuesday through Saturday.

Depending on the conditions, the kayaking can be strenuous. Because of that, the activity level of this trip is rated as moderate.

If you’re staying on Puerto Rico, allow a full day (8:30am until after 6:00pm). The actual kayak/snorkel part is about 3 hours.

You can call Kayaking Puerto Rico at 787.435.1665 or 787.245.4545 for more information.

You can visit their web site for more information.

Please refer to our article about the Fajardo Ferry for driving directions to the ferry terminal.