Viva Culebra!

Or, loosely translated from gringo to actual Spanish, Alive Snake! As you may have noticed, I've been absent for the past week and was fairly cryptic about my plans. It's sad, but in this day and age you can't go around announcing your vacations or you may return to a burgled home.

In an attempt to get as far from civilization as possible and relax on a deserted beach in the Caribbean on the cheap, my wife and I made the trek to the island of Culebra, a tiny piece of land off the east coast of Puerto Rico. Two commercial flights, one flight on a tiny prop plane, a ferry, a small boat, a hitched ride with a sympathetic stranger and a bit of a hike with all our luggage later, we arrived to this stunningly untouched island with the realization that this is not a place for the faint of heart or ill-equipped. Even in a hotel, you're one step above camping.

So, if you're a bit adventurous and don't mind changing travel plans several times in order to get there and back, you'll be rewarded with some of the most stunning beaches and abundant wildlife you'll ever be lucky enough to lay your eyes on. Just don't expect a five-star resort. Or one star. Or a motel 6. Viva Culebra!