# Flamenco Beach

Flamenco Beach is a public beach on the Caribbean island of Culebra (Spanish pronunciation:). It is known for its shallow turquoise waters, white sand, swimming areas, and diving sites. It stretches for a mile around a sheltered, horseshoe-shaped bay. Playa Flamenco is a popular beach destination for both Culebra and Puerto Rico. In March 2014, Flamenco Beach was ranked 3rd best beach in the world with a TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award. In August 2016, it was announced that Flamenco Beach had regained its Blue Flag Beach international distinction.

## Geography

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. 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.

### 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.

## Gallery

* Dive sites at the beach
* Isolated part of Flamenco Beach
* General view
* "WTF?" spray painted on the rear of a Sherman tank left over from U.S. military shelling practice
* Bird's eye view of Flamenco Beach
* Camping Site at Flamenco Beach
* Campsite at Flamenco Beach
* Beachgoers walk on Flamenco 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 (where the ferry boat arrives).

### 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
* 13 in 2017 by TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards

### Facilities

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. Flamenco Beach has a designated camping area for a fee which provides potable water, bathrooms and shower 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.